A cheaper dump trailer

[GrantMO]

Has anybody bought or seen one of these <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.enasco.com/prod/ProductDetail?sku=Z09151N&title=Farm+%26+Ranch/>trailers</A> in action? They're alot cheaper than the heavier duty ones I've seen. Would they hold up for just around the farm use like hauling manure?

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Grant,
I couldn't make the link work, but I bet your eyeing on the "Tandem Hydraulic Tilt". I have also been looking for a dump trailer, but continue to procrastinate. This link <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=114318&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=dump%20trailer&Match=And&Searchpage=5&Limit=50&Old=allposts&Main=114318>Dump Trailer</A> had a similar trailer and others, with some reviews.

 

[JackIL]

Grant,

The wagon you are looking at is made by Country Manufacturing of Fredricktown, OH. They also make small manure spreaders. Check out their website at: www.countrymanufacturing.com. I have a one of their 1 Ton trailers and a 2 Ton Wagon. I use the Trailer as part of my lawn vac system and it works well. Even though the wagon is rated for 2 Tons, I have not put anything close to that on it. I don't regard these as industrial strength construction intended for rough usage.

There are other manure spreader manufacturers to consider if that if your primary need. These include Fuerst (sold through Farm and Fleet and other similar farm stores) and Mill Creek. Both Fuerst and Mill Creek have Web sites that show their products.

Jack

 

[Anonymous Poster]

JackIL

I also have been looking at that same trailer for lawn vac purposes. Could you elaborate on your setup and post a picture. Thanks,

Shoppintractors
Don

 

[JackIL]

Shoppin,
The attached photo shows the trailer with my current tractor, a Ventrac 4200 (31 hp) with 72 inch deck. I started from the 6 foot trailer from Country Manufacturing and modified it extensively. The Vac itself is made by EZ Vac (now known as Bluebird International). Trailer dumping is shown in next post.

 

[JackIL]

This composite photo shows the same lawn vac system in use several years ago with the Steiner tractor and 72 inch deck I had then. I added the hydraulic lift cylinder shown in the lower right to the original Country Manufacturing trailer.

The trailer holds 42 bushels. The entire top is vented and is covered with a full width and length aluminum exhaust chute that directs the flow to the rear. The vac system has internal swinging blades and a screen (miniature hammer mill) that shreds the grass and leaves. There is also a small chipper unit on the side to deal with branches and twigs. I have had the trailer in operation since 1983. This is the second vacuum unit I have had on it. I am very pleased with the operation of this system.

One note of caution for those interested in vac systems is that they really, really don't like to deal with wet grass and leaves. Mine can handle grass that is 8 inches or so tall by driving very slowly, but grass that is wet from dew or rain can often cause plugging of the hose. My boot attaches to the mower deck with a quick release connection, so it is relatively easy to remove it for clearing plugs. Plugs almost always occur in boot or within the first two feet of the hose unless the trailer is completely full and it blocks up at the connection to the trailer.

Jack

 

[Anonymous Poster]

JackIL,

Could you go into some detail on how you added the hydraulic cylinder. The manufacturer only offers it with a manual dump feature(hand operated hydraulic jack). Is yours self-contained or operated off the tractor hydraulics?

Shoppintractors
Don

 

[JackIL]

I did not purchase the Country Manufacturing Dump Option. I built my own with a 3 inch bore by 16 inch stroke cylinder. I also added the mounting flanges under the deck and on the front frame to attach the cylinder to. I moved the location of the bed pivot pin rearwards and lower in order to get a high tilt angle--it came out to be 47 degrees. The cylinder is powered by the tractor through rear outlets.

I modified the original trailer extensively, but it was a good starting point for what I needed.

Jack

 

[GrantMO]

Jack,
Yep, that's just like the one I saw in the nasco catalog or on enasco.com. Al is right, I'd love to have a bigger one with 7000# capacity but I'm not sure I can justify 3-5K just to park it and fill it with manure most of the time and only occasional haul some deco rock etc.

 

[beenthere]

Jack
What are the dimensions of the wagon you are showing in the attached picture. Is this the one you are interested in purchasing?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

JackIL,

You've really peaked my interest. Any chance you could post some closeup pictures of the trailer. My brother-in-law is into welding and I think we could tackle a project like this. I have an older trac-vac tow behind that I can pull the vacuum off of.

Thanks,

Shoppintractors
Don

 

[Hoeman00]

My neighbor works for country manufacturing.
I didn't know they had these trailers around.
I am in process of building one.

 

[dummy]

Yes, some more pictures of how you modified the trailer would be great. Would a canvas cover have worked for the top?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Here's a link to Country Manufacturings trailer page <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.countrymanufacturing.com/frameset.htm>Country Manufacturing</A> Scroll down to wagons & trailers on the left side of the page. These trailers come in 6ft. or 7 ft. lengths and are 38 inches wide.

Shoppintractors
Don

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Seems like the trailers from Country Manufacturing are like the old barge wagons or flare box wagons. Could farm trailer running gear be made into a dump trailer? Gear or hydraulic to trailer bed and a hinge pin. Not sure how the center of gravity changes with the height of the floor of the trailer.

Around here, farm trailer running gear with a hay wagon set-up or old gravity boxes, even chopper wagon running gear can be picked up at auctions or implement dealers very reasonable.

Not sure if this could be done.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I kept thinking about this. Then I did some searches. The only examples with photos that I could find were scale model toys. This was the best. It actually gave John Deere model numbers.

model 963 running gear + model 150 hoist = a cheaper dump trailer

While it is a photo of a scale model toy, it does illustrate the idea. I'm sure other manufacturers offered the same type set-up. While doing the searches under "barge wagon" a number of hits came back for auctions.

This gets me thinking. A trailer like this would be ideal for hauling firewood, compost, leaves, kids - whatever. Might have to start looking around...maybe find one. Even build one. Local farm trader newsletter has NEW 5 ton running gear with rims, no tires for $459. Used hay wagon trailer in same publication for $150. Trip to the scrap yard might be in order.

 

[Hoeman00]

I've been kicking around converting my 6 x12 single axle trailer (2X4X1/4" wall tube frame)
to a tandem axle dump trailer.
Dad has a couple sissor hoists from 2ton trucks.
I need to replace floor w/ 3/16 steel plate and build removable 1/8" steel sidewalls.
Then build new subframe w/ tongue and w/ axles on it and hinge in back.
A 12v pump w/ quick-disconnects to use on truck then use remote on tractor.
Then I had an idea, Found some used 10' contractor dumps (low side walls) $300.00
didn't see yet but could be poor shape.
U could do same thing w/ wagon gear and find cheap dumpbed and put together.

 

[SynergyDPM]

Here is a web site that has 'ready made' or will custom make a trailer for you. A high floatation (tires) tandem trailer for under $800. Add a hydraulic sissor-type lift for about $400! Sent to you via UPS package(s).

Check it out.

http://www.autosalvage-sas.com/carts.html

Dave