Dump bed trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
Here's me conversion. Can't remember if I've ever seen a dump trailer with a dove tail. It was a 7' tall sided 20' long dump trailer when we bought it. Sides at the bottom were rotted out, so had to cut the bottom 8" out. I also added uprights in-between for hauling dirt and rock. C-channel on the top. New floor over the dove tail. AR 400 on the floor and sides. Will add a dump truck style tailgate/barn door combo at some point. Was a lot of push/pulling with the push/pull hydraulic 10 ton come along to get the sides straight. I built some heavy duty ramps, as our skid is about 11,000 lbs. Have built in storage also for the ramps.
Sorry some of the pictures are sideways, they aren't om my phone. I don't know how to rotate them
Miller Syncrowave 250DX
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Everlast PowerTig 210EXT
Re: Dump bed trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
I think a concern is that all the extra steel is overkill and will reduce the carrying capacity of the trailer. Compare dump truck boxes with side supports from the past with new ones that are formed not to require side supports. It allows you to carry more weight. AR400 for the sides? What are you planning to haul with this trailer?
Re: Dump bed trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
Originally Posted by Welder Dave
I think a concern is that all the extra steel is overkill and will reduce the carrying capacity of the trailer. Compare dump truck boxes with side supports from the past with new ones that are formed not to require side supports. It allows you to carry more weight. AR400 for the sides? What are you planning to haul with this trailer?
I prolly over did the flooring support, but I reduced the frame by 75% of it's width where it fastens onto the rear frame, so I compensated that and also my skid is 11k, so needed enough support so it didn't bend. It bent what was there before
The AR400 was left over from the dump bed I built. I'll try to find some pictures
We had purchased one of the semi round tubbed dump beds for one of the trucks we converted. Didn't like the reduced capacity. Had to hump the load to haul the same weight. I needed to add the side supports do it didn't bend out the thin sides
Re: Dump bed trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
Support, on a trailer like that, begins with the main frame, then extends out, by means of the crossmembers, to the sides.
Increasing the web (the side skin) at the outer edge doesn't do much. The real support still comes from the crossmembers. A guy has to calculate the cantilever load on each crossmember, and the shared load between crossmembers, to arrive at the right configuration. Increasing the side web doesn't do much to alleviate weak crossmembers.
An 11K skidsteer isn't a really big load when it's spread over 4 wheels. The point loads at each wheel are what's important..........and the ability of the crossmembers, either singly, or in pairs, to hold the load. The outer side web will tie the crossmembers together, and help to distribute the load between crossmembers, but it's not much more than a strong floor would do. And, if the floor is still inherently weak, the whole exercise is in futility.
A flatbed trailer floor can be looked at like a drum head. How much can you stretch it before it breaks under load. It's a membrane, and has to hold up to the load, and distribute it. Two ways to go about it. Either thicken the floor membrane, or decrease the span between crossmembers.
Membrane welding is critical. You can't just lay a metal floor on the crossmembers, tack it in the center of the field, and think it's good. The membrane has to resist pulling towards the center of the gap, so it has to be welded well. Stitch welds every 6", or less. Otherwise it just sags into the center as it stretches.
Last edited by farmersammm; 02-08-2021 at 10:41 PM.
Re: Flat bed dump trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
I have a 24K flatbed that has an 11ga skin on the deck, and it will handle some serious wheel loads................all because it's welded right. You don't need to throw thick crap at a problem if you do it right.
Re: Dump bed trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
@farmersammm
I'll not disagree on anything you said.
However, since I'm not a mathematician nor an engineer. I over built it so I didn't have failure. The amount of weight/stress on the pivot is huge with a 10 ton load. I removed i think 80% of the 2 center rails at the pivot (you can see the angled rail).
I welded a 3/8 × 2" cr strap on top to reform the beam. Since the previous hinges were bent and broke i didn't feel that would support the weight and stress. That's partially why I added the 6" c-channels under where I'll load the skid. The skid bent the previous ramps that had 2, 3" c-channels on the sides. My current ramps don't bend. The dump lifts the 10 tons and can dump it while moving. I'm very satisfied with how it turned out.
Re: Flat bed dump trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
Originally Posted by farmersammm
I have a 24K flatbed that has an 11ga skin on the deck, and it will handle some serious wheel loads................all because it's welded right. You don't need to throw thick crap at a problem if you do it right.
It's supporting the weight of the skid and carrying some of the stress that was removed from the main channels when lifting.
As you can see, the floor is already bent in. It's 11 gauge. I'll not have that on anything I build.
Re: Flat bed dump trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
Originally Posted by farmersammm
I have a 24K flatbed that has an 11ga skin on the deck, and it will handle some serious wheel loads................all because it's welded right. You don't need to throw thick crap at a problem if you do it right.
You dumping rocks and demolition debris on that 11 gauge deck?
Re: Flat bed dump trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
I'm up against a wall. Haygrazer gots to be put in the ground, and it's late in the year. Old Oliver hasn't got the nutz to pull the offset I just bought.
I'm perusin' Craigslist, and I hit the JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I pile in the pickup, make a drive up to Northern Ok...................and do the deed. It's mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Klkins.............kin ya gimme a hand, gotta strip the floor offa the flatbed, and go up there and pick up the new tractor??"
She ain't thrilled, but she bought into this mess years ago, and it's all or nothin'..........................................
GENUWINE 11GA DIAMONDPLATE YA POOOOOOSIES.
So....................we gittterrrrr done, and head NORTH.
Re: Flat bed dump trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
Originally Posted by ronsii
Always.... it is a dump trailer after all
You have never defiled a dump trailer... Right? No concrete slabs, no huge asphalt chunks, no big jobsite rocks, no beating wood waste in with an excavator? Me neither.
Re: Flat bed dump trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
Originally Posted by 12V71
You have never defiled a dump trailer... Right? No concrete slabs, no huge asphalt chunks, no big jobsite rocks, no beating wood waste in with an excavator? Me neither.
We always be VERY VERY careful when demoing concrete and buildings heh heh heh there's a reason I wear earplugs when 'placing' concrete demo in our dumps
Re: Flat bed dump trailer conversion to dove tail dump trailer
Yah, I'm comin' off like a real prik, but it is what it is. You can do this if you just do it right. It's not rocket science, and it's a lot cheaper than throwing a ton of steel at something that doesn't need it. Just tie the floor to the crossmembers, and you're golden. I'm just trying to show how it can be done for the guys that just might be getting into this.