need help building hay trailer "unloader"!!

[txutlaw]

How about two hydraulic rams, one front and one rear. kinda like outriggers but only on one side to tilt the the entire trailer? Should be able to get at least 10-15 degrees before you bind on the gooseneck ball.

 

[handirifle]

What about a roller bed? You know, like they make for a pickup truck. You'd have rollers along the bed, covered by some sort of rubber "track" that a winch or similar motor would just simply rotate the lead roller and you could just drive along as it unrolled them off the back. Or face the rollers cross wise, and roll them off the side.

This roller bed, could be made and attached seperately, and not have to be a permanant part of the trailer, in case you neaded to haul heavy equipment. It would also allow you to haul them lying flat, which I assume you do now.

If not....

A second idea, would be a variation of the cradle ideas. Instead of having the whole cradle tilt, make one side straight, and hinged and when opened, it would serve to protect the tires and fenders, while the other side would be curved and hydraulically lift and roll them over the hinged side and off the trailer.

 

[RPW]

Keep in mine weight. A total of 11 bales even at a 1000# max is still 11000#. It will take some stout steel to handle that weight at one time not to mention the hydraulics themselves. If you're willing to spend a lot of time creating an unloader why not create a trailer specific for hay instead of altering your trailer. This way you'll still have a trailer to move your tractor etc. And by creating a job specific trailer you still could keep your costs below purchasing one.