Dump bed hydraulics

[jwmorris]

I am going to convert a trailer I have over to hydraulic dump. I went and looked at a friends trailer and it uses a 3.5" diameter 25" long one piece ram. Looks like the easy way (and cheap) to do it but it will cause me to loose some ground clearance due to the angle it would have to be mounted. The difference was 11" in height between the mounting points with the bed all the way down.

Looked into telescoping cylinders, likely the best way but I am too cheap to spend $700 for just one part of the system.

Scissor style seems like it might help with the ground clearance issue but I haven't found one to look at and measure/copy.

Looking to dump a 10' bed containing no more (likely a full ton less) than 6000lbs.

Any ideas?



This is the one that Looked at and measured the other day.

 

[Dr Dave]

Look on Craigs list for wagon scissors lift, I found one for $75, last week someone had 2 running gears with lifts for wagon$150 each.

Dabe

 

[jwmorris]

I have looked on Craigslist and eBay this last week and only found new units for over $1000. I would certainly give $150 for one though.

Anyone have dimentions on units like these?

 

[cschulz]

Here is a place that you can buy plans and build one yourself.


Chris
www.DumpBeds.com - The only resource for do-it-yourself dumpbed plans

 

[Xfaxman]

This type has an extra hinge, or pivot point, in it.

 

[Dr Dave]

Try placing a want add on crags list , many farmers have these setting around.

Dave

 

[LD1]

How much ground clearance would you loose with one like your friends??

With a dump trailer, you basically need two frames. One for the hoisted part of the trailer, and one for it to set on. Since you said "converting" a trailer, I assume you only have a single "frame" if you add the new frame that dumps to the top of it, you wont loose much ground clearance wouldnt think.

And that 11" difference in pin heights can be played with a bit. Same with cylinder sizes and lengths until you get the optimum force and dump angle you want. The difference in pin heights isnt really what is important (only for ground clearance). But what is important is the angle of the cylinder. The angle in combination with the diameter of the cylinder, and PSI will dictate the lifting force. A longer cylinder (with the same difference in pin heights) will give a steeper dump angle, but the longer cylinder will be a lesser angle, and thus lesser force.

 

[jwmorris]

What I have right now is a tandem axle, 5200 pound torflex, non power tilt trailer. It is a center pivot gravity tilt built for Hertz to haul equipment. I will have to modify the lower frame a bit to make it hinge at the rear but it should be pretty simple. The lower mount, if I made it like the black trailer above would be 3" below the bottom of the axle.

Not a deal breaker on the street but I would like to not have the issue on the farm with crowned paths.

 

[LD1]

You can put two smaller diameter cylinders out by the tires/spring hangers. A lower ground clearance out there would be lesser of an issue than a lower clearance right in the middle

 

[Rustyiron]

You can put two smaller diameter cylinders out by the tires/spring hangers. A lower ground clearance out there would be lesser of an issue than a lower clearance right in the middle

Good point:thumbsup: