Dump Trailers

[rswyan]

I was just asking if it was a written law.

Well, if it is, one could probably find it somewhere in here:

New Hampshire Statutes: CHAPTER 266: EQUIPMENT OF VEHICLES

 

[gboudreau]

Dmace I've looked at the downeaster as well and they appear to be well constructed, not as heavy as some others, but I am sure they will get the job done. Look on nh craigslist as there is a downeaster dealer in Tilton which advertises all the time on there in the farm section. they advertise the #7000 model you were looking at around $4000 and I have seen them advertise the #9900 model for under $4500.

 

[Dmace]

Dmace I've looked at the downeaster as well and they appear to be well constructed, not as heavy as some others, but I am sure they will get the job done. Look on nh craigslist as there is a downeaster dealer in Tilton which advertises all the time on there in the farm section. they advertise the #7000 model you were looking at around $4000 and I have seen them advertise the #9900 model for under $4500.

Thanks! I have actually been talking with Joe of the Trailer Outlet in Tilton and he gave me a great price on a Low Profile 7K Down Easter dump trailer. I am just comparing specs and prices before pulling the trigger.

 

[bdeboer]

DMace, I read your comments on the 7K. If you plan on hauling stone you will only be able to haul about 2 Ton due to the weight of the trailer. If you are not hauling stone and using mostly for firewood or mulch you may be OK. The other thing is the 10' bed may be a little short if you are getting loaded with a front end loader. Some of the operators around here seem to have trouble getting the load centered on my 6x10. I end up having to shovel stone to the front or have a pile of stone on the battery box.

 

[Dmace]

DMace, I read your comments on the 7K. If you plan on hauling stone you will only be able to haul about 2 Ton due to the weight of the trailer. If you are not hauling stone and using mostly for firewood or mulch you may be OK. The other thing is the 10' bed may be a little short if you are getting loaded with a front end loader. Some of the operators around here seem to have trouble getting the load centered on my 6x10. I end up having to shovel stone to the front or have a pile of stone on the battery box.

Honestly, the majority of it's use will be around the yard hauling firewood, rocks and dirt from the hill in my front yard to the hole in my back yard. I am sure I will be getting loads of gravel and loam from time to time but not a regular occurrence. I will also be hauling around my ATV's, UTV's and on rare occasion the tractor without the backhoe. The 2-1/2 ton (little over 5,000lb) capacity is more than enough since I don't plan on upgrading my 1/2-ton truck and it's still more than I could haul with my old 1-ton dump truck so it will easily replace that.
I certainly would like to go to a 12ft trailer but none are available in 7K GVWR so I would have to derate the trailer to around 8K or chance hauling around a 10K trailer that's over-rated for my truck. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[bdeboer]

I am not sure which brand you are looking at, but the registered weight on my Bri-Mar 6x10 10K deckover dump trailer is 2320 lbs.

 

[Dmace]

I found this gem as a private sale and am pretty sure I will be picking it up this weekend. It's a 2004 DownEaster 7'x12' 9,990lb GVWR deckover trailer in very good shape. There is some rust where the paint is chipping but no rot and the tires look brand new. The hydraulics look new and work well with no leaks. It's bigger and heavier than I was looking for but I think it will fit my needs even better and I will just get a separate equipment trailer for hauling the tractor.

He's looking for $2900 and said if I show up with $2700 it's mine! :thumbsup:
What do you think?

 

[fatboyinmaine]

looks like a 6x10 according to downeasters website, im in the market too. im looking for the same size but wanted wet lines for the tractor only. i lived in topsham maine where downeaster is located, been there a bunch of time looking at there trailers. looks like a great buy..

 

[Dmace]

looks like a 6x10 according to downeasters website

It's not a new trailer, the bed is 6ft-8in wide by 12ft long. You can only get that size in the heavier duty scissor-jack models now.

 

[fatboyinmaine]

oh ok, thanks for the info. i learn more and more every time i am on this site!!

 

[Dmace]

I should also mention that this is the info he sent me, I have not seen or measured it in person. The pictures he sent me sure do look like the 6x10 trailers, I just took his word for it...
Either way, it's larger than I really need. :thumbsup:

 

[Diamondpilot]

Looks like a good deal. I would start at $2500 cash then work your way up. $100 bills always talk in my neck of the woods. I usually buy 10 to 15% below asking price with cash. Many times I walk away and get a call on my cell phone to come back in under 10 minutes.

Chris

 

[Dmace]

So I went and bought that trailer today. I had an idea that it was indeed a 6x10 and was right, we measured it and it was 6'3" wide inside the box and 10' long with the tail gate up.

I told him I really wanted a 7x12 and offered $2500 cash (brand new this trailer is $4,000-$4,500). A few signatures later, I was leaving with my trailer. :thumbsup:
It pulls like a dream and the tires look brand new, with the brake controller set on half power I can lock all four tires and drag it empty on pavement so they definitely work. The hydraulics are dry and quick (2500 psi) and I look forward to loading and unloading many many tons of material. That poor RAM just got another load that it's gonna have to pull on a regular basis but I know it will day in and day out like it has for the past 7 years and 100k miles trouble-free.
Pics: (click thumbnails for larger images)


Here's some videos of it going up and down:
Going Up -- Going Down

 

[Diamondpilot]

Looks really nice and well built. I knew you could get it for $2500 like I said. Now you have it all covered with all them things to tote.

Chris

 

[Dmace]

Already putting it to work today! It lifts a decent load faster than I thought it would.

 

[CurlyDave]

That is a pretty decent load for that trailer.

I have a very similar 6' x 12' trailer and if I go much over 1/2 way up the sides with rock and dirt I am over the 9990 GVW. You would be amazed at how dense rock and dirt are.

Of course, you are leaving the sides of the trailer empty so you might not be overloaded yet.

 

[Dmace]

That is a pretty decent load for that trailer

I wish I could know how much weight was in there as I was loading like a scale on the side or something. It dumped that with very little effort but did get slow towards the top as the battery was running out of juice. I was told by the previous owner that if you do not unplug the wire harness from the truck while dumping then it can overload the 30-amp fuse on the trailer. Any one know if there is any truth to this...?
I would like to leave it plugged in so the battery doesn't run low while dumping heavy. Maybe I just need a new battery, I would think a good fully charged battery would dump that load without showing any signs of power loss.

So far, I am really liking it!

 

[Diamondpilot]

I wish I could know how much weight was in there as I was loading like a scale on the side or something. It dumped that with very little effort but did get slow towards the top as the battery was running out of juice. I was told by the previous owner that if you do not unplug the wire harness from the truck while dumping then it can overload the 30-amp fuse on the trailer. Any one know if there is any truth to this...?
I would like to leave it plugged in so the battery doesn't run low while dumping heavy. Maybe I just need a new battery, I would think a good fully charged battery would dump that load without showing any signs of power loss.

So far, I am really liking it!

I have always used my uncles 14,000# dump with it plugged into either my F-350 or his F-150 and previous Expedition with out any issues. Do you have your truck set up to charge the trailer when it is running?

Chris

 

[Dmace]

I have always used my uncles 14,000# dump with it plugged into either my F-350 or his F-150 and previous Expedition with out any issues. Do you have your truck set up to charge the trailer when it is running?

Chris

Thanks, I was hoping you would chime in as these are new to me. I do have some 10 gauge wire running to the #4 pin with a 30-amp fuse that I already had setup for my travel trailer and it charges fine. Measured 12.8 volts at pin when truck is idling. The trailer has a 30-amp fuse in the box between the charge wire and pump solenoid.

I would be willing to bet he overloaded the trailer and it popped the fuse while trying to lift it and he thought it was because it was plugged into the truck. Unplugging it from the truck every time I dump something didn't make sense, I should have known they wouldn't design something like that.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think you are on to something. Also, many times a trailer like that may go 6 months without use and the battery may be near dead then one hooks it up and tries to dump it. That is what leads to the fuse blowing.

If it were mine I would pull it up next to the shop and clean all the connections, check the wires in the plug for good connection and proper sizing, and put the battery on a trickle charge over night. Charge it a few times a year and that along with your charging circuit on your truck you should be in good shape as long as the battery is good and up to the task.

Chris