Dump Trailer

Iplayfarmer · May 29, 2007

I finally got some time to get back to working on this dump trailer. I didn't take any pics because the work I've done lately hasn't really changed the overall appearance much.

I bought some 1/4" bolts, drilled holes, and bolted the sides into the stake pockets. While I had the trailer tipped on its side to drill, I touched up some of the welds.

I cut a sheet metal pan and welded it in place to mount the pump.

I bought a 90 degree elbow and installed it at the top port on the ram so the hose runs neatly down the side of the ram.

I welded 1" sections of 1" pipe in place at the front top corners of the sides and of the front. Then I cut a piece of 3/4" rod and welded a head on the rod so that I can use it as a pin through the sections of 1" pipe to hold the sides and the front together.

I took the front axle off and added some shims between the axle mount and the subframe of the trailer. The front tires and rear tires were mismatched enough that the trailer had a pretty severe slant forward. The shims have brought it back to level.

I keep thinking that I'm almost to where I can start cutting wood, but I keep finding all of these little things that I really should do first.

Iplayfarmer · May 30, 2007

BTDT said:
Can't wait to see finished trailer, how about a pic of it hooked up to tow vehicle.

Well she's a long way from finished yet, but I finally got the hitch fabricated so I could hook it up to the tow vehicle.

The first picture below is the hitch. I decided to bolt the hitch on so that it can be at least a little bit adjustable. In order to make this work I drilled all the holes in one side of the square tubing with the bent plate clamped in place. Then I clamped the plate to the other side and drilled the holes in that side. This made sure that the holes lined up whether the plate is on the top or on the bottom.

I included a picture of the hitch pin too. A hitch pin really doesn't cost that much, but I'm pretty proud of myself for getting this one to work. I'm especially proud of myself for being able to weld the wire ring with my old beater AC stick welder.

Iplayfarmer · May 30, 2007

Here are my pics of it hooked up to the tow vehicle.

Iplayfarmer · May 30, 2007

While I had the camera out, I took a few pictures of some things I mentioned a few days ago. The first picture is of the mechanism for securing the side rails to the front rail. The second picture is of one of the axle shims that I put in.

Iplayfarmer · May 31, 2007

The way I've got everything situated on the trailer, I need a way to operate the hydraulics without leaving the tractor seat. I've put an eyebolt in place of the pump valve lever (pictured below).

My plan is to mount a lever on the front of the tongue that is high enough to reach from the tractor seat. This lever will be attached via a connecting rod to the eyebolt. This way I can run the valve from the seat while still having the pump tucked in close to the bed.

I think I'll end up making the eyebolt a little shorter to get it more out of the way of the bed coming down.

BTDT · Jun 4, 2007

Your trailer is progressing nicely. Looks like it will haul a lot of weight and will be easy to unload.

Iplayfarmer · Jun 7, 2007

Progress update:

I started fabrication on the tailgate last night. I got the outside frame welded on one side and tacked on the other. I still need to cut out some angles and weld them in place, and then figure out and weld the pins on the tail gate and brackets on the trailer to hang the tailgate.

Then the "to do" list is short enough that I can actually fit the list in a single post...
- disassemble the trailer
- add some angles to the bed, subframe, and sides for structural support
- prep and paint
- reassemble
- cut and attach planking for bed and sides and varnish the wood.
- START HAULING STUFF!!!

Iplayfarmer · Jun 13, 2007

I am really making slow progress. I've attached a picture of the tailgate as far as I have it tonight.

I cut thicker pieces with 3/4" holes in them and welded them to the thinner metal of the tubing that I'm using. These are to support the pins that I then inserted in to the 3/4" hole and welded in place.

Welding round stuff is hard!

The pins will rest in some "hooks" that I have yet to fabricate and weld to the back of the sides of the trailer.

fiddler kelly · Jul 8, 2007

Iplayfarmer, trailor looks good espically the hydraulics for it but if you don't mind me suggesting that you modify your hitch so that it has some flex and rotoation.

I started builing my dump trailor yesterday and I am using a 250 gallon oil tank foa container. I have a 50 gallon one that I may 2 out of a 100 gallon tanka couple of years ago. I use it for hauling gravel and rocks behind my quad . I had the opportunity to get this 250 tank for free so all I needed was the steel for the axel and tounge of trailor. I plan on using a pintel hitch for hooking it on to the back of my tractor. I have a kubota 2630 model.I am using stub axles which seat into a cup .I had to make the cups from pipe and weld them to 1/2 flat plate which is then bolted to the stub axles. I am in the process of figureing out how I am going to attach the container to the axel. I don't plan on using springs as the area I am using this is an old road and I will be going at a slow pace when using it.

Loading it with gravel I figured springs would only flatten out , I didn't use springs in the smaller one I made and I have had no problems with that one.