Converting small utility trailer into dump trailer?

[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.