Trash Trailer discussion

[DaKing]

I generate a lot of trash. I have a dumpster. A new dump has opened about 2 miles from my office.

I bought a new ~14,000# 14' Dump trailer. Plan was (is) to park the trailer and use it like a dumpster. Then haul to near dump site every 2 or 3 weeks.

Problem is, the site may remain empty for days, and I'm concerned about theft. I have implemented anti-theft measures :

Removable coupler
Removable safety chains (theft can occur by raising trailer, wrapping chains around hitch of truck, then lowering)
Alarm system
Wheel booting ( like a parking boot)
Trailer is behind a fence
Trailer is insured

However, after having this nice dump trailer for a few months, I'm kinda thinking I may use it for other things. And buy a simple cheap trailer.

So, I bought a real cheap 5X6 trailer with wood sides. It's about the size of a dumpster. It is VERY light, and can be moved like a wheelbarrow. This is actually not good, as someone could just wheel it away. However, the trailer does NOT look good. I'm hoping the ugly looks of the trailer will deter theft.

The other issue is it is not a dump trailer, so I would need to adjust the way I dispose trash. Currently, I just dump the trash can in the dumpster, no trash bags. It would not work to simply dump the raw trash in to this non dumping trailer. This has caused me to increase my trash handling infrastructure. I must now use trash bags. This is to make unloading at the dump easier, as I would be able to just grab the bags and toss em out at the dump.

Honestly this is more work than I would like. Thus the discussion.

I'm thinking of putting a conveyor belt or something like that. Hand crankable belt that will move the trash out of the trailer. I have also seen something like this for pickup trucks, it is just a sheet of something that pulls the load out of the bed.

Or rebuild the box of the little trailer so it pivots, and use a hand winch the lift it.

Who here has built or use a trash trailer?

 

[4570Man]

I just use my dump truck. I’m surprised 1 ton dumps aren’t more common. I’d rate the dump bed on the same scale as having a FEL on a tractor. Any loads on my truck go on and off because I want it empty to haul something else on short notice. If I had a need for a continuous use dumpster I’d probably get a self tipping forklift dumpster that you can dump into your dump trailer.

 

[ddbackhoe]

I generate a lot of trash. I have a dumpster. A new dump has opened about 2 miles from my office.

I bought a new ~14,000# 14' Dump trailer. Plan was (is) to park the trailer and use it like a dumpster. Then haul to near dump site every 2 or 3 weeks.

Problem is, the site may remain empty for days, and I'm concerned about theft. I have implemented anti-theft measures :

Removable coupler
Removable safety chains (theft can occur by raising trailer, wrapping chains around hitch of truck, then lowering)
Alarm system
Wheel booting ( like a parking boot)
Trailer is behind a fence
Trailer is insured

However, after having this nice dump trailer for a few months, I'm kinda thinking I may use it for other things. And buy a simple cheap trailer.

So, I bought a real cheap 5X6 trailer with wood sides. It's about the size of a dumpster. It is VERY light, and can be moved like a wheelbarrow. This is actually not good, as someone could just wheel it away. However, the trailer does NOT look good. I'm hoping the ugly looks of the trailer will deter theft.

The other issue is it is not a dump trailer, so I would need to adjust the way I dispose trash. Currently, I just dump the trash can in the dumpster, no trash bags. It would not work to simply dump the raw trash in to this non dumping trailer. This has caused me to increase my trash handling infrastructure. I must now use trash bags. This is to make unloading at the dump easier, as I would be able to just grab the bags and toss em out at the dump.

Honestly this is more work than I would like. Thus the discussion.

I'm thinking of putting a conveyor belt or something like that. Hand crankable belt that will move the trash out of the trailer. I have also seen something like this for pickup trucks, it is just a sheet of something that pulls the load out of the bed.

Or rebuild the box of the little trailer so it pivots, and use a hand winch the lift it.

Who here has built or use a trash trailer?

I would vote for bags and the moveable floor. Harbor freight has the tarp type for 39.99 I would give it a whirl or you could use a manure scraper chain if you have one/

 

[shooterdon]

Between burning what I can and recycling, I have reduced my trash significantly. I have a 2 cubic yard dumpster and it gets emptied 3-4 times a year. I have to pay for a dump every 3 months even if I do not need it, so I let my neighbors use it for things they cannot burn. Costs less than $200 a year. I could save some by taking trash to the dump myself but it is not worth it....I am a bit lazy.

If I had to do it, I would use my beater plow truck and put a dump bed on it. I have seen the dump bed kits for about $2000. It would take a lot of trash to pay that back. But the dump bed would come in handy for a lot of other uses too so might be worth looking at.

 

[wagne223]

Just some thoughts......not knowing your exact situation.

How much per month or year do you pay for dumpster service?

What is your time worth?

Have you taken measures to reduce your trash production?

Do you have a burn pile?

 

[crashz]

I've done exactly the same as 4570 and bought a dump truck. And I use it all the time! It put my pick-up truck out of work (the pickup sits in the garage now, watching TV with cheese ball dust all over the grill, mumbling "I'll look for a job next week" ).

But to answer your question, try the tarp idea, but be prepared to sweep it out. You'll have spillage. I also imaging that the wood floor will make it harder, so try using some geo-textile as a liner and it should slip easier.

Try to avoid tipping the trailer, as this can be a disaster if the load is imbalanced. Same with a winch type tipping mechanism. This will require a whole new sub-frame and some work to get it right. Throw a respectable paint job on it and its now a coveted item.

If this is every three weeks or so, its not so bad using the plain trailer. I'd still bag the trash though, just to keep it from flying around and keep your area cleaner as well as making it quicker at the dump. Helps to avoid the trash soup that will inevitably collect in the trailer.

 

[aczlan]

I would get the Harbor Freight version of a load handler to start with. That should pull most of the trash out. Beyond that, what if you winched the 5x6 trailer into your dump trailer (strapping it in somehow), then used the dump on the dump trailer to dump the smaller trailer?
You might need to mount a couple of small wheels or skids to the front of the little trailer to make it easier to drag in, but that shouldn't be a huge deal.

Aaron Z

 

[DaKing]

Thanks for reply

Just some thoughts......not knowing your exact situation.

How much per month or year do you pay for dumpster service?

$70mo

What is your time worth?

quite a bit, hence having a dumpster for nearly 10yr. I actually don't mind towing, or hooking up trailers. It's like a hobby for me. I own a few trailers

Have you taken measures to reduce your trash production?

I run a business at this location. I get many large items, boxes and so on. As odd as it seems, I would prefer more trash. More trash means more items, more items mean more money

Do you have a burn pile?

I live in the desert, most plants around here will go up quicker then a match. I do burn though, mostly weeds and dead plants

 

[DaKing]

I would get the Harbor Freight version of a load handler to start with. That should pull most of the trash out. Beyond that, what if you winched the 5x6 trailer into your dump trailer (strapping it in somehow), then used the dump on the dump trailer to dump the smaller trailer?
You might need to mount a couple of small wheels or skids to the front of the little trailer to make it easier to drag in, but that shouldn't be a huge deal.

Aaron Z

You know, when I first read this, I thought it was nuts and a silly idea. Adding more work to a simple task...

However, I like the concept a lot. Modified a little, and it would be awesome.

A "container" on wheels that I can winch on to the dump trailer. I was thinking about installing a winch on the dump trailer.

 

[newbury]

If your trash is like scrap iron the HF style movable belt won't work. If it is bags of office style trash, styrofoam cups, uncompacted cardboard, light stuff it should do fine.
The HF style unloader is good for about 2,000 lbs. I've put a 3,000 lb load of gravel on it, then to unload push a bunch off the top and crank the remaining off. I usually put an HF tarp (about 11x19) on top of the unloader fabric with the long side going from the top of the tailgate forward across the bed, then throw the remaining on top of the cab before they dump the gravel. Then fold it back over the load when done filling the bed. This covers the load on all sides so I don't get stones on litigious suburbanites.
Then when unloading it all cranks off easy.