Converting small utility trailer into dump trailer?

[4570Man]

Have you timed the quarry run? I seriously doubt you’ll make 12 miles round trip and get loaded and scaled in the quarry in 35 minuets. Waiting on another truck in front of you would burn half your allotted time. You might get it unloaded in 15 minuets but you still have to spread it which the truck driver would do. And you haven’t subtracted your fuel and equipment maintenance either. Blowing a tire on your trailer would set you back quite a few loads in savings.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Have you timed the quarry run? I seriously doubt you’ll make 12 miles round trip and get loaded and scaled in the quarry in 35 minuets. Waiting on another truck in front of you would burn half your allotted time. You might get it unloaded in 15 minuets but you still have to spread it which the truck driver would do. And you haven’t subtracted your fuel and equipment maintenance either. Blowing a tire on your trailer would set you back quite a few loads in savings.

Yes, there are a lot of variables that could come into play. My point was to the extreme perfect world. But, it would still be cheaper to do it myself. The main purpose of this post was to try and find the most economically cheapest way to get it accomplished. There are other issues at hand, that I won't get into currently. I will say at this time, it's easier to come up with $50 and my time and get a few loads, nearly impossible to come up with $400 +- for a load. I'll leave it at that

 

[s219]

I agree, it's nuts. I generally haul anything under 5-6 tons myself. If it's more I get a full load (16-20 tons) because the haul fee is peanuts compared to the time, and it's much more efficient to scoop and spread from a large pile on the ground.

When I do haul stone myself on my 7x16 trailer, normally I can only get 1-2 good scoops with the front loader before it's no longer possible to get a healthy scoop. Then the shovel comes out. I am pretty efficient at it, but it still wastes a lot of time.

 

[bcp]

Put your trailer box on rollers. Place blocks under the trailer rear end. Then pull it back with your tractor until it rolls off the end and dumps.

Sort of a more refined version of this idea.

Bruce

 

[tomplum]

It does seem obvious that something like a road agreement should be in place. I assume these people pay taxes, spend money on some kind of vices. That 12 pack of beer or package of smokes in their cart every week can turn into a share of gravel if it needed to. Everyone should contribute something. If everyone threw 200$ a year in the hat, there's your gravel delivered every other year.

I thought of you today as the misses wanted a yard of 1/4- for her pathways- which went home in the trailer. Thinking I could use a few yards of 3/4 now and some in the fall for a project behind the shop, I ordered another 12 yards today. 44$ per yard picked up at the since I don't ya price or 450$ for the 12 delivered.

I guess a guys gotta do what a guys gotta do. Plus one should only do what he can afford. Hats off to you for taking it on. Really. The real question will be, how will you feel about doing it again in the coming years?

 

[HCJtractor]

My opinion is what you’re trying to do is impossible. With a small box blade and a small tractor, there’s no way you’re going to re-crown a mile long road, re-establish drainage ditches, and haul 300,000 pounds of gravel and spread it precisely. Your trailer will wear out, your truck transmission will break, and you won’t dent what needs to be done. A professional tells you 60 grand, so that’s clear it’s a large task, even with the proper equipment..

I’ve hauled small loads of gravel. A ton doesn’t go very far at all. And a box blade, especially with out several rear remotes to control the angle, isn’t the tool to grade ditches and crown a road. A light land plane won’t do that much either with the situation you describe. I applaud your desire to do it yourself but I just think you are biting off way more than you can chew.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

It does seem obvious that something like a road agreement should be in place. I assume these people pay taxes, spend money on some kind of vices. That 12 pack of beer or package of smokes in their cart every week can turn into a share of gravel if it needed to. Everyone should contribute something. If everyone threw 200$ a year in the hat, there's your gravel delivered every other year.

I thought of you today as the misses wanted a yard of 1/4- for her pathways- which went home in the trailer. Thinking I could use a few yards of 3/4 now and some in the fall for a project behind the shop, I ordered another 12 yards today. 44$ per yard picked up at the since I don't ya price or 450$ for the 12 delivered.

I guess a guys gotta do what a guys gotta do. Plus one should only do what he can afford. Hats off to you for taking it on. Really. The real question will be, how will you feel about doing it again in the coming years?

Technically, there is an agreement in the land / property owner covenants about the road. It states that if the majority of the land / homeowners agree to improve the road, the costs would be split evenly amongst them. Those that do not comply, could be taken to small claims court.

Unfortunately, that also costs money, and the result would be filing liens against those homeowners. The old saying goes "you can't get blood from a stone".

Fortunately, the homeowners that will assist monetarily all live on the first half of the road. We figure that we'll do that part and the rest are 'on their own'. If they can't get up the hill, or out of the mud...too bad.
They are also the ones that make sure they have their party supplies before anything else....so....

As far as doing it again....nope.... Part of me taking this on is for my own benefit. We will be selling this big house in the next year (hopefully) and I will be getting out of this God forsaken state. Worst place I have ever lived!

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Put your trailer box on rollers. Place blocks under the trailer rear end. Then pull it back with your tractor until it rolls off the end and dumps.

Sort of a more refined version of this idea.

Bruce

This is exactly the kind of ideas that I need. This will not be an easy nor a fast job, but any ideas to make it easier will help! Thanks.

I'm thinking steel pipe would be better for the rollers?

 

[Diggin It]

Not knowing what's available out there or your capabilities, is it possible to rent a dump truck, even a smaller one?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Not knowing what's available out there or your capabilities, is it possible to rent a dump truck, even a smaller one?

I have thought of this too. Yes, there is an equipment rental (heavy equipment) that has a single axle dump to rent. It's a little pricey at $850 a week. In the grand scale, yes it would be the way to go. Unfortunately, that cost, then the cost of the stone (all purchased in that same week) makes it too costly again. Everyone that can contribute to the costs, can only do little bits at a time. Either weekly of biweekly.

The costs of renting a truck plus the stone doesn't make much if any savings. It would then go back to just getting it delivered.

 

[Diggin It]

The first problem with any kind of trailer is that the front usually isn't separate from the frame. You'd have to find a way to do that, then add some kind of hinging mechanism to the rear. Once that's done, lifting the front could be done with some kind of a floor jack. Some of the 3 Ton units lift to 20" or so which should be more than enough to cause a loose load to shift as you drive 'out from under it'.

On a much, much smaller scale, I did one with an 'A' frame contraption on the front with a snatch block and winch.

 

[sandman2234]

Converting a trailer to a dump trailer isn稚 as easy as you seem to think. You壇 be in less work to completely build it from scratch. With that out of the way it痴 a completely ridiculous project. My dump truck will haul about 4 tons of rock way more than your trailer and when I need rock hauled I hire a bigger dump truck.

You made me laugh, thanks!
I had a 27 foot commercial 3 axle gooseneck boat hauling trailer that I didn't need, so i cut it down to a 20 foot flatbed and made it a pintle hitch that I could pull with my tractor. Later I decided I needed a dump trailer, so I cut 13 foot of bed and made it dump using a scissor lift and left the front part as a flatbed in case I wanted to haul something a little longer than the dump part. Doesn't get used much but it was a lot of work to do it.
David from jax

 

[shooterdon]

I am wondering why the cost is $12/T if you pick it up and $20/T, plus delivery, if delivered. Why is it 75% more for the bare stone?

 

[4570Man]

I am wondering why the cost is $12/T if you pick it up and $20/T, plus delivery, if delivered. Why is it 75% more for the bare stone?

That part doesn’t make sense. Probably a kickback to the truck driver. Has the op price shopped?

 

[aczlan]

That part doesn’t make sense. Probably a kickback to the truck driver. Has the op price shopped?

Or perhaps at least called a couple different trucking companies? If you specify that you are flexible on when it is delivered within a certain range, they might be able to give you a better price because they are already going in the right direction while dead heading back from another job.

Aaron Z

 

[Diggin It]

Has the op price shopped?

Or perhaps at least called a couple different trucking companies?

Yes ...

The next quarry is over 35 miles away. They want $500 per truckload of 24 yards of crushed concrete. No luck on finding any any other trucks / drivers. That is a big problem out here...very limited availability of services. What is available, they charge crazy prices!

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I am wondering why the cost is $12/T if you pick it up and $20/T, plus delivery, if delivered. Why is it 75% more for the bare stone?

It is that much cheaper if I pick it up due to a substantial discout given for "public service" employee (fire, police, ems). They can't discount if they use their drivers...

 

[crashz]

I think you are going to drive yourself nuts with what you have and what you need to do. My suggestion would be to rent a truck if you can (United has those small 5 ton trucks), a dozer, and roller.
- Take a week off from work
- Spend the first day getting used to the dozer and cleaning out the side ditches. Move the dirt into the road and have your buddy scoop it up with his bigger loader.
- Next day, spend the morning grading the base, roll it tight. Try to get your crown into the base if you can.
- Begin hauling gravel in the afternoon.
- Keep hauling it in the next day
- Next day, spread out the gravel and grade.
- Roll it so it does not move.

Or skip the rental truck, pay the rated (double check that discount criteria) price on gravel and delivery and rent the dozer. Push the loads out as they come. Send everyone a bill, and if you know the county sheriff, have them deliver it!

Yep - its will cost you something. Not $60K, but closer to $5-7K. Is that feasible and can the neighbors help? They need to understand they are getting a **** of a deal. No labor costs, discounted material and a tenth of the contractor quote. All 7 of them should be pushing cash into your hands and not letting you hold the bag,but I digress.

 

[ultrarunner]

I built and then later converted my box trailer to a dump just to use at the transfer station pit...

Being the trailer is single axle I used the axle as the pivot and adapted a camper jack to raise the load... work well enough but takes time to pump up the camper jack.

When I needed rock at the lower part of the property I brought it down one yard at a time and the first time had the trailer on an incline and shovel it out... the second time I unhitched and used the loader to lift the tongue which also worked...

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I think you are going to drive yourself nuts with what you have and what you need to do. My suggestion would be to rent a truck if you can (United has those small 5 ton trucks), a dozer, and roller.
- Take a week off from work
- Spend the first day getting used to the dozer and cleaning out the side ditches. Move the dirt into the road and have your buddy scoop it up with his bigger loader.
- Next day, spend the morning grading the base, roll it tight. Try to get your crown into the base if you can.
- Begin hauling gravel in the afternoon.
- Keep hauling it in the next day
- Next day, spread out the gravel and grade.
- Roll it so it does not move.

Or skip the rental truck, pay the rated (double check that discount criteria) price on gravel and delivery and rent the dozer. Push the loads out as they come. Send everyone a bill, and if you know the county sheriff, have them deliver it!

Yep - its will cost you something. Not $60K, but closer to $5-7K. Is that feasible and can the neighbors help? They need to understand they are getting a **** of a deal. No labor costs, discounted material and a tenth of the contractor quote. All 7 of them should be pushing cash into your hands and not letting you hold the bag,but I digress.

Great idea / plan, but even $5-7 K is way out of the question.... I would be REALLY lucky if I could $600 out of the other homeowners (and that would be from just 3 out of the 8). The other ones wouldn't even donate some labor!!. I'm not in a position to foot the bill either. The other neighbor's tractor doesn't really have that much of a bigger bucket (only a 4' wide bucket, but a little deeper. They have no attachments). They would at least spend the time / fuel to help out.