Hauling the Bota

[LBrown59]

Nice trailer :
Have you ever used it to haul dirt sand or gravel.
If so how do you get it unloaded?

Original and rebuilt .... $750 for the trailer and about $500 in tires, fenders, new deck wood and paint. The back started out straight and I cut it so the back 2 feet dropped down. Fun project ....

 

[radioman]

Nice trailer :
Have you ever used it to haul dirt sand or gravel.
If so how do you get it unloaded?

I have a similar trailer to firefighter's except its 16 ft and has permanent metal railing all the way around. I put 2X12's all the way around using u bolts so it would hold firewood and gravel without spilling anything. When i unloaded the trailer, I just drive up the ramp and scoop up the stuff and drive back off.

Does this help to answer your question lbrown?

 

[Ace3]

Nice job on the trailer. Makes me think that I should rebuild mine this spring.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Very nice trailer rehab BX. Good looking work. Did you stain the decking? The color almost looks like you used Trex decking.

I use to do the same the same as Brown, with the 2 x 12 sides I could haul mulch, fire wood etc, then drive up the ramps, grab a scoop....

The problem was unloading all at once. Ie firewood, doesn't lend its self to scoops too (especially on these smaller tractors) well and taking a load of roofing material to the recycling center, I got tired of unloading that by hand so I figured I try the dump trailer.

I all ready see the pros and cons of both. Looking forward to the summer so I can really start to use the dump trailer to its full potential...

Actually I already hauled a load of snow.....emptied the trailer in under 60 seconds. THAT WAS NICE

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Original and rebuilt .... $750 for the trailer and about $500 in tires, fenders, new deck wood and paint. The back started out straight and I cut it so the back 2 feet dropped down. Fun project ....

BX the one thing I see you are missing,.... A quick pin tongue jack, keeps you from having to crank that handle around 30 times to stow the jack...

I already ordered one for my new trailer. I love this one from Northern Tool

Bulldog Square Tube Trailer Jack — 5000lb. Capacity | Trailer Jacks | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[LBrown59]

\ When i unloaded the trailer, I just drive up the ramp and scoop up the stuff and drive back off.

To avoing going up an down the ramps with the tractor I was considering scooping or pushing the dirt gravel etc off from the sides of a deck over.
It may even be possible to do that with a fendered trailer.
Anyone tried unloading a trailer of either type that way?

 

[LBrown59]

Very nice trailer rehab BX. Good looking work. Did you stain the decking? The color almost looks like you used Trex decking.

I use to do the same the same as Brown, with the 2 x 12 sides I could haul mulch, fire wood etc, then drive up the ramps, grab a scoop....

taking a load of roofing material to the recycling center,
*I got tired of unloading that by hand so I figured I'd try the dump trailer.

I all ready see the pros and cons of both. Looking forward to the summer so I can really start to use the dump trailer to its full potential...

Actually I already hauled a load of snow.....emptied the trailer in under 60 seconds. THAT WAS NICE

Here is comething I may also find handy in unloading a trailer


Could push or pull stuff from either side or the rear of the
trailer.

*That's where a pick up with a dump bed that I am wanting to pull a trailer with would be great. http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/?action=view&current=100_2442-1.jpg

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/?action=view&current=100_2442-1.jpg

 

[LBrown59]

1*I could haul mulch, fire wood etc, then drive up the ramps, grab a scoop....
I all ready see the pros and cons of both. Looking forward to the summer so I can really start to use the
2* dump trailer

1*With this method the tractor has to be at the unloading site. Con.
2*Don't need a tractor at the unloading site.Pro.

 

[Q-Saw]

Firefighter,

I haul my L-3400 with a 16' dump trailer, and I love it. I've used it to haul sand, gravel, topsoil, lumber and logs, and the unload is fast (except in winter). The front bulkhead is taller than the sides and I mounted a pressure treated 4x4 on top of it to set my bucket and forks on. This works pretty well for me. And, although I was worried at first of clearance problems with my pickup cap, it has not been a problem.

My only clearance problems have been with the backhoe and the brush hog sticking out the back. With the backhoe, I drop the bucket over the rear gate after I've closed it. With the brush hog, I've bungied the rear gates closed as well as secured them fully open (mine will fold flush with the sides of the trailer). It sticks out about 2 feet - a red flag and I'm all set.

I did get some of those ladder protectors made for protecting siding from the ends of an extension ladder. I slip those over the ends of the forks to prevent headaches while hitching or unhitching.

I went to a place that makes tarps for semis and had a a real heavy vinyl tarp custom made to fit the trailer - it fits like the lid of a shoebox. I also installed a small battery charger in the battery/pump box. 30' jumper cables (mine have the connector in the grill of the truck) come in handy for winter dumps when the hydraulic fluid is like molasses.

I plan on replacing the battery/pump box with a larger toolbox to house the hydraulics as well as chains, straps, traffic cones, etc. I'll probably add another battery at that time also. I'm a little ticked that the manufacturer used such a small box - it only has room for the hydraulics and one battery. I'm also thinking about adding a winch for loading, and perhaps some tubes to the bottom of the frame that I can store the forks in.



I've been very happy with the dump trailer - I've gotten a lot of use out of it.

Marty

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

To avoing going up an down the ramps with the tractor I was considering scooping or pushing the dirt gravel etc off from the sides of a deck over.
It may even be possible to do that with a fendered trailer.
Anyone tried unloading a trailer of either type that way?

I use to do that also. Spent more time shoveling crap in to the bucket. Unless the trailer is perfectly level with the bucket, and you have a large pile, its more effort than its worth

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

[

Thanks Q-Saw,

Nice setup. Obviously the extra 4 feet you have makes a world of difference....

I think I'll end up just bungeing the doors behind the grader blade.

I'm in the porcess of making brackets for my forks on the sides of the bed walls.

Wow! that is a small battery / hydraulic box...Mine is more substainial. I can sneek some straps and wheel chocks in there but with the plastic hydraulic tank I don't want to risk damage from chains / binders. So....

I just pcked up all the material to weld up a 6 foot x 2 foot box that will sit under the trailer on the first set of frames behind the battery box...I don't care if my cahins and binders see some moisture. I can even add a gasket so when the dump is down, it should be pretty weather tight..

I have to remember to take picture of the process this time....

Keep on dumping!!!!

 

[WayneB]

I have custom brackets to run chain through on my machine.

Hey Scott, I having trouble figuring where you bolted them too?

Wayne

 

[lawn_king]

The front brackets on both machines bolt through factory holes in the frame. The rears on the 3540 are bolted through the factory cab mount holes over the rubber bushings, i replaced the factory hardware with longer stronger bolts. The rears on the B3030 are actually welded to the rops, at least they were. I sold that machine to ducktape last spring, he may have changed it?

 

[bx24]

Nice trailer :
Have you ever used it to haul dirt sand or gravel.
If so how do you get it unloaded?

My next project is a dump trailer (when I find some time)

Very nice trailer rehab BX. Good looking work. Did you stain the decking? The color almost looks like you used Trex decking.

The boards are plain old green treated, but I treated them with solid deck stain on all 6 sides. The solid stain hold up better than the clear stuff, and hitting all of the sides really makes the boards last a long time. Be sure to let the ends soak up as much as they will hold since that is where the rotting always starts.

BX the one thing I see you are missing,.... A quick pin tongue jack, keeps you from having to crank that handle around 30 times to stow the jack...

I already ordered one for my new trailer. I love this one from Northern Tool

Bulldog Square Tube Trailer Jack 5000lb. Capacity | Trailer Jacks | Northern Tool + Equipment

No doubt on the quick pin jack. My old one worked fine and I was getting ants'y when I was re-doing the trailer so I left the old jack. That will be my next mod ... Great idea

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Todays Leason...

Snow covered steal has a much smaller coefficiant of friction than does pressure treated decking. I you already know, I'm a one strap guy when hauling short distance, well at the urging of fellow TBN'ers I did use a second strap today, See pics for front strap, and ran the rear thru a shackle in the draw bar.

Well, when I got to my destination the whole tractor had shifted laterally in the trailer..
This never would have happened on my PT deck equipment trailer. Also due to D ring location I was not able to bind the forward strap as snug as I would have liked, because the ratchet was too close to the FEL.

Solution:
A. New D rings welded forward on the trailer to give me a longer run so ratchet clears the FEL. DONE!

B. Rhino line the deck to increase friction under the wheels. When the weather is warmer I'll do a home kit. Dump trailer yes, but also a tractor hauler!

C. Picked up additional strap for the rear to have 2 independent straps pulling from the draw bar (This will eliminate sliding along a strap)



Also see the grader blade in the pic. I can close the rear gates IF I crank the top link fully. What a pain in the rump...

Solution. Since I'm in the process of installing rear remotes, guess I'll have to get a hydraulic top link . Oh well!

now to find the $$$

 

[lawn_king]

CHAINS & BINDERS!!! I wouldnt haul a wheelbarrow with ratchet straps!

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

CHAINS & BINDERS!!! I wouldnt haul a wheelbarrow with ratchet straps!

Straps rated for 3500# with a BS of 10000# I got no problem using straps.

We've hauled 5000# bobcats with straps. My bota is less than 1500#

Thousands of tractor trailers can be wrong and they are DOT approved to use ratchet straps.

Once you get the tractor in the trailer, there isn't much room to do alot of binding....At least up front...

Like I saide earlier, strap are lighter and easier. This was a matter of older habits and a new enviroment.

On my way home I used 3 straps, 1 forward and 2 rear. It Didn't move a bit...

 

[lawn_king]

Im not saying you are wrong. to each their own. I myself wouldnt haul without C&B.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

I would agree. each their own... If I had a larger tractor Bigger than a 3030 ,then I probably would use chains.

 

[WayneB]

Im not saying you are wrong. to each their own. I myself wouldnt haul without C&B.

Scott you do it every week and I agree 100% on chains.

I had mine tied down with straps and when I got home one of the straps had rubbed on the frame and finally tore through. Nothing happened just pure luck.