Using FEL to dump trailer?

[npaden]

I just had an idea that might be stupid but thought I would see if anyone else has tried it.

I have a shop made 16' flat bed utility trailer. I am going to get 2 yards of pea gravel to put in my pond. I was thinking about loading it up and hauling it home (the gravel pit I'm getting it from is only 4 miles away with 2 miles of that on the highway and 2 on my lonely dirt roads) and then unhitching it from the pickup, chaining it up to the FEL on the tractor and then picking up the front of the trailer and dumping it out.

There really doesn't seem like there is anything on the back of the trailer that would break from hitting the ground on the back end of it.

Does this sound like a recipe for disaster or do you think it would work?

Alternatives are either trying to scoop/scrape the gravel off the trailer with the loader or shoveling it off or hiring someone to bring it to me.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Nathan

 

[john_bud]

When I built my trailer, I put the lights into a steel housing on the fenders, so the back of the trailer was free of lights, wires and fragile stuff, if your's is built the same way, it should be ok. Go for it.

Just lift slow and try not to bend the tongue.

jb

 

[beenthere]

Sounds like a great idea. I'd try something like that and find out. As long as the trailer can survive you lifting the front end and dragging it out from under the gravel you should be fine.

Pics would be great, before and after. We can all learn something here. Will you pick up the tongue with the bucket or will you put chains to each front corner of the trailer and to each side of the bucket?

I'd watch out for tractor stability when the FEL is raised, and backing up, and be prepared for a moment when the FEL needs to be dropped suddenly to regain stability. Then I'd worry about where the tongue of the trailer was at that moment. Hopefully not over the hood. Maybe get under the tongue with the bucket so the edge of the bucket is lifting the front trailer frame.

Wish you well and a successful 'unloading' program. I think it will work.

 

[bdog]

Should work. Put the gravel close to the rear of the trailer so that you do not have much tongue weight to deal with. I see you are in Lubbock so you don't have to worry about it rolling away down a hill while it is unhitched.

 

[daTeacha]

I think I'd rig the 3 point with one of those holey crossbars that fit between the link ends and put a hitch ball on the bar first. Adjust your link arms for maximum height if you have such an adjustment, then lift it as high as you can with the 3 point. You might find the back of the trailer on the ground at this point, depending on how the trailer is built. You should be able to push it off the trailer pretty easily with a shovel at any kind of angle.

Picking up the trailer by the hitch ball with the loader is asking for the trailer to tip to one side or the other since the tongue is not firmly attached to the loader. Definitely chain it to the loader rather than just sticking the bucket under the tongue and having at it. I'd also chock the trailer wheels so it doesn't tend to move around. I think to dump it you will need to lift the wheels a couple feet in the air.

 

[PBinWA]

I tried with my tractor once and just raised my rear wheels in the air.

It's all a matter of physics. If your trailer load is too heavy then you aren't going to be too successful.

PB

 

[3RRL]

Just a thought, but if you take the side rails off you could tilt the trailer from the side so you're not lifting it long-ways. Keeps your FEL a little lower I would guess? Tilt it back down and sweep the rest off.

 

[jmc]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think I'd rig the 3 point with one of those holey crossbars that fit between the link ends and put a hitch ball on the bar first. Adjust your link arms for maximum height if you have such an adjustment, then lift it as high as you can with the 3 point. )</font>

If you do this, keep in mind that nothing holds down the 3ph as the load shifts behind the axle.

If the truth were know, I think there have been a lot of damage outboards from people doing this exact thing with a boat with water in it. Raise the 3ph, water goes to the back of the boat, outboard motor goes into the concrete.

John

 

[beenthere]

Always need more ballast behind (on the rear) than the load one is picking up, just so the rear wheels stay on the ground. Fundamental rule for FEL work /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif And it is a matter of physics as you say. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif His FEL may not have the lift capacity to pick up the front of the trailer enough for the heavy gravel to slide off the back.

For the other posters suggestion, I for sure wouldn't try to dump it sideways, as I'd figure the trailer wheels would not take that kind of a side load. I'd expect a blown tire and/or a bent rim, and maybe even a broken spindle out of it.

 

[Jay4200]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I just had an idea that might be stupid but thought I would see if anyone else has tried it.)</font>

Not yet, but I couldn't imagine any other way to do it. Your tractor can easily pick up the front of a trailer. As long as you aren't crushing the lights/plate, no prob.

Hook a chain across the front, attaching close to the trailer bed as far apart as possible. Hook the chain to a hook on the top of the bucket, then curl the bucket back - the bottom of the bucket will hit the chain(s) and help to prevent a roll.