Tested my Experimental Dump Trailer Loading Thingy Today

[Gordon Gould]

I do a lot of work on woods roads. The only way I had to haul rock or gravel into the woods was bucket by bucket. A while back I bought a small used dump trailer to make the job easier on my front end and faster. But I needed a good way to transfer material from my one ton into the trailer. I only have one tractor and it is best to load the trailer when it is hitched to the tractor so I thought it would be nice to be able to dump right from the truck into the trailer. As an experiment I built this thing - it hangs on the top of the tail gate and when you fold down the tail gate it forms a chute (sort of )



When the tail gate is lowered the tailgate chain is the only thing that holds the chute in place



Here is what it looks like on level ground.
EDIT: Added this photo Sat. noon as I forgot it on first try.



You can see that I need to get the truck higher or the trailer lower so that the tail gate is angled down to get a clean dump. I thought I would make a 2 foot deep pit to get the trailer lower. I wasn't sure if the chute scheme would work and thought it might just get twisted off. I made a test today in a spot that isn't ideal. The trailer is sloped and the truck isn't high enough but at least I could see if it would work. I took a video because I couldn't see what was happening being that my truck dump control is in the cab. If it got all twisted up and mangled I wanted to be able to see it. Here is the video of the test.

TrailerLoading - YouTube

This is after I pulled the trailer away - pretty shaky support for the truck. That was a 3 ton load.



This is a ride into the woods to dump the gravel in a mud hole. The road is a little rough. It's hard to drive with one hand holding the camera and I dropped it going thru the mud hole but recovered.

TrailerDumping - YouTube

gg

 

[countrybumpkin]

Looks like your getting it figured out pretty good. Really like those trailers, I'd buy one if I could find a nice used one close.

 

[CADplans]

Great looking attachment!! :thumbsup:
Around here, the county uses an attachment like that (similar) to tailgate gravel onto the berm of the roads,,,

BUT, in my opinion,,, (fueled by the fact that we are at TBN!! ),,,
this is a reason for the purchase of ANOTHER tractor!!

 

[CCWKen]

Why is it necessary to move stuff from a DUMP truck to a DUMP trailer? :confused3:

 

[countrybumpkin]

So he can take the gravel to spots he needs it on his trails, a lot of places his truck can't get to.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Nice. And beautiful country as always. The weather was awesome here today. I love early fall in the woods.

Also, you need a remote for your dump bed.

 

[CADplans]

Are the dozer's tracks too worn to pull the dump cart?

:confused2:

:laughing:

 

[Oldpath05]

I'd call that dump chute a success, like you say just get the trailer little lower and level and your all set. You have that gravel on your land or you buying it?

Last month I moved 11, 8yd dump truck loads of fill one way 300 feet from near the road to behind my house, took me around 12 hrs. or so and 6 gal. of fuel, back and forth, that dump trailer sure would of been a lot easier.

Now I just got 8 more loads of fill, come's from the state DOT crew. They've been scrapping the side of the road so when winter time comes, car's can slide in the ditch easier so you wont crash in to someone else and cause more damage, safety first they said. Then you get to have a tow truck pull your car out and get a $300.00 tow charge, they say it helps the local economy, I said OK, now it makes sense.

 

[N2DFire]

ok - this might be a silly question but instead of adding a chute that goes on with the gate down, what about putting a chute / door IN the tailgate?

I have seen these for years and had to google to find out what to call it (and still didn't get a consistent answer) Inspection Door, Asphalt Door, Coal Chute, Grain Chute - whatever.


Adding a pre-made unit to your tail gate should be a snap from what I've seen of your skills on here & fabricating your own wouldn't be much harder, just more time consuming. (I know it's always easier spending someone elses money lol)

It would definitely get the tailgate out of the way, you could partially raise the dump bed & then control the flow of gravel from the gate itself, and you might not even need the ramp / pit to clear the trailer height.

Oh and add me to the group that is so envious of your dump trailer. :thumbsup:

 

[GaryM]

Nice. And beautiful country as always. The weather was awesome here today. I love early fall in the woods.

Also, you need a remote for your dump bed.

Or at least a wireless camera so he can see the back of the truck bed from the cab.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Thanks for the comments.
And bumpkin thanks for helping out. It is a lot of fun playing back yard mechanic. I was going to get a bigger trailer and pull it with the dozer but could not justify the cost with the use it would get. This one was cheap enough and matches the tractors specs at 3000 lbs. I thought about a coal chute type opening but I decided for my use having the tail gate reach out into the trailer half way would give me a well centered load and would be better. Besides I couldn't make anything much simpler to take on and off or easier to build. The remote will be easy. Just need a 3 wire cable and a two way toggle switch. That I will definitely do. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'm just trying to have fun with this stuff.

gg

 

[countrybumpkin]

I just want the truck, I've really been considering buying a 1 tonne dump.

 

[BKBoiss]

That looks like way to much fun. If you turn the tractor and dump trailer around so the tractor is down hill it looks like you would be sitting level.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I know what you are saying BK but I tryed it both ways and because the tail gate on the trailer is taller than the front and sides it seemed best the way I had it.

Hi OLDpath . I have to buy the gravel. So far I haven't found a good spot. I have mostly woods dirt or rocks. So if I have one spot to fix and I can do it for $25 ( 3 ton or 2 yards ) to make it a year round trail I use gravel. Other wise I corduroy it or just use it as a winter trail.

gg

 

[Oldpath05]

Hi OLDpath . I have to buy the gravel. So far I haven't found a good spot. I have mostly woods dirt or rocks. So if I have one spot to fix and I can do it for $25 ( 3 ton or 2 yards ) to make it a year round trail I use gravel. Other wise I corduroy it or just use it as a winter trail.gg

I have a few spots in my woods I'd like to fix but dont want to buy the gravel, the last time I bought gravel 3 years ago it was $10.50/yd. delivered, which sounds like your paying a premium, $25./2yds. assuming your going to the gravel pit with your truck to get it. Matbe if you keep digging on your land you might find some someday.

I keep looking on my land here and there for gravel, so far I've only found dirt, rocks, ledge, rocks and more rocks, but no gravel, and what I dont get, 2 miles away, there's a gravel pit 5 miles long, all kinds of gravel just below the top soil, need-less to say, think I got gypped during the last ice-age, by about 2 miles.

 

[CADplans]

I keep looking on my land here and there for gravel, so far I've only found dirt, rocks, ledge, rocks and more rocks, but no gravel, and what I dont get, 2 miles away, there's a gravel pit 5 miles long, all kinds of gravel just below the top soil, need-less to say, think I got gypped during the last ice-age, by about 2 miles.

Not gravel,, but, I have acres where I can dig down 2+ feet,,, and get sand,,,
all types of sand,
-Sand compacted with clay,,,
-Beach sand
-Very sandy loam

The beach sand is interesting,,, if needed I could build a road with it,,,
the road would never be muddy.

 

[crazyal]

I have a few spots on my hillside where I can get to hardpan. It's made up of mostly smaller stones and clay. It's a little slippery at first but once the top lair of clay gets washed off and the stones get exposed it's fine. I use to go to the local gravel company (they truck it from several pits they own to their shop) but the price adds up quickly. Even though I have an account it turned out cheaper to just have them bring a full load up (once I add in the cost of gas for my truck, insurance, and registration). It seams like each one of us has to figure out what works best for them. Sounds like you have what you need Gordon, just need to find a gravel pit close with good prices (they are all over the place around me).

 

[Oldpath05]

Not gravel,, but, I have acres where I can dig down 2+ feet,,, and get sand,,,
all types of sand,
-Sand compacted with clay,,,
-Beach sand
-Very sandy loam

The beach sand is interesting,,, if needed I could build a road with it,,,
the road would never be muddy.

Been to Lynchburg Va. several times, the land of red dirt, lot of it and it did look sandy-ish to me, quite a contrast from Me. Up here if you have gravel, it's almost as good as gold.