Pump upgrade for dump trailer

[nisaacs]

With this setup do you see any more grunt in the rams? My Texas Pride with dual ram is extremely slow but seems weak for having 2 15k rams under it. Always have to start with a farm jack to get the bed raised. If it had just a little more in it would be what I’m looking for but also it takes 2 minutes to run the bed up. It moves 5 gallons of fluid to move to the upright position.

I don't think the pumps have any more pressure, just more volume/flow. I think the standard is 3200 psi up and 1500 psi down. When the bed is down and the cylinders are horizontal, is where they all struggle.

My PJ has the lift system about 2' ahead of center, it will lift pretty much anything. However, my Lamar is mounted in the center of the bed and it won't lift a heavy load, especially if it is loaded too far forward. They are both scissors lift.

I think Texas Pride uses a 1.7 gpm pump, so it probably is slow. The standard is 2 gpm. They are all slow, especially the telescopic lift, but they will lift anything, since the cylinder is always vertical.

Diamond C and KTI developed a 3 gpm pump for the telescopic lift to help speed it up. Not sure why they didn't go for more yet. I bought one for my Lamar. I like it, about 50% faster up but since it is only gravity down, it is slow coming down. I just live with it, since there is no battery drain. I think I can speed that up if I change the load control valve or maybe even drill it out a little bit. I still have to dig into that. Too fast and it will overflow the tank.

You might install a pressure gauge and check your pressure. Picture of my 3 gpm pump. The motor on a standard pump is 1.6 kw, this one is 2.2.

 

[Machz17]

I don't think the pumps have any more pressure, just more volume/flow. I think the standard is 3200 psi up and 1500 psi down. When the bed is down and the cylinders are horizontal, is where they all struggle.

My PJ has the lift system about 2' ahead of center, it will lift pretty much anything. However, my Lamar is mounted in the center of the bed and it won't lift a heavy load, especially if it is loaded too far forward. They are both scissors lift.

I think Texas Pride uses a 1.7 gpm pump, so it probably is slow. The standard is 2 gpm. They are all slow, especially the telescopic lift, but they will lift anything, since the cylinder is always vertical.

Diamond C and KTI developed a 3 gpm pump for the telescopic lift to help speed it up. Not sure why they didn't go for more yet. I bought one for my Lamar. I like it, about 50% faster up but since it is only gravity down, it is slow coming down. I just live with it, since there is no battery drain. I think I can speed that up if I change the load control valve or maybe even drill it out a little bit. I still have to dig into that. Too fast and it will overflow the tank.

You might install a pressure gauge and check your pressure. Picture of my 3 gpm pump. The motor on a standard pump is 1.6 kw, this one is 2.2.

View attachment 873880

Thanks for the info, I believe mine has the 2.2 motor but I wonder if my pump is small. I was talking with my local hydraulic guy quickly one day and it sounds like the 2.2 is a bigger motor than he can get or has.

 

[nisaacs]

Diamond C and KTI developed a 3 gpm pump for the telescopic lift to help speed it up. Not sure why they didn't go for more yet. I bought one for my Lamar. I like it, about 50% faster up but since it is only gravity down, it is slow coming down. I just live with it, since there is no battery drain. I think I can speed that up if I change the load control valve or maybe even drill it out a little bit. I still have to dig into that. Too fast and it will overflow the tank.

I went ahead and modified my load control valve for more flow. Oem is 2 GPM. When I added the higher volume pump I left the valve alone.

I was feeling dangerous, so I dilled it out. I went 2/64's more, from 1/16 or maybe metric, not sure. Empty, it is at least twice as fast, this is gravity down. It also goes up at least 50% faster. On a cold day, this is going to really help speed it up. I still have to test it with a load but I think it will be fine. I do have a spare oem valve if I need to modify it and start over.

 

[ptsg]

I went ahead and modified my load control valve for more flow. Oem is 2 GPM. When I added the higher volume pump I left the valve alone.

I was feeling dangerous, so I dilled it out. I went 2/64's more, from 1/16 or maybe metric, not sure. Empty, it is at least twice as fast, this is gravity down. It also goes up at least 50% faster. On a cold day, this is going to really help speed it up. I still have to test it with a load but I think it will be fine. I do have a spare oem valve if I need to modify it and start over.

View attachment 874489

You could probably ditch that fitting entirely and use one of these instead: 1/4 NPT 10.5 GPM DYNAMIC JPFC-1/4-NPT In-Line Flow Control | Dynamic | Brands | www.surpluscenter.com

This will provide full flow in one direction (like lifting the bed) while providing adjustable flow in the other directions (like lowering the bed). Basically, you could set how fast the bed lowers with this valve, while lifting at max speed.

The restrictor that comes with the pump will restrict flow in both directions which is less than desirable.

 

[Rustyiron]

I always fantasized about having a "wet line" run to the rear of a "little " truck. My little f450 got a pto pump when I put it together and the valve/tank wouldn't be too hard to plumb in a sister tank . Imagine a winch on a g/n or a real pump and power for a dump trailer. Lift gates, little cranes, hyd trailer jacks.... let your imagination run.

 

[Machz17]

With the bigger load control valves, won’t that make it hard to get the desired pressure from the pump? Or make it work harder? Why wouldn’t the oem do this in the first place? It seems so simple yet what’s the drawback.

 

[nisaacs]

With the bigger load control valves, won’t that make it hard to get the desired pressure from the pump? Or make it work harder? Why wouldn’t the oem do this in the first place? It seems so simple yet what’s the drawback.

The resistance from the lift cylinder creates the pressure. The smaller the orifice the less fluid can pass through, which can cause excess pressure due to volume control. There is a fine line between too small and too big. Too small can cause a bottle neck in the pump flow specs and too big can drop the bed too fast. Empty, you can drop fairly quick but if you still have a partial load, it can fall too quick and hard when it gets to the bottom.

It is also a safety valve in the event you blow a lift hose. The valve will still control the fall. Without it, the bed would fall so fast it would destroy itself on impact with the frame.

In general, the oem sizes the valve with the pump flow. In my case, I changed from a 2 gpm pump to a 3, so I need a slightly larger valve to take advantage of the extra flow.

 

[Machz17]

That makes sense. It’s a safety feature but it’s too safe because it’s from the oem. If that makes sense haha. I’ll have to ask my local guy about this. Hopefully get one installed.

 

[Machz17]

Is there a place to get a bigger pump without a motor? I feel Like the motor I have is good enough for a bigger pump or would this orifice take the place of a bigger pump per say

 

[ptsg]

Those adjustable flow control valves will still provide the necessary safety in case of an hose blow out, as long as one doesn't leave it all the way open, which shouldn't really happen unless people like their beds hitting the frame hard.

It still regulates the flow when the bed is lowering, but provides full flow while lifting make for faster cycle times.