Unloading pickup with help from my tractor

[Sodo]

It depends how many loads you need to do and how often. I don't even have a place to park a $7,000 dump trailer (at my home) much less make it pay. Sorry not Tractor related but neither is a dump trailer.

I tried putting a tarp under the load (of garden mix) then pull it out with a winch. Not a chance, ripped the tarp (very light plastic bluetarp doubled). So I tried to "roll" it out tying onto the front of the tarp. Not a chance.

I had the 'idea' once about filling the bed with 5 gallon plastic buckets, with a tarp below. Have NOT tried this!

The skidsteer dumps all over the whole array of buckets. Then you level off with a shovel, filling the rest of them. Now you have a bunch of discrete loads that you can distribute where you need the material. Or dump the buckets off the tailgate DOWN into a wheelbarrow. Down is good. Then there is the spillage between the buckets, which could be 10-20% remaining, but its distributed over the tarp, and may be easy to pull out. Square buckets exist too, if you can find them.

 

[k0ua]

It depends how many loads you need to do and how often. I don't even have a place to park a $7,000 dump trailer much less make it pay.

I tried putting a tarp under the load (of garden mix) then pull it out with a winch. Not a chance, ripped the tarp (very light plastic bluetarp doubled). So I tried to "roll" it out tying onto the front of the tarp. Not a chance.

I had the 'idea' once about filling the bed with 5 gallon plastic buckets. The skidsteer dumps all over the whole array of buckets. Then you level off with a shovel, filling the rest of them. Now you have a bunch of discrete loads that you can dstribute where you need the material. Or dump the buckets off the tailgate into a wheelbarrow. Then there is the spillage between the buckets, which is maybe 10-20% fremaining. Square buckets exist too, if you can find them.

Cat litter comes in square buckets.. I have lots of them.

 

[ENC]

Sounds like it is to late for more opinions, but before we got out dump trailer at work and we had to dump something heavy like shingles, we would tie a chain to an old spare tire. Run the chain to the back of the trailer. When you get to the dump hook the chain to something heavy or machinery and pull it out. It would surprise you how much wasn't left in the trailer.

 

[prosperity]

Well we had to start getting some firewood. I think the most upsetting part is I am never unprepaired like this. Lesson learned - don't buy certain things used like an oil furnace!

Here is our effort from Thursday. Loading that little 5'5" box just about wiped both my wife and myself out. So frustrating - I used to skid all my own wood in from the woods, cut it, and split by hand.

Here is our usual stockpile when done in the summer:

And our feeble little load from this week:

I've left the load on the truck parked in the barn. We are just loading the bucket right from the truck and bringing in to the house:

Will likely have to get 3-4 more loads like this - just have to take our time with it.

I really appreciate all the comments and opinions here in this thread. Once we get through this winter I am going to have to evaluate what to do. To replace the oil furnace will be around $3k which I don't have. But now after taking a good look at all the options generated here, if I don't put the furnace in I will have a tri-axle load of firewood delivered (5.5 cord). Same with the stone getting a tri-axle load to fix up the driveway.

 

[BHD]

they make box that are et in to the pcik up bed that dump,

here is one that works some what like a roll off dumpster, AmeriDeck ChoreMaster Pick-up Truck Dump Box
here is one that works like a regular dump truck
Dump Bed

and they make small dumps that go under the current pick up bed,

Stealth Dump Trucks, Inc. Pick-up Truck Dump Bed Kits (757)890-4888

 

[corl]

You could always make a box for the back of your pickup that you could pick up with pallet forks with your tractor and move anywhere you wanted. Could load the box with the FEL outside the truck and then pick up the box with the forks and put it in the truck and vice versa. Saves the paint on the truck and much of the dirt too.

 

[prosperity]

You could always make a box for the back of your pickup that you could pick up with pallet forks with your tractor and move anywhere you wanted. Could load the box with the FEL outside the truck and then pick up the box with the forks and put it in the truck and vice versa. Saves the paint on the truck and much of the dirt too.

That's a good idea! Only I am a little hesitant as I only have ~700# lift weight with the little JD 2520.

 

[jlgurr]

Here's an idea from my Handyman Magazine.

 

[RAYJAY]

dump trailer are great, I'm in Pa also got mine form powell's sales a couple of years ago for getting my coal as for burning wood that is way to much work did it got the tee shirt and never again.... look at coal for a heat source a lot cheaper and tons better even heat plus you look to be right in coal country.
don't know the size of your house and your heating needs,

but if it cam down to oil or coal, coal would win for me,

as for heating here i have NG , still use coal on the house and shop shop does 4 ton a year and the house id 5 ton
cost per ton is 170.00 at breaker total heating cost is app. $1580 for the year on a large bi level house and a 30 x 40 pole barn including my DWH my ng bill for the shop alone was running 150 to 200 a month keeeping it at 45 to 50 when i was not out there and turning it up to work floor was always cold and damp, now its 68 to 70 and the floor it warm from keeping a Constance heat in there

here is my dump trailer cost was under 3,000 with the better jack ,led lighting , and adj ball mount very welbuilt trailer for the money, like me your only crutch is the 1/2 ton truck, the gravel is a no brainier triaxle is the way to go,



fuel based chart for heating just plug in your numbers
Fuel Comparison Calculator for Home Heating

coal forum site
Anthracite Coal Forum - NEPA Crossroads

trailer site
Cross Country Manufacturing: Trailers, Equipment, Landscape, Utility

Powell's
Truck Equipment Sales Pennsylvania | Powell Equipment

if you need more info or just chat pm me for my phone number

Jeff

 

[Dutch445]

another coal burner here!
i'll only burn 3-4 ton for our small cap cod, but **** it's been cold
and wow has the house felt great..
just wish i had access to your coal pricing!

 

[RAYJAY]

another coal burner here!
i'll only burn 3-4 ton for our small cap cod, but **** it's been cold
and wow has the house felt great..
just wish i had access to your coal pricing!

Dutch with only 4 ton the dump trailer is a option, and a boat load of guys are at the breaker ever time i go there, with the trailer I'm running its 2 ton at a time for hauling could do more but the truck i have does complain....lol not on pulling stopping is a little ruff at times ( it comes down to1/2 tons today are not real trucks ... my 94 f150 could tie this silverado in a knot with no problems ....) however, did you think about buying a tri axle of coal? its a outlay of money but your covered for number of years

Jeff

 

[Dutch445]

jeff that thought crossed my mind, or splitting it with some friends. but i am getting older and like buying
it bagged. and for 3-4 ton, it isn't really all that much. i know people burn a lot more than that!

 

[jonnyc1999]

I bought a Bagster dumpster bag from Home Depot and use that to unload my truck. My tractor was a little underpowered for actually lifting a load of gravel, but I was able to slide the bagster backwards and dump out some gravel as it slid over the edge of the truck. I also have a 5.5' bed (2002 F150 supercrew) and it seemed to work well for me.

 

[Dutch445]

That's a good idea! Only I am a little hesitant as I only have ~700# lift weight with the little JD 2520.

maybe split this box into 2 boxes, so you know the tractor will lift with the forks. you can always lift 1 box off, then pull the 2nd box
out to the back of the bed and then lift it.

you said you had to load the truck? does that mean where you bought the firewood you had to manually load the wood into
the box? maybe another supplier has a bucket loader that can help load.. into a couple boxes in the bed of the truck. what few
pieces miss the boxes can be handled easy instead of tackling the whole load...

 

[RAYJAY]

what brand bag coal do you buy??

Jeff

 

[Dutch445]

try to get blaschak when i can, picking up a ton tomorrow. we have mostly reading, and blaschak brands
around here. there may be others....