Dump trailer direct wire?

[notaz3]

I installed a winch wiring cable for both front and back. Not sure how it would work for a dump trailer; but, have used it for winching and works great. Only precaution is limiting run time.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Bulldog-Winch/BDW20348.html

As mentioned I wouldn't removed trailer battery because it is also need for emergency break away.

 

[Gord Baker]

Buy a Spare Battery. Eliminate all the connectors etc. You will need a substantial Switch like a Solenoid. Perhaps a DPDT if you also have to power down.

 

[LD1]

Buy a Spare Battery. Eliminate all the connectors etc. You will need a substantial Switch like a Solenoid. Perhaps a DPDT if you also have to power down.

What would I need to switch? And why would I need a couple pole double throw switch?

 

[Fxfymn413]

I use the Anderson style connectors on my dump and hydraulic dove tail goose neck trailer batteries as well as my tractors and pick up. This allowed me to create a "modular" system to provide emergency power to any battery that gets weak by plugging the trailer into the tow vehicle. I also keep a set of jumper cables that I made that plugs into any of the connectors.

I do keep the batteries in the trailers, but I also keep a battery maintainer on all of them which greatly enhances their life.

Keeping small batteries in the various electric start small engines I use was killing me, so now I just jump them from one of the tractors in lieu of keeping batteries in them.

I use #2 welding copper wire and it works fine for my application. The longest set I have is about 25 feet.

 

[woody]

I keep a battery jump box in my truck all the time. I have used it on the dump trailer, the rollback trailer and sometimes I use it to jump something off.

 

[nikerret]

@LD1, what did you end up doing, with this?

 

[LD1]

2ga pure copper welding wire, 24' with an anderson connector out the back of the truck.
Same thing but 8' hooked to the trailer battery.

Plug it in when I hook trailer up is the plan. Havent done it yet.

DOnt use dump trailer behind the truck much. Mainly only to deliver firewood. Everything around my property it gets hooked to the hydraulics on the tractor. So I dont imagine ill have a change to try it for another few months, but I dont anticipate any issues

 

[Sonny580]

Your plan should work for casual use, BUT installing a REAL hydraulic system is the only way to go. I junked my battery system and went with an old combine pump, 8 hp gas motor, and standard 2-way valve for the power up plus power down that my trailer has!
Got tired of new batteries going dead half way thru the dump cycle.
Gas motor raises and lowers the bed 10 times faster than the original junk the factory had on it and I am a happy camper!
I use the trailer every day a LOT so even tho it is another motor to maintain, its worth it to me.
On some jobs the motor never gets shut down. we move dozens of loads of dirt a day with it now.

 

[LD1]

Your plan should work for casual use, BUT installing a REAL hydraulic system is the only way to go. I junked my battery system and went with an old combine pump, 8 hp gas motor, and standard 2-way valve for the power up plus power down that my trailer has!
Got tired of new batteries going dead half way thru the dump cycle.
Gas motor raises and lowers the bed 10 times faster than the original junk the factory had on it and I am a happy camper!
I use the trailer every day a LOT so even tho it is another motor to maintain, its worth it to me.
On some jobs the motor never gets shut down. we move dozens of loads of dirt a day with it now.

Casual is all I ever need out of the electric part of the dump.

I have quick connects on the hoses at the pump. I disconnect them and plug them into tractor remotes for most of my needs. No need for a gas motor/pump combo when a couple hydraulic hoses to the tractor do the trick nicely.

Hauling logs from the woods, doors stay open. No need to even get off seat. Hit lever and keep driving.

 

[Sonny580]

Sure-Trac????? WOW, so is mine,--cept mine is older than yours--- think mine says 2007 on the man. tag! They are good trailere BUT their idea of runnin wires thru the frame tubing was about the stupidest idea on the planet!! Rodents have a field day in there. ALL of the wires on mine are destroyed and there is no way to put new ones in there, besides,--who wants them in there.
Gotta run sealed conduit on mine when I get a chance and forget about the "in-frame" stuff! lol!

 

[4570Man]

Casual is all I ever need out of the electric part of the dump.

I have quick connects on the hoses at the pump. I disconnect them and plug them into tractor remotes for most of my needs. No need for a gas motor/pump combo when a couple hydraulic hoses to the tractor do the trick nicely.

Hauling logs from the woods, doors stay open. No need to even get off seat. Hit lever and keep driving.

View attachment 717905

Does your hardwired trailer pump work sufficiently? I had to put duel batteries in mine because one wasn’t doing it sufficiently. My trailer isn’t a daily used piece otherwise I’d set it up to use my truck hydraulics or put a gas motor on it.

 

[LD1]

Does your hardwired trailer pump work sufficiently? I had to put duel batteries in mine because one wasn’t doing it sufficiently. My trailer isn’t a daily used piece otherwise I’d set it up to use my truck hydraulics or put a gas motor on it.

Haven't used it yet. And probably won't for another couple of months.

Only use it when delivering a load of firewood.

All the uses around here it goes behind the tractor with remotes

 

[4570Man]

You won’t deliver firewood for a couple months? Im going to be sold out and done in a couple weeks.

 

[LD1]

You won’t deliver firewood for a couple months? Im going to be sold out and done in a couple weeks.

I don't advertise. It's hit or miss when I sell, just depends on when/If we get any cut. It ain't about making the money, rather needing to keep woods clean and trails cleared. Only about 20 cord (full) or so a year. I have always sold out by December selling it for just about what everyone else does in my area....bout $170 per cord. Then always have people needing more and we out.

People don't know how to plan and budget. Come Jan or Feb everyone is scrambling to find wood.

So this year...I'm holding out til later in the season when everyone is desperate and wood is selling for $200-$220

 

[Renze]

Back in the day i worked in truck and trailer bodybuilding, we allways used an extra battery on the trailer for any hydraulic powerpack for a dump or a tail lift, with a separating relay that didnt allow the truck battery to feed the trailer battery unless the D+ on the truck was excited (meaning alternator is running) meaning the trailer can never drain the truck battery rendering it unable to start the vehicle to recharge.

The trailer was connected through a direct cable from the battery with an Anderson plug, as used in electric forklifts, because trailer light plugs arent meant to carry this current.

 

[4570Man]

I don't advertise. It's hit or miss when I sell, just depends on when/If we get any cut. It ain't about making the money, rather needing to keep woods clean and trails cleared. Only about 20 cord (full) or so a year. I have always sold out by December selling it for just about what everyone else does in my area....bout $170 per cord. Then always have people needing more and we out.

People don't know how to plan and budget. Come Jan or Feb everyone is scrambling to find wood.

So this year...I'm holding out til later in the season when everyone is desperate and wood is selling for $200-$220

I don’t advertise anymore either. I’ve sold to previous customer for the last few years. I know all too well about peoples planning and budgeting problems. I used to get messages all the time with people wanting a half face cord delivered asap because they just put their last stick of wood in the fire and they only have money for 1/2 face cord. Waiting farther into the year to sell properly isn’t a bad idea but I’d rather move my stockpile of wood that I have on hand now and be done with it. It’s better working conditions now and there’s no salt on the roads now. I won’t cut and split any until the temperature drops in the 60s though.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

A hint for wiring trailers, whinches, etc. which need to have heavy guage wire. Every year about now, the autoparts stores put jumper cables on sale. I can get a 30-ft set of #2 gauge jumper cables for 15 or 30% less than the cost of buying just that much wire. I keep a couple of sets of. Jumper cables around, to use when i need heavy gauge wire.

 

[LD1]

I don’t advertise anymore either. I’ve sold to previous customer for the last few years. I know all too well about peoples planning and budgeting problems. I used to get messages all the time with people wanting a half face cord delivered asap because they just put their last stick of wood in the fire and they only have money for 1/2 face cord. Waiting farther into the year to sell properly isn’t a bad idea but I’d rather move my stockpile of wood that I have on hand now and be done with it. It’s better working conditions now and there’s no salt on the roads now. I won’t cut and split any until the temperature drops in the 60s though.

I understand.

It's been wood cutting weather here for the last few weeks.

Got maybe 20 cord home in log form. Mostly bucked and about 10-12 cord split.

The weather don't bother me. Takes about 5 min to load a full cord on the dump trailer with the grapple and just grabbing in the pile. So don't have much time spent working in nasty weather

The way I see it....I only have time to cut a given amount of wood in the year. And it takes the same amount of time to cut, haul, split, deliver, etc. So rather than jump the gun and sell early season discount wood. I'll set on it and get more $$$ for my time.

 

[LD1]

A hint for wiring trailers, whinches, etc. which need to have heavy guage wire. Every year about now, the autoparts stores put jumper cables on sale. I can get a 30-ft set of #2 gauge jumper cables for 15 or 30% less than the cost of buying just that much wire. I keep a couple of sets of. Jumper cables around, to use when i need heavy gauge wire.

Yup. It's done with 2ga.

I tent to shy away from cheap jumper cables. Usually cca wire and the clamps suck.

Make sure you are comparing apples to apples when comparing jumper cables to wire