Temporarily overloading a dump trailer by a lot

[bdog]

I have a 16' gooseneck dump trailer. It weighs right at 5k empty and the GVWR is 15,640 lb. I need to deliver and spread 5 tons of gravel to a house in town next week with no good place to dump. I can't get the trailer to the area where the gravel is going.

I can drive my skid steer up and into the dump trailer. I can even haul it in there when the trailer is empty. I was thinking I could leave the gravel in the dump trailer and drive the skid up in there and unload it bucket by bucket to take it to the site.

My concern is the trailer will be right at 15k with the gravel in there and my skid weighs 8,500lb. I wouldn't be moving with that weight but it is going over the limit by a lot. Worried abound bending an axle, etc.

I have thought I would try and get some of the gravel out before driving up in there but I don't think I can get much.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Can you dump the gravel directly into the bucket?

 

[aczlan]

What if you put jackstands under the front and back of the trailer frame so they take most of the extra weight?

Aaron Z

 

[bdog]

Can you dump the gravel directly into the bucket?

I could try but it my limited experience it is hard to dump small amounts. Once it starts coming it is hard to stop. Also the trailer is 7' wide and my bucket is 6'. Basically anything I spill is going in the street and is going to be a hassle to clean up.

 

[bdog]

What if you put jackstands under the front and back of the trailer frame so they take most of the extra weight?

Aaron Z

That is a good idea.

 

[bcp]

What if you put jackstands under the front and back of the trailer frame so they take most of the extra weight?

Aaron Z

A couple under the center area of the frame would be good, too.

Bruce

 

[2458n]

Dump it in the street and load into bobcat. Clean up what you leave with a square point shovel and broom.

 

[s219]

I used blocks when unloading gravel from my flatbed trailer one time. However, it only took 1-2 scoops before I realized how inefficient it was. Due to angle climbing the ramps, you just don't get much of a bite into the heaped pile. It was faster for me to put the bucket on the back of the trailer and shovel it full. And I hate shoveling, but it was just the best way.

I'd say dump it and scoop properly, then sweep up afterwards.

 

[pohorsky]

You could also bring a bunch of sheets of plywood, dump the gravel onto the plywood, and when each sheet of plywood is mostly empty tilt any remaining gravel onto the next sheet. Much less sweeping involved.

 

[Sysop]

I have a 16' gooseneck dump trailer. It weighs right at 5k empty and the GVWR is 15,640 lb. I need to deliver and spread 5 tons of gravel to a house in town next week with no good place to dump. I can't get the trailer to the area where the gravel is going.

I can drive my skid steer up and into the dump trailer. I can even haul it in there when the trailer is empty. I was thinking I could leave the gravel in the dump trailer and drive the skid up in there and unload it bucket by bucket to take it to the site.

My concern is the trailer will be right at 15k with the gravel in there and my skid weighs 8,500lb. I wouldn't be moving with that weight but it is going over the limit by a lot. Worried abound bending an axle, etc.

I have thought I would try and get some of the gravel out before driving up in there but I don't think I can get much.

That trailer is rated to take the weight at highway speeds. Impacts of bumps or potholes and such are going to load the suspension and frame with much higher PSI forces than simply slowly and gently pulling up in to remove the load bucket by bucket. Average roadway impact in a pothole or similar at freeway speeds is about 3 to 5 times the static weight that is on the tire. You will hurt nothing with your idea. Jackstands under the corners as recommended above, will also be a good solution to help minimize and shifting as you're pulling in and out...