Forest River Dump trailer

[LD1]

Bucket according to Kubota is 13 cu ft heaped. So I had about 3.5-4 yards on it. So about 8000-9000#

As an update though, I called the dealer. He agrees it should be the 4", but won't be able to contact the mfg til Monday. He said either way he will make it right. This place used to build all their trailers, but with the cost of steel, he said they can't make em as cheap as they can buy them.

Pricetag was $4800+ tax. The 6x10 was $4600.

To jump to a 7x12 with two cylinders is $5500

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Bucket according to Kubota is 13 cu ft heaped. So I had about 3.5-4 yards on it. So about 8000-9000#

As an update though, I called the dealer. He agrees it should be the 4", but won't be able to contact the mfg til Monday. He said either way he will make it right. This place used to build all their trailers, but with the cost of steel, he said they can't make em as cheap as they can buy them.

Pricetag was $4800+ tax. The 6x10 was $4600.

To jump to a 7x12 with two cylinders is $5500

That's cheap! Nice.

 

[oosik]

That calculation sounds about spot on there LD1. Just as a side note - bucket capacity terms = = heaped - pretty obvious. Struck - bucket full and level with all four edges. Our mom's did a "struck measurement" when she would dip the measuring cup into the bag of ingredients and then scrape it level by pulling the cup against the side of the bag as she removed the measuring cup.

 

[LD1]

A 4" cylinder should just about double my dump capacity. With the 3" cylinder and a vertical push of 6500. Take 1500# or so off for the empty bed, and we arrive at 5000# max load for the 3" cyl. Jumping to 4" the vertical push is 11.5k. take off the same 1500# for the tare weight.... wholla....10k dump.which I think I'll be fine with

 

[Diamondpilot]

Bucket according to Kubota is 13 cu ft heaped. So I had about 3.5-4 yards on it. So about 8000-9000#

As an update though, I called the dealer. He agrees it should be the 4", but won't be able to contact the mfg til Monday. He said either way he will make it right. This place used to build all their trailers, but with the cost of steel, he said they can't make em as cheap as they can buy them.

Pricetag was $4800+ tax. The 6x10 was $4600.

To jump to a 7x12 with two cylinders is $5500

Wow. I bought my uncles ( he gave me a check and had me do the leg work picking a trailer then maintaining it for traded use) 14,000# 14' Bri-Mar back in 05 for $4200 new.

Chris

 

[LD1]

Update....

Havent got anywhere so far.

Talked to dealer, who called forest river. Dealer had them call me.

First guy I spoke with said that sometime last year they changed everything to 3.5" cylinders. As opposed to 5' wide trailers getting 3" and the 6' wide trailers getting a 4" and the 7' trailers getting a pair of 4's. That way they could only stock ONE cylinder.

Still dont explain why mine has a 3" cylinder on it. So I was transfered to someone else. Warranty manager I believe. And he said that no, the switch was a few years ago, and EVERYTHING gets a 3" cylinder now. Then the run-around and blame game started.....

I tried to explain that there is no way a 3"x 24" cylinder.....mounted as they have it.....will dump the ~7300# rated capacity of the trailer. I got asked all sorts of questions. Battery fully charged? did I check the pressure on the pump? IS this just speculation or did you actually try to dump a load? How much weight did you have on? Was it evenly distributed? Etc Etc. Then was told that trailer is only supposed to dump about 6000# max. I said NO, it says right on the side that the max cargo capacity is 7300 and change. And title in hand says empty weight is 2500 and change. And its a 9800 GVWR. HE kept telling me the trailer weighs 3300# empty according to his specs. :MUR: Well, his online specs also shows a 4" cylinder. I asked why the website wasnt up to date if this switch to an underpowered cylinder was over two years ago? He said something to the effect that there is a disclaimer on their site that says specifications are subject to change.

I bought a trailer with a payload capacity of 7300+/-. So I'd expect the hydraulics to be designed to dump around 10000# to have a little buffer. Because the nature of the way I intend to use the trailer, I will never know the exact load on it. Taking it to the woods and loading it with firewood, moving dirt around the property, etc. So I'd expect a little safety margin built in for less than ideal load distribution or overshooting the weight a few hundred pounds.

Bottom line, if you do the math, there is no way this trailer will dump its rated 7300# capacity with its 2500PSI hydraulics with anything less than a 4" bore cylinder.

After I got off the phone with the warranty manager, feeling I got no where, I called and talked to the manager of the whole place. Asked them if they had any engineers on staff that could run the numbers for him and confirm what I am telling them. And confirm that whoever made the decision to go from a 4" cylinder down to a 3" cylinder clearly didnt have an understanding of hydraulics.

This guy seemed alot better to deal with. And was gonna do some checking around and get to the bottom of whats going on, why the switch was made, talk to his "cylinder" guys, etc. He has until 3:00pm today to get back to me. Because he is either going to get me a 4" cylinder I can swap in there, or the trailer is going back for a refund.

A 3x24 cylinder on a 6x12 10k dump is just ridiculous. A lot of MFG use scissor lifts. But just a few I looked at

PJ uses 5x30 on similar
Bimar uses a 4"
Diamond C uses a 3.5 x 30 (with a longer stroke you can get better leverage to still have adequate capacity)
Cam Superline uses a 3.5x36
Load trail uses a 5x15.5 scissor

etc etc. 3" is just too small and I dont think they wanted to hear about it.

 

[Oldpath05]

("This guy seemed alot better to deal with. And was gonna do some checking around and get to the bottom of whats going on, why the switch was made, talk to his "cylinder" guys, etc. He has until 3:00pm today to get back to me. Because he is either going to get me a 4" cylinder I can swap in there, or the trailer is going back for a refund.")

Your post got me so upset that I'd want a full refund no matter what, that place/brand couldn't wouldn't pay me enough to keep that trailer. I'd take back my $$$ and go somewhere else. The lesson I learn here is if I buy a dump trailer, that dealer will put the rated load of gravel in it, then dump it, if it dumps out good, my wallet comes out.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Update....

Havent got anywhere so far.

Talked to dealer, who called forest river. Dealer had them call me.

First guy I spoke with said that sometime last year they changed everything to 3.5" cylinders. As opposed to 5' wide trailers getting 3" and the 6' wide trailers getting a 4" and the 7' trailers getting a pair of 4's. That way they could only stock ONE cylinder.

Still dont explain why mine has a 3" cylinder on it. So I was transfered to someone else. Warranty manager I believe. And he said that no, the switch was a few years ago, and EVERYTHING gets a 3" cylinder now. Then the run-around and blame game started.....

I tried to explain that there is no way a 3"x 24" cylinder.....mounted as they have it.....will dump the ~7300# rated capacity of the trailer. I got asked all sorts of questions. Battery fully charged? did I check the pressure on the pump? IS this just speculation or did you actually try to dump a load? How much weight did you have on? Was it evenly distributed? Etc Etc. Then was told that trailer is only supposed to dump about 6000# max. I said NO, it says right on the side that the max cargo capacity is 7300 and change. And title in hand says empty weight is 2500 and change. And its a 9800 GVWR. HE kept telling me the trailer weighs 3300# empty according to his specs. :MUR: Well, his online specs also shows a 4" cylinder. I asked why the website wasnt up to date if this switch to an underpowered cylinder was over two years ago? He said something to the effect that there is a disclaimer on their site that says specifications are subject to change.

I bought a trailer with a payload capacity of 7300+/-. So I'd expect the hydraulics to be designed to dump around 10000# to have a little buffer. Because the nature of the way I intend to use the trailer, I will never know the exact load on it. Taking it to the woods and loading it with firewood, moving dirt around the property, etc. So I'd expect a little safety margin built in for less than ideal load distribution or overshooting the weight a few hundred pounds.

Bottom line, if you do the math, there is no way this trailer will dump its rated 7300# capacity with its 2500PSI hydraulics with anything less than a 4" bore cylinder.

After I got off the phone with the warranty manager, feeling I got no where, I called and talked to the manager of the whole place. Asked them if they had any engineers on staff that could run the numbers for him and confirm what I am telling them. And confirm that whoever made the decision to go from a 4" cylinder down to a 3" cylinder clearly didnt have an understanding of hydraulics.

This guy seemed alot better to deal with. And was gonna do some checking around and get to the bottom of whats going on, why the switch was made, talk to his "cylinder" guys, etc. He has until 3:00pm today to get back to me. Because he is either going to get me a 4" cylinder I can swap in there, or the trailer is going back for a refund.

A 3x24 cylinder on a 6x12 10k dump is just ridiculous. A lot of MFG use scissor lifts. But just a few I looked at

PJ uses 5x30 on similar
Bimar uses a 4"
Diamond C uses a 3.5 x 30 (with a longer stroke you can get better leverage to still have adequate capacity)
Cam Superline uses a 3.5x36
Load trail uses a 5x15.5 scissor

etc etc. 3" is just too small and I dont think they wanted to hear about it.

I think i would just take it back.

If they are scimping on the cylinder who knows where else they did also.

 

[Haoleguy]

LD1 - If you think there is a chance you can return the trailer you might give that some serious consideration. In doing so, and seeing you're in Ohio, you might take a look at a 12 foot Moritz International dump trailer. They are manufactured there in Ohio and are well respected with real good specs.

 

[LD1]

Update:

Forest river agreed to send me a 4"x24" cylinder. The dealer (who also used to build trailers) called me and said the same thing. that they authorized a 4" cylinder to be shipped. And that he had some laying around from his building days, and to come get one.

So got one, got it installed, Loaded the trailer for a test.

Trailer lifted about 12" then dropped. Their anchor point for the rear of the cylinder is just 6" or 8" channel iron sticking down, mounted in its weak direction. Think U shape of the channel facing foward. Behind that, it was gusseted with a skimpy 1/4" gusset. Anchor block pushed through the piece of channel, and made a nice S shape out of the gusset. This caused the trailer to drop ~3" until the hydraulic fitting hit the lange of the channel and broke, pouring out fluid and coming the rest of the way down.

Took the trailer as loaded back to the dealer for a refund. Asked the old man if he though this trailer should dump the load. (~6000# by my guess). HE said "oh god yes". So I had him crawl under and look at the rear mount of the cylinder. He came back out from under the trailer just shaking his head. Said come inside we will give you your money back. And first thing in the morning Im calling them and putting a hold on all further deliveries.

Sometime (today maybe) they are going to weigh the load just for kicks.

I forgot to get pics, but have to head back there today anyway to take the title back and the 3" cylinder. So will get some pics then.

Everything else about this trailer is nice. What other dump trailer can I get, that comes standard with nice punched steel ramps (great for loading small tired equipment like a ZTR), battery included, roll top tarp included, D-rings in the bed, etc etc. And cost less than $5k.

Dont know what their intentions are (either dealer or MFG), but if I could buy back this trailer at a nice price and no warranty....then work my magic on it to make it bullet proof, that would be a worthwhile proposition. But will see what they say when I return the cylinder and title