Dump Trailers

[Joe1]

If you look at the single axle trailers as I did, you might find them to be lightly built. I tow with a 99 Jeep Cherokee rated at 2,000 tow capacity or 5,000 with a weight distribution hitch. A large 2 axle was out of the question. I only looked at one manufacturer (I can't recall the name), but was underwhelmed with them. They had one single axle trailer on uneven ground with the bed raised and it looked like it was wracked out of square. It seemed fairly flimsy and was, I thought, fairly expensive so I didn't
go that route.

As far as ddrake's battery problems:

Is your truck and trailer wired so that the truck recharges the trailer battery while driving? If so, then you would also get some small additional power thru that if the truck is running while dumping. You might also need a larger battery and possibly heavier battery cables to the hydraulic pump to give longer life and less resistance.

 

[tawilson]

I bought a 12 X 6 Cam Superline a couple of years ago. It has some extra touches I like: adjustable height hitch so I can match it to my equipment trailer, molded wiring harness with fuse block, heavy duty safety chains with spring clips. I got the single drop down tailgate and sometimes wish I had the barn door style. With my tailgate when the dump is raised the tailgate almost touches the ground. I have problems getting the load to dump if too much material is up front. I keep a steel bar in my truck and a little leverage with the battery box is usually enough to get it started. Once it lifts 4" or 5" or so it usually takes off. Definitely wire your truck to charge while travelling, but I turn it off to dump because it may blow the fuse because of the draw.

 

[tawilson]

I just noticed a used Bri-Mar at the JD dealer in town. Looks like it's in good shape and I think it had an electric jack.

 

[Ford960]

A dump trailer is one of the best things that I've bought this year...

See my earlier post on this subject:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/86582-look-what-i-bought-today.html

I just hauled 6 tons (3 trips) of crushed stone with it today and will haul some more tomorrow. Then I have several loads of fill dirt to haul after that.

It never has a problem raising the bed even with almost 3 tons in it and I've hauled about 25 loads since I bought it and grossed $405 with it in one day with just 6 loads.

I rewired the light plug so the battery gets charged from the truck and tow it with an F-350 diesel dually.

Sometimes I wish that I had a bigger trailer but that only increases the empty weight and reduces the effective load weight capacity and not worth the extra expense.

 

[willfick]

I have a single axle E-Z Dumper that I bought ($2950, I think I remember) five or six years ago. Its plate says 5,200 lbs gross, its label says 4,000 lb. load. Electric brakes.
I've hauled more than that on it, once 4,700 lbs. of stone, the only load I've had weighed. I often put more on it when I'm just around the place, not on the highway. I've put so much damp sand that it wouldn't dump a couple of times - each time it was too much to the front and when I shoveled it toward the back some it would go on up.
I got the single axle partly because I didn't figure to need to pull much more weight than that with my Tahoo (it says 10,000 [they're kidding, right?]with a weight distributing hitch, which I only recently got and had I known what a difference I would have a long time ago) and largely for maneuverability. The project I used as an excuse to buy the dumper involved turning the trailer around on the concrete pad outside the garage. The narrow front Farmall will do that (just) where a double axle would have had to back the whole way down the driveway. My chiropractor would not have approved.
I've been really happy with it, only thing so far is that I've ruined a battery because I didn't understand how often you have to add water to a deep cycle when you use a 25amp charger. Every time?
With a good battery it would dump at least twelve times with as heavy a load as it would lift. And with the Farmall it's easy to run the jumper cables from the tractor battery to the pump box.
Wm
edited for fingering

 

[2nstonge]

I have a 7x14 dumper made by PJ Trailers - Manufacturers of top quality Flatdecks, Goosenecks, Deckovers, Tilts, Dumps, Carhaulers, Utilities, & Car Dollies it's built like a tank; dual axle, 3-way door (dump, meter, barn), lots of stake pockets, deep draw battery that charges thru the 7 pin connector (though not very well). I keep 2 deep draw batteries in rotation and always have one fully charged on standby if I'm doing multiple loads of heavy material.

Overall very pleased with it but it is a compromise if you want to use it as an equipment hauler. The slide out ramps get heavier every time I use it, it's not big enough to hold my tractor and some of the attachments, it's a bear to maneuver around inside the bed to chain the tractor down - I'm always banging an elbow or knee or something.

But, I don't need a pure dump trailer all the time (or I would'a bought a dump truck) and I don't need a pure equipment hauler all the time (or I would'a bought a flat bed).

Paid $6500 complete including trailer brake install and more D-rings welded to the body for additional tie-down points. I tow it with a Dodge 2500, no problems - although the mpg is painful (9-10 loaded).

-Norm

 

[2nstonge]

I should've mentioned powder coat finish - get it if you can. I saw more new rusty trailers sitting on the dealers lot...2 years of pretty good use on mine and the finish is still holding up.

-Norm

 

[McDenny's]

Hey all,
We sell a full line of PJ trailers, Felling and several other makes at work, if anyone wants information let me know. I know we all have some busy schedules and cant get out to the dealers and I can bring some booklets home for needed specs, and take pics if needed if you want to see something special.

Dennis

 

[wushaw]

Here is a couple of pics of mine...well half mine. It has a 20ton dump cylinder, it has dumped anything put in it so far, I know 9 tons of crushed concrete was my max load. The co-owner has put more in it.
We were tired of paying the 300% delivery charges for material, I don't use it like my partner does and so far I think we/he has saved @20k in delivery charges for dirt, gravel...etc.
Dump trailers are great, I plan on getting/building a small one for around the place when funds are available.

: Gallery
: Gallery

 

[sullyfe]

Hello
Here is my 2 cent's worth. I purchased a PJ 7x14 foot gooseneck dump trailer with the extra 2 foot tall metal sides that can be removed that makes the box 4 feet tall. It has both the dump style and the swing door gate, it also came with a spare tire and the ramps all for 7200.00 out the door. It can haul my kubota M5700 FEL cab tractor with no problems. It handles very well and dose not twist when dumping a full load. I am very happy with this trailer overall. It was a big help on removing about 10 yards of dirt and grass on a drive way that I am putting in for a customer.