Backhoe Empty dirt from pickup with backhoe mod?

[cgraham]

I would like to devise a way of emptying an 8' (beat up) pick-up bed trailer of a clay/ gravel mix, using my backhoe as an assist. I have a fair amount to move, but can't afford a tilt trailer.

The backhoe is on a (small) Kioti LB1914, and has an 8.5' reach: however, because of the bed height, I can't use all the reach. As I pull material out, I can perhaps ramp up the tractor on the spoil, so improving the reach a bit.

I have a 2' bucket. The exposed teeth would likely be detrimental to the bed, and will prevent removing all the material.

I'm thinking about bolting a steel strap over the teeth and attaching a board or piece of plate to extend the width and reach. Board would be easier on the bed, but less strong.

Has anyone attempted something like this?

Perhaps there is an entirely different approach I haven't thought of. I have seen a open-bottom sled-like device that goes in the bed. I'm not convinced the Kioti would have sufficient traction to pull it out (light weight, industrial tires, loose surface).

I have a friend who would cut and weld a small job like the strap.

I guess if I can't get ALL the dirt out each trip, it doesn't matter much. (You can tell I'm allergic to shovels!)

Suggestions greatly appreciated.

C

 

[patrick_g]

I used to put several pieces of old pipe sideways in a PU bed and put 3/4 inch ply on top. The 4ft width of the ply fit between the fenders. I loaded in several thousand pounds of broken concrete. I had to hand unload any crete interfering with the fenders and then I removed the tailgate, backed up smartly and jammed on the brakes.

With a pickup bed/trailer... Can't you devise a way to lift the tongue way up in the air till the back of the bed hits the ground. Much of the load might fall out and the backhoe could reach the rest easier.

Chock the wheels and use a "Hi-Lift" utility jack (way bigger than an old fashioned bumper jack but works the same) to lift the front of the trailer to, in effect, make it a dump trailer. Don't stand under the raised trailer and do move the tow vehicle out of the way.

There is a fairly inexpensive unloder with a crank handle demonstrated in the advertisements by a small lady. It is built for unloading a pickup truck and even if it can't handle a full load of your mix, after removing part of a load it would remove the rest with no backhoe damage to the trailer and it is way simple to use. It might eliminate the backhoe from the unloading process if that doesn't upset you. Some folks decide to use a particular thing and just have to work it in even when not really needed.

Pat

 

[dbdartman]

I think you're trying too hard. I'd just grab the trailer tongue with the bucket & lift/dump the trailer.

 

[Rara Avis]

It sounds like you are looking for a nail...because you happen to have a hammer...

Try this....

Load handler pickup truck bed unloader for unloading pickups and truck boxes 2000 and 3000

 

[SFish]

C:

Your ideas are similar to what I have been thinking about. I am going to try just a wood attachment for the backhoe. The sled idea might work by just chaining it to something solid and driving off. These are inexpensive ideas to try before buying one of the dump bed devices, so please post how they work if you try them.

Steve

 

[cgraham]

Thanks for the fast and varied responses. Gives me some great ideas to think about!

Gotta use that backhoe to justify the purchase to the wife - anyone got a nail?

Seriously, solutions not using the backhoe are an advantage to me, as I then don't have to move two vehicles.

Solutions not requiring unhitching are attractive. I'm thinking of plywood on PVC pipe laid crossways, combined with a back-up and sudden stop (thanks Patrick). Of course, I now have to go get the tractor to dig out the plywood.

Has anyone used the Load handler pickup truck bed unloader? How hard is it to crank, and what does it's useful life look like?

I will be working on a pretty steep driveway, so any unhitch and dump solutions will require chocking wheels and a suitable length safety chain attached to the disconnected tow vehicle. A bucket lift as suggested by dbdartman might be good if it is chained to the tongue to prevent a runaway.

Sfish, I'm in the planning stages now, so I doubt I'll have any experiences to share anytime soon. Please post yours.

Charlie

 

[LBrown59]

Has anyone used the Load handler pickup truck bed unloader?
*How hard is it to crank, and what does it's useful life look like?

Charlie

I bought 1 2 years ago at wall mart for 89 bucks.
Used it to haul 35 pick up loads of dirt down off the hill. Would have been 105 trips hauling it with the tractor FEL.
Should have bought one 30 or 40 years ago.
*Easier than lifting a shovel. Not that bad and it gets easier as the load dumps.

 

[Rara Avis]

Has anyone used the Load handler pickup truck bed unloader? How hard is it to crank, and what does it's useful life look like?

Charlie

If you have a Linux spray in liner....then you need to order...the DoubleMat that you place under the LoadHandler...otherwise it is a real exercise to crank it...
Loadhandler LH2000M Pick Up Unloader for Mid-Size Pickup Bed Shop, Find and Buy at ComfortChannel.com.

 

[MarkV]

Your idea to fabricate a solid piece that covers the backhoe teeth is not off the wall at all. You can buy just such a thing to fit backhoe buckets. They are used to finish grade side hills or ditch banks. The ones I have seen were for larger TLB’s or excavators though I don’t see why it would not work on a smaller tractor.

MarkV

 

[nightrodjc]

I plan to make one for my backhoe out of a old garden tractor snow plow. I want to be able drag mulch or gravel off the trailer with out damage. Needs to be quick attach.

 

[California]

You might take a scrap of 3/4 ply, about 2 ft square, and cut it to wedge into the bucket. Make it a fraction of an inch longer than the teeth to avoid gouging the truck. Put some holes near its corners and wire it to the teeth.

Or make it oversize and wire it flat across the open face of the bucket, with its working edge supported by the teeth and the opposite end jammed against the bucket hinge. This is a one-time-use project, isn't it?

For those unloading belts: seems to me it would be easier to crank it if you fold some pleats into it before loading. So the first part of the load falls off the truck before the middle and back portions start to move. I wonder if you could crank it with a cordless drill....

Tom Swift


ps Whatever you decide - post some pictures!

 

[LBrown59]

I plan to make one for my backhoe out of an old garden tractor snow plow.
I want to be able to drag mulch or gravel off the trailer.

Something like this would really be handy to rake dirt away from the edge of a ditch so you could scoop it up with a FEL without pushing the dirt back into the ditch.
It would also be handy to rake brush trash and other stuff out away from buildings so that you aren't pushing it into them trying to scoop it up into the FEL.
Another useful gadget I've seen I could use is a reversed bh bucket so I could fill it pushing away from the tractor instead of pulling towards the tractor.

 

[mjfox6]

Has anyone used the Load handler pickup truck bed unloader? How hard is it to crank, and what does it's useful life look like?

I bought one a year ago. I've used it to dump firewood, dirt, gravel, leaves, sticks, logs, manure, compost and probably some other things I just don't remember. Even with the heavy stuff, it is fairly easy to unload.

I broke one of the buckles used to hold it on shortly after I bought it. I called Load Handler and they sent me a new part, no questions asked. That is the kind of company I like doing business with, so I ordered a second one for my old man. He had some problems with his when he filled up his bed with sloppy wet mud. It apparently stuck to the cloth real bad.

I highly recommend them.

 

[LBrown59]

I bought one a year ago. I've used it to dump firewood, dirt, gravel, leaves, sticks, logs, manure, compost and probably some other things I just don't remember. Even with the heavy stuff, it is fairly easy to unload.

I broke one of the buckles used to hold it on shortly after I bought it. I called Load Handler and they sent me a new part, no questions asked. That is the kind of company I like doing business with, so I ordered a second one for my old man. He had some problems with his when he filled up his bed with sloppy wet mud. It apparently stuck to the cloth real bad.

I highly recommend them.

Next best thing to a dump truck.
One of the best 100$ values around.

 

[Stimw]

Get an old piece of good grade carpet, put it in the bed, load it, bunch one end,put rope or chain around it and drag the load out. You could pull it from the rear or from the front over top of the load rolling it.
I hauled 4 loads of horse manure for my garden like this. Too bad I didn't know the manure had been limed, it ruined the PH in my garden. Took a couple years to get it back.

 

[2manyrocks]

For a variation on the carpet idea, I been wondering about using one of those heavy corded rubber truck mats, but I think the carpet would slide easier and be cheaper to get.

I wouldn't use the backhoe to unload because I think you'd end up bending the trailer.

 

[LBrown59]

I would like to devise a way of emptying an 8' (beat up) pick-up bed trailer of a clay/ gravel mix, using my backhoe as an assist. I have a fair amount to move, but can't afford a tilt trailer.

Perfect for a load handler - It's a pick up bed rite!

 

[xlr82v2]

Take a look at this... Redneck Dumptruck

I don't know if your tractor will have the nads to get it done though...

 

[LBrown59]

Here is how I unloaded a trailer that isn't a dump trailer.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/122946-unloading-trailer-dont-dump.html

 

[jeffinsgf]

Take a look at this... Redneck Dumptruck

I don't know if your tractor will have the nads to get it done though...

Yeah, I was all over this idea. I built lightweight side boards for my flat bed trailer. Kept the box size reasonable. The load was well within the limits of the trailer. But, when I got to the "dumping" part, the hydraulic limit of my FEL was met shortly after the wheels of the trailer left the ground and long before the load started sliding out. It was 4 yards of elephant manure from the zoo. Thank goodness it was well composted...I ended up shoveling the whole thing by hand. I kinda like the idea of part of a snow blade bolted to my BH bucket...heck, my bucket is only a foot wide...a worn out scoop shovel might fit on there just right. Wheels churning.