traumadoc2b
Well-known member
I bought a used stainless steel hopper and plan to modify it for use for chicken feed, including mounting it on a surplus military trailer. It desperately needs a watertight lid however. I've considered building something, covered with EPDM rubber and/or steel roofing, but that will include potentially a hinge and screws in the field which could leak. I also thought about getting a galvanized sheet metal cover bent/fabricated at the local sheet metal/duct shop, although it might be awkward to get on and off.
My best thought so far is to buy a custom made heavy duty vinyl cover, but I need to do something to protect the cover from the top edge of the steel bin. Even if I smoothed out the cut, it's still too thin and thus sharp to stretch the vinyl over. I thought about 2x4s bolted through the steel, but there are still corners and the wood could hold mold/mildew. Which led me to thinking about a rounded edge, if only I could use some pipe. The corners are again a problem if I miter and join/weld them, but the bin does have a small radius in the corners and if I could get close to a match with a radius in some steel pipe, that could work out really well.
I have considered splitting the pipe on the bottom edge, to slide over the top of the sheet metal, then weld the seam. I think this will be a better and more durable option than just setting the pipe on top and welding them together. So, I still need to source a material for the pipe and figure out how to make the bends. EMT conduit would be easy to get the bends and 3/4" might be big enough. It's galvanized though, so welding it to the stainless steel worries me as being problematic. I can always paint it, but some light rust wouldn't be devastating, so doesn't need to be galvanized, but sourcing a pipe with a thin enough wall to bend smoothly and a pipe size/diameter big enough to distribute force on the tarp at the edge, without being too big that the radius won't match the bin is another puzzle.
The long rectangular steel tube sitting across the top of the bin in the photo is not attached and not staying. I put it there as I was thinking about solutions.
Open to other suggestions or ideas about the whole project too. Yes, I do know the trailer is too low at the hitch, too much weight on the pintle probably, plus it's so low the jack/landing gear on the trailer won't fold down. I plan to fabricate a beefy mini 'gooseneck' and have already removed the existing lunette ring, to raise the trailer/lower the lunette.
My best thought so far is to buy a custom made heavy duty vinyl cover, but I need to do something to protect the cover from the top edge of the steel bin. Even if I smoothed out the cut, it's still too thin and thus sharp to stretch the vinyl over. I thought about 2x4s bolted through the steel, but there are still corners and the wood could hold mold/mildew. Which led me to thinking about a rounded edge, if only I could use some pipe. The corners are again a problem if I miter and join/weld them, but the bin does have a small radius in the corners and if I could get close to a match with a radius in some steel pipe, that could work out really well.
I have considered splitting the pipe on the bottom edge, to slide over the top of the sheet metal, then weld the seam. I think this will be a better and more durable option than just setting the pipe on top and welding them together. So, I still need to source a material for the pipe and figure out how to make the bends. EMT conduit would be easy to get the bends and 3/4" might be big enough. It's galvanized though, so welding it to the stainless steel worries me as being problematic. I can always paint it, but some light rust wouldn't be devastating, so doesn't need to be galvanized, but sourcing a pipe with a thin enough wall to bend smoothly and a pipe size/diameter big enough to distribute force on the tarp at the edge, without being too big that the radius won't match the bin is another puzzle.
The long rectangular steel tube sitting across the top of the bin in the photo is not attached and not staying. I put it there as I was thinking about solutions.
Open to other suggestions or ideas about the whole project too. Yes, I do know the trailer is too low at the hitch, too much weight on the pintle probably, plus it's so low the jack/landing gear on the trailer won't fold down. I plan to fabricate a beefy mini 'gooseneck' and have already removed the existing lunette ring, to raise the trailer/lower the lunette.
