Electric winch to lift dump trailer?

[davo727]

Hi, I have been contemplating building a dump trailer and thinking about using an electric winch to lift the front of the dump box , seems like it would be simpler and easier than hydraulic.
Maybe put the winch low at the front of the trailer and run the cable up to a pulley mounted on a heavy duty post and then down to a bar mounted at the bottom front edge of the box. Running up and over the pulley will double the lift capacity of the winch right ?
Im gonna build this to haul 8K of gravel or 2 yards of wet concrete which is about 8K also. Box dimensions of about 4 ft wide, 7 ft long, 3ft deep Should give extra capacity to avoid spilling at 2 yards, box will be 3 yards capacity if filled to rim. Use 2 7K axles. What do you guys think? I have an old chevy dually to pull it. Thanks, Dave

 

[Skyco]

The pulley system you described gains nothing in lifting capacity, it merely changes direction. To double the pull produced you need a pulley at the top and another at the bottom with the end secured back to the mounting point, or nearby for the top pulley.
You'd also need a pretty tall mast to get the angle needed for easy unloading, if your 7 ft box is hinged at the end then I'd go with at least 7 ft tall mast for the pulleys. Pretty cumbersome, I'd really look into hydraulics if I was doing it

You can go here http://library.thinkquest.org/27948/pulley.html and enter 2 pulleys if you aren't picturing the 2 pulley system.

 

[firedog]

I vote with Skyco. Hydraulic is the way to go.
There are kits on the market. Here's one: Pierce 7.5 Ton Trailer Dump Kit

 

[davo727]

OK thanks guys, On that $550 pierce kit with the hydraulic parts, do you know if they give you the dimensiions or plans of the scissor thing? Thanks, Dave