Off Road Dump Trailers Revisted...

[jeffinsgf]

Last week there was a discussion of off road dump trailers. While some of the folks with bigger tractors are using road ready dump trailers behind their tractors in order to get more utility from the unit, those of us with 3000 pounds of tractor should not exceed about 4500 pounds of trailer and load. With that limit in mind and after a good bit of research, I chose the Country Manufacturing 2 ton Wagon Style Dump Trailer. After getting the trailer this week, I am pretty sure that I made the right choice for me.

The trailer is sort of a "trailer kit". It arrives in pieces and the hydraulic cylinder and hoses are not included. The trailer sells for $1390.00 delivered to a business address or a terminal close to your place. I spent about $200.00 for the cylinder and hoses. So, for about 16 "attachment bucks", I have the capacity to move 4000 pounds of material around my place and dump it where I want.

I am satisfied with the construction of the trailer (so far). I wish the back door was something other than a panel that drops in a pair of slots, but that may become a project for my welder some rainy day this Spring. I'll report further once I have had a chance to really put the trailer through its paces.

I have added some pictures of the trailer in the photo section of the site, one of which is attached here.

Here's the thread from last week:

Pird's Trailer Thread

Here's Country Manufacturing's site:

Country Manufacturing 2-ton Utility Wagon

 

[drm]

Jeff,

The trailer looks good. I have been eye balling that one for a while. Hope to be able to justify the purchase this fall. Let us know how it works out.

...Derek

 

[Tevi]

Northern Tools has one simular for $999 w/o cylinder and they also have an 1.5 ton all metal with a 2 way tailgate and removable sides and complete with hyd. cylinder for $1799

 

[kayssupply]

I got the Northern Tool trailer the next size down. It is not what I expected. It has a small bottle jack to raise the bed. It won't raise high enough to actually dump a load of dirt. The little trailer is very handy but not worth the price. The one pictured, looks much better, even though it is twice what I paid.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Tevi, Northern's 999.00 is the tandem axle version made by the same company. That price is before shipping, so the difference is minimal in the end. Northern doesn't sell the wagon style (wheels in front). The 1.5 ton is a lot smaller.

 

[Catmando]

I always have some dirt to haul around the yard. Was thinking about buying or making a small dump wagon. My question is does the dirt have much of a tendency to stick on the wood bed? It looks like your wagon tilts to about 45 degrees. Is that correct?

 

[jeffinsgf]

I think the angle is a little more upright than 45. I'll try to measure it sometime. I'll let you know about the sticking situation...I have some clay to move this weekend.

 

[CTyler]

I have the 2 ton tandem wheel unit and have been happy with it. Have hauled well over a 100 yards of dirt with mine. It will dump past 45 deg.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Well, I've followed several of the dump trailer threads and was really taken with the prospect of having/building one. ... I'll have to pass for now due to lack of interest in spending the cash or time on such .... this seems to work fine for now (attached) (Those of you attentive to [certain] details will note that, although the trailer is close to vertical, it did not dump ... that's what happens when you experiment when the clay is still waaaay too wet.)
Cheers!

 

[MicroPilot]

It also doesn't help that by lifting the front you closed the tailgate!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[HomeBrew2]

Yeh, forgot to yank it off before dumping ... the BH fixed that right up though /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Scozz]

I hvae the same kind of dump trailer!!! Only mine is made out of an old 275 gallon oil tank made into a trailer. Worked well for a while ... gets old though ... I'm in the middle of converting an old Army Suprlus trailer into a hydraulic dump as we speak (write) ... I'll post some pix's when its done ... probly a few weeks out ...Scozz

 

[HomeBrew2]

Yeh, I'll bet it does get old. Glad to know somebody else had good luck doing it. I have very little dumping work to do at present. Good luck with your new one!

 

[MadReferee]

Update:

These wagons are on sale thru the end of April 2005. Sale price is $899 + shipping. Regular price is $1390 including shipping.

The sale might save money for those within reasonable shipping distance from their central Ohio factory. For example, shipping to a business in southern New Hampshire is only $178 so I would be saving $313.

Country Manufacturing 2-ton Utility Wagon

 

[jeffinsgf]

Ooohhhh, I hate when this happens to me! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Think I'll give them a call tomorrow and whine a little.

By the way, I really like the trailer. Had a little trouble with the steering control arm -- I don't think it was tightened when it was delivered and that led to some minor damage. I pounded it back out, put the impact wrench on the linkage, and it seems good as new (or better).

Re: clay sticking -- it doesn't. I am getting a full dump with complete clean out of the bed. Treated lumber shrank when the sun hit it, and now there are some major gaps between the boards. I'll add a new one to take up the gaps someday.

I had my local hydro shop make me up some adapter hoses, so now I can tow the trailer with either my tractor or my Bobcat. The Bobcat is much easier to back the trailer with, since you can turn on a dime and you are actually going forward instead of backward. I think I will change the hitch to a pintle hook set up instead of the drawbar pin. I have had it in a little bit of a bind a time or two --- someday either the top or bottom plate of the draw connector is going to snap.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Further update --- Country Manufacturing refunded me 325.00 -- the difference between the sale price plus shipping and the list price, which included shipping. They didn't say what age orders they were willing to do this for, but mine was less than 2 weeks, and they did it without much of a discussion at all.

 

[rswyan]

That's a very good price - if they would have had it when I was looking I probably would have went with one .... rather than deciding to building my own. I could have saved a couple hundred at the time I was looking by picking it up at the factory, but it still would have been around $1200.

So Mad, are you considering one of these - or did you go with the Kory ?

Jeff - what size hydraulic cylinder are you using on yours ?

 

[MadReferee]

I'm probably going to cancel the order for the Kory. The only committment I have with the Kory dealer is that I would call by the end of April and he would have running gear and bed for me at his quoted price of $915 delivered.

For an additional $162 I can get a completed Country Mfg unit shipped to my door. It's probably a wash on parts and steel cost but I really save on my labor.

 

[rswyan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( For an additional $162 I can get a completed Country Mfg unit shipped to my door. It's probably a wash on parts and steel cost but I really save on my labor. )</font>
Well considering that I started building mine at the end of last summer and it's still not finished, I gotta agree with the logic. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

It would have been really handy to have this past week, with the nice weather.

I assume you are going with the wagon and not the trailer ?

 

[MadReferee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I assume you are going with the wagon and not the trailer ? )</font>

Yes.