Dump Trailers

[N80]

I have a place in the country with a fairly long driveway that is always muddy and messy when wet and bumpy and rough when dry. Constantly having gravel hauled in is cost prohibitive.

However, I have a creek bottom on my place that is dry in the summer and loaded with an endless supply of really nice sand. I use the sand to patch rough places in the driveway and it works quite well. But hauling it up from the creek bottom one bucket at a time is tedious and I can only fix small spots that way.

So, I've been looking at the possibility of a dump trailer...for several years now.

I've looked at this one (scroll to the bottom):

CMI Utility Wagons & Trailers for atv and lawn and garden.

It can carry 4000 pounds and costs about $1500 plus shipping. Several people here have one and say they are okay. You assemble them yourself.

I also got to looking at over-the-road dump trailers. Obviously way more expensive but probably also more useful and can carry a lot more.

I have several questions. First, do they have their own hydraulic pumps? If so, does anyone make them just with hydraulic hoses for hook up to a tractor?

Third, does anyone know of any other options for this type of job.

You can rent one from places like Sunbelt for about $70 a day and if you get it on a Friday you can use it Friday, Sat and Sun for about $150. That might be the best option.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Look up Rob on here. His screen name is 3RRL. He bought one and they use it behind his wife, Lorettas, 28HP Jinma and he loads it with his 55HP Kama.

I believe he is doing much of what you want to do. His trailer may be the same one but I think its a Chinese made unit. He can give you feedback on how it works. I am pretty sure they dump it via the remotes off the tractor.

I have the 8' Hay Wagon style Model 7300. I did not put the sides on it. I got it from Harbor Freight. Its good for 2,000# but I have had much more than that on it. I once had 40 60# bags of sac-crete on it and it did fine with the tires at 35psi. I also can stack and pull a full cord of fire wood on it.

Here is one of the jobs it did a few years ago.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I just went back and looked at the specs again and the pictures and it does not include the cylinder. It uses a standard 24" stroke log splitter cylinder, about $150 and then the hoses you will have to have made up. Maybe another $60 with the ends for your remotes.

Chris

 

[N80]

That's correct. You add the hydraulics on the off road trailer. I'm wondering about these over the road dump trailers and if anyone has experience with them.

You can get one that will carry 3 tons, tandem axles, brakes, hydraulic cylinder and all that for a bit over $4000. I'm guessing you could pick up a used one for less and use it on the highway and behind the tractor.

 

[pat32rf]

Around here it seems that the only way to get a used highway dump trailer is at an estate sale.....if you are high bidder.

 

[Diamondpilot]

That's correct. You add the hydraulics on the off road trailer. I'm wondering about these over the road dump trailers and if anyone has experience with them.

You can get one that will carry 3 tons, tandem axles, brakes, hydraulic cylinder and all that for a bit over $4000. I'm guessing you could pick up a used one for less and use it on the highway and behind the tractor.

I ordered my Uncle a Bri-Mar 14' Dump for $4200 new in 2006 or maybe 2005. I think it was 2006. His has the two way gate, 4 tie downs, 2 7K axles, ramps, ect. It weighs 4,200# empty and can carry about 5 tons legally. I pull it all the time with my F-350 at max weight on the highway with zero issues. He pulls it with his then Ford Expedition and now a 2009 F-150 with no issues. It cam ready to go with battery, hydro pump, ect.

Chris

 

[N80]

Take a look at these trailers. Scroll down to the 10k's. You can get a 10,000 pound GVW trailer, which can carry a little under 8,000 pounds and cost between $4,000 and $4,700.

http://www.allprowest.com/3Dump.html

Not bad but not cheap either.

One thing I'm seeing is these power up, gravity down cylinders. I've got no problem with that but I've got rear remotes on my tractor for power up and power down. I wonder if one of these manufacturers would sell me one without the hydraulic pump and cylinder and just buy my own. I only see one hose going to the cylinder in these pictures. Does that mean that these cylinders only have one hose fitting? In other words, is it there a difference between a power up/gravity down cylinder and a standard cylinder other than the plumbing?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Most I have seen use dual action cylinders with just one fitting capped off. I am sure dealer could order you one like that but what will you do if you want to pull it with your truck? Also when you go to sale it you will have issues to think about???

I would not worry about the remotes and just get a normal dump if that is what you are wanting.

Chris

 

[N80]

I probably wouldn't use it much with my truck anyway but those are good points.

I think I'm going to rent one once things dry out a little down here. I'll spend a weekend with it and see how it does and if it seems like something I would use a lot then maybe buy one.

The truth is, for $150 a weekend I'd probably be better off just renting it whenever I needed to do road repairs.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Provonost makes a decent off road dump trailer that works directly off your tractors hydraulics. They don't have wires hanging under them either that will get ripped off driving over rough ground or creek beds. I plan to buy one soon to do the same as you on my farm and I have a 5 ton dump trailer to pull behind my truck. The off road trailers are so much nicer though as you can use them for wagons if you don't need the dump feature where as an over the road dump trailer is pretty much always a dump trailer and isn't that great off road.