5'x8' Trailer Build

[f150skidoo]

So i Had a 6'x14' 7k lb tandem trailer and a 5'x8' 3500 lb trailer. I liked the capacity of the tandem but A lot of times it was two big and heavy. I liked the size of the 5x8 but not the capacity. So i decided i want the best of both worlds so i'm going to build a 5'x8' with a single 7k lb axle. Since i think shoveling ***** its going to be a hydraulic dump. I was originally going to buy a 6k lb when i talked to the axle guy he said to upgrade to the 7k lb was only $60 more.


This is going to be my 4th trailer that I've built, The frame/tongue is 4"x5.4# C channel, and the dump frame is 3"x4.1# C channel. Where the cylinder mounts to is 3"x4" .250 tube with 3/8" brackets. I machined the bracket so its wraps around 3 sides of the tube. The cylinder is 3"x24" and is bolted with 1" Gr.8

 

[Richard Cranium]

keep posting pictures

 

[bullnerd]

I like the way this sounds.

 

[f150skidoo]

First thing was to cut the 4" channel to length then weld a piece of 1/4" plate to turn the channel into tube. Next was to drill the holes for the dump body pivot with a 1.5" annular cutter on the mill. I beveled some 1.5" OD x 1" ID DOM tubing and welded it to the channel. Then ground the welds flush to the channel. At the end of the channel i cut a 45 degree relief angle and then capped it with 1/4" plate and ground the welds smooth so the dump hinge wont bind on any protruding welds.

 

[f150skidoo]

Some more progress today, got the main frame squared up and welded. Used my welding table as a square when i was clamping the frame and i was only a 1/16" out when i used the tape to double check. Next was to Plasma cut some fish plates out and weld them to the frame and cylinders mounting tube.

 

[jumpstart]

Cool. Very nice welds!

 

[f150skidoo]

The original plan was to use the 4" channel and make a A frame tongue but I screwed the cuts up. Instead of buy two new pieces of channel I bought one piece of 3x4 .250" tube for the tongue and will use the existing channel for supports. Welded the adjustable channel coupler in the flat position for ease. The channel is 3/8" thickness but my welder is rated for 5/16", to make sure I got good penetration I did 300F pre heat which worked well as you can see the heat marks on the back side of the channel. Made the chain attaching point out of 1/2" plate I had laying around, once again did some pre heating on the 1/2".

 

[f150skidoo]

Got the main frame done today. I didn't want to screw up the A frame cuts again, so i made a particle board template of the tongue box then clamped it in the center on the tongue then basically connected the dots. Completed the welds on the bottom and welded on the spring hangers. I flipped the frame with my Deere skid steer and placed the frame in pops wood shop and welded out the top side completely.

 

[bullnerd]

Very nice.

Do you have plans for this or are you winging it?

 

[f150skidoo]

Very nice.

Do you have plans for this or are you winging it?

I did draw rough plans up more for a material list more then anything. The rest of it is whats in my head.

 

[Farrier]

Have you come up with a plan to locate the axle on the frame yet since it will be a single axle dump?

I was wanting to fabricate a similar single axle trailer a few years back, but once I researched the idea more, it appeared that single axle dumps are not favorable. Not sure if it was all hype, as we tend to over build.

 

[mike93lx]

What are you expecting the empty weight to be?

 

[f150skidoo]

Have you come up with a plan to locate the axle on the frame yet since it will be a single axle dump?

I was wanting to fabricate a similar single axle trailer a few years back, but once I researched the idea more, it appeared that single axle dumps are not favorable. Not sure if it was all hype, as we tend to over build.

the axle is going to be placed in the traditional 60%/40% mark, I thought about putting the axle back to 70%/30% but was worried it might be a bit heavy on the tongue. Why were the single axle dumps not favorable? The only thing i can think of are most of them are a 3500lb or 5200 lb axle.

 

[f150skidoo]

What are you expecting the empty weight to be?

Around 1600 lbs.

 

[Farrier]

the axle is going to be placed in the traditional 60%/40% mark, I thought about putting the axle back to 70%/30% but was worried it might be a bit heavy on the tongue. Why were the single axle dumps not favorable? The only thing i can think of are most of them are a 3500lb or 5200 lb axle.

I don't recall the specifics of why the single axle was less favorable. Something to do with the balancing act when the trailer is raised full tilt. I thought that if the trailer is hooked to the truck when dumping, it's not like it will flip backwards anyway. There was also lot's of arguments about using a single cylinder versus the fancy cantilever systems. You know how things are with inter-web queens....right?

I like your design and I think it will work great when finished

 

[f150skidoo]

The other day at work i was day dreaming about this project and realized my relief angle was to far back from the fulcrum on the main rails. I did a test when i got home from work yesterday and sure enough it was wrong and the dump frame would've binned. But was nothing a few minutes and the porta-band wouldn't fix. Also got the dump frame built and ready for me to make all the hinge/attachment points tomorrow.

 

[f150skidoo]

Didn't accomplish much today but made the rear pivot brackets and welded them on. For clearance of the cylinder I had to cut a part off the cross member out. I still need to make the mount for the top of the cylinder. I also got the tail light mounts cut out of 2"x4" tubing.

 

[f150skidoo]

Spent most of the morning driving around picking up parts. Got the top cylinder mounts done used some 1" CR round stock and a retainer ring with a lynch pin to prevent it from sliding out. To test full dump angle used the skid steer since the dump frame is pretty heavy. As it sits right now i can lift it by hand and it moves very smoothly. Made a safety support also.

 

[Bobcat753]

That looks awesome! Nice job and excellent welds.

 

[f150skidoo]

That looks awesome! Nice job and excellent welds.

Thanks so far it been pretty fun to build.

 

[bullnerd]

Yeah, very cool, I like it, I want it, LOL.

Is that pin hardened at all or made for this type of load or just some plain cold rolled? I'm not a load engineer but I say that pin is going to bend. Just gut feeling, no experience what so ever, just guessing. The angle of the ram is going to load it quite a bit before it starts to lift.

 

[f150skidoo]

Yeah, very cool, I like it, I want it, LOL.

Is that pin hardened at all or made for this type of load or just some plain cold rolled? I'm not a load engineer but I say that pin is going to bend. Just gut feeling, no experience what so ever, just guessing. The angle of the ram is going to load it quite a bit before it starts to lift.

No its just regular old cold rolled. On either side of the cylinders end theirs 3" DOM spacers that i still have to make gussets and weld them back to the channel which will help resist the bending of the 1" pin. Yes it will load a bit before lifting, some of the factory made small dump trailer have the cylinder mounted behind the axle which pushes forward to dump. Those ones don't have problems lifting the payload so i'm not to worried.

 

[bullnerd]

Yeah, I was thinking you were probably going to add spacers, that makes sense, that's a big span without them.

Sounds good.

 

[saceone]

what do you have in mind for the sides of the trailer ?

 

[f150skidoo]

Got the tail light housings welded on, also have the fenders mounted. Used 3/4" black pipe for the fender supports, I'm going to mount LED penny lights into the end of the fenders pipe. Did a rough fit of the tongue box to check for clearance with the jack and most importantly the dump frame

 

[f150skidoo]

what do you have in mind for the sides of the trailer ?

I have a fab shop bending me up some 14ga sides like in the pic.

 

[bullnerd]

Beautiful job dude!

Now that I see it from the side, the angle looks better on the ram.(just like you said, LOL)

I want to build one. Sell the DWGs if it works.

 

[larry4406]

Nice build!

I'm curious also on the bed hinge pin being aft of the rear axle. Once you get to a certain lift angle wont that tend to cause the hitch end to want to lift? I presume as long as you have the trailer hitched to the vehicle your ok. Or perhaps add "legs" to the back of the trailer to rotate to ground prior to tilt?

 

[Farrier]

Nice build!

I'm curious also on the bed hinge pin being aft of the rear axle. Once you get to a certain lift angle wont that tend to cause the hitch end to want to lift? I presume as long as you have the trailer hitched to the vehicle your ok. Or perhaps add "legs" to the back of the trailer to rotate to ground prior to tilt?

I think this was the argument against a single axle dump trump that I mentioned earlier. I honestly don't see an issue as long as the trailer is mounted to the truck, but then again, even if it was a double axle dump, I think it would be unwise to dump it without being mounted to a truck.

 

[bandaidmd]

Nice build!

I'm curious also on the bed hinge pin being aft of the rear axle. Once you get to a certain lift angle wont that tend to cause the hitch end to want to lift? I presume as long as you have the trailer hitched to the vehicle your ok. Or perhaps add "legs" to the back of the trailer to rotate to ground prior to tilt?

I have a 12' 2 axel and it will pull upwards on the hitch when raised. Really noticable when hooked to my tractors 3 point hitch. There's no down pressure on a 3ph.

 

[f150skidoo]

Didn't get a lot done today, did more driving around picking up parts then working. I did end up picking up the bent 14ga. sides from the fab shop and the hydraulic power unit. The mass produced dump trailers generally use 2 piece floors even ones this size. I didn't like that so I bought a 5'x10' sheet of 11ga for a one piece floor. I welded the floor to the frame first before any of the vertical welds on the cross members to control any distortion from the heat. Would've got more welding done this afternoon but ran out of shielding gas.

 

[steel 35]

Your trailer is a four year old flashback for me, MY wife loves the thing finally; she didn't when I was building it.
What's your plan's for the tailgate?

 

[f150skidoo]

Your trailer is a four year old flashback for me, MY wife loves the thing finally; she didn't when I was building it.
What's your plan's for the tailgate?

Barn doors to keep it simple.

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

 

[f150skidoo]

Not a huge progress day or many pictures taken. I finished welding out the dump frame this morning after I got a new bottle of shielding gas. I needed to flip the frame but forgot to plug in the Deere so i had to wait a few hours to heat up. I don't like starting it without being plugged in when its cold out -20 this morning. But i did get a coat of red oxide primer on the lower frame.

 

[steel 35]

Ok the primer did it; I looked for a picture of mine but a crash took them away, Had to take this one.
No battery in it as its stored for the winter, and in my truck. If it was in it you could see the primer
Here is my wimpy little 3500 pound axle. It has been way overloaded and likes it.

 

[zmotorsports]

The trailer is turning out very nice. Great job and nice looking welds. Don't know how I missed this build but I am subscribed now.

Mike.

 

[metal1313]

i really want to build something similar. something about 5x8 with a single axel would be perfect for my needs

 

[f150skidoo]

Finished painting the frame with good ole' rust-oleum gloss black. I think i got as much paint on my self as the trailer lol. I ended up spending the entire afternoon running around picking up misc. fasteners/wiring and also got the hydraulic lines made up. So my plan is to get the frame 100% done. Then when i finish the dump bed i can lift it on and just bolt it all together.

 

[50cal]

Very Nice, I need one like that in a off-road version for around the acreage here. I make due with a old 1978 ford 1 ton with a dump box. I like rustoleum but have used this product with great success.

http://www.kilz.com/hammerite/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0c3354d4e3431210VgnVCM1000008a05d103RCRD

 

[f150skidoo]

So far this weekend i've been wiring up the trailer. All lights are LED's and every connection is soldered and heat shrunked, and the ring terminals are the crimped on and heat shrink.