Dump Trailer Remote; DIY

[wirenut]

Installed wireless remote on dump trailer today. Took about 3 hours due to engineering "on the fly". For those interested in doing it, I'll share some details.

Take one of these;
Wireless Winch Remote Control Twin Handset 12 Volt Easy To Install Free Shipping | eBay

Add one of these;
Two DPDT Signal Relays Module Board, 12V, for MCU Proj. | eBay

Hook up like attached jpg........Well maybe not like that.
I required the DPDT relay, as my trailer is power up and down.
Total cost about $24.00
So far, it works really well, at least 50' range. Have to see if it holds up long term.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I've been thinking of doing something similar if I ever add hydraulics to my tilt bed trialer like I want to.

Questions: Do you have to hold the button down the whole time the trailer is dumping? If so, how responsive is the dump when you let off? I.e. how instantaneously does it stop dumping after you let off the button?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Another question: Do you have some kind of bypass so that you can still operate the dump without the wireless remotes?

 

[SLHawkins]

Wirenut,
Great Idea. I did the same years ago when I bought my dump trailer. No more standing between the truck and the trailer. The wireless remote control cuts my time at the dump in half. Once I get the tarp off and doors open, I can climb back in the truck power down the bed as I am heading back to the scale house or exit. The remote allows me to raise, or lower, the body while the truck is moving or simply move the truck without having to connect and disconnect any cables. Another idea, which is covered in other threads on here, is running a power cable directly from the battery to the trailer. Now I do not have to worry about batteries dying mid-dump anymore. That was one of the first things I did when I got my new truck. And, thanks to the upfitter switches in Ford, installation of the cable took maybe 30 minutes. Happy Dumping!!

Hawk

 

[wirenut]

I've been thinking of doing something similar if I ever add hydraulics to my tilt bed trialer like I want to.

Questions: Do you have to hold the button down the whole time the trailer is dumping? If so, how responsive is the dump when you let off? I.e. how instantaneously does it stop dumping after you let off the button?

Yes, Iplay, you do have to hold the button during travel. The relays and radio operate very quick. There is some travel when you let off, but very little.

 

[wirenut]

Another question: Do you have some kind of bypass so that you can still operate the dump without the wireless remotes?

No by-pass needed. The relays allow the "wired" remote and the "wireless" remote to be completely isolated. You can just use the wireless by clicking on a power switch, or just use the old wired remote, like normal. A previous comment pointed out the benefits of the wireless very well, so that's what I'll be using.

These "cheap" radios can also be used on winches. Don't know about reliability or life-span.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

No by-pass needed. The relays allow the "wired" remote and the "wireless" remote to be completely isolated. You can just use the wireless by clicking on a power switch, or just use the old wired remote, like normal. A previous comment pointed out the benefits of the wireless very well, so that's what I'll be using.

These "cheap" radios can also be used on winches. Don't know about reliability or life-span.

Thanks for the responses. I added a Harbor Freight remote winch to a trailer I used to have. I really liked the remote option because I could be back steering a vehicle while the winch was pulling it up onto the trailer. There was a bit of travel after you let off the button, though.

 

[SLHawkins]

These "cheap" radios can also be used on winches. Don't know about reliability or life-span.[/QUOTE]

There wireless remote that I am using for my dump was made by Warn to be used with their winches. I am going on 7 years now with the same remote and same battery. It has even sat through two deployments and still lights up when I push the buttons. There is no time lag between the time I push, or release, the buttons and the body raising/lowering or stopping.

Hawk

 

[Artisan]

Nice and cheap but all that has to be weatherproofed.
HERE is another option...

 

[wirenut]

Nice and cheap but all that has to be weatherproofed.
HERE is another option...

I did enclose all this in a plastic box, and it is under the battery cover. Not 100%, but I think it will be fine.