Building a tilt box trailer.

[BundyRumandCoke]

So, I finally have got my act together, and am starting to build a replacement for my worn out old trailer. I have had my old pop top camper chassis for a few years, just for this occasion. I have just bought an alloy ute tray to mount on top of it.

But then, thinking back to a couple of months ago, when I built a sand pit for my grandson, I remembered how much of a PITA it was shovelling the load out of the trailer, so want to make the new trailer a tipper.

My thoughts are to build a steel frame to mount to the underside of the tray, and hinge it at the back of the chassis. But its how to tilt it that I am uncertain about.

I have seen tipper trailers with a mast on the A frame, and a winch in front of that with the cable going to the top of the mast, then back down to the front of the tray. I can get a hand boat winch from Supercrap for $99, or an approx 1000kg electric boat winch from them for the same price. I can also get a 1500kg boat winch for $149. Being a lazy bugger, this would be a better option than a hand winch.

Now my real question. Should the base of the mast be on a pivot, at the back, so it leans slightly to the rear when raising the front of the tray? Or should I fix it, and have a change of direction pulley on the front of the tray, and run the cable to the back of the tray, which would allow that pulley run along the cable as the cable tightens and lifts the front of the tray?

Anyone done this? Ideas or pics would be great.

Cheers
Bundy

[Slunnie]

Depending on how much tip angle you want, we've done a few that hinge on the end of the drawbar, and that makes the axle become the pivot.

[BundyRumandCoke]

Yes, I should have said, it will hinge on a line at the rear of the leaf springs. That will lessen the load on any kind of lifting system I make, either winch, jack, or other means.

Yes, I have considered mounting a hydraulic jack about 12 inches in front of the pivot point, using that to lift the tray.

[scuba steve 22]

Depending on how much tip angle you want, we've done a few that hinge on the end of the drawbar, and that makes the axle become the pivot.

i have done a few this way to, with good results
no need for winches etc

[Eddy]

Had a tilt trailer with the axle as pivot point ... for a week. Only good thing about it was I didn't loose any money on it ... actually made a profit when I sold.

The tail drops down to ground level, so ya still left with shovel work;- either that or try to drive forward to drop more material off ... and then shovel some more anyway.

Back of spring pivot is not a lot better, unless of course the tail of the trailer tub is at that point ...

I guarantee you'll be a lot more satisfied with one that does pivot at the rear of the tub ... coz everything goes when it's tipped.

[ferrit]

we have a built tough tandem at work, hydro tipper and the works. Its fantastic!

will tip a full 2.5T of soil out of it no worries, electric hydraulic....

But it cost about $12K.... and work had to cut the stock crate on it down to half height... we were loading it up (12x7) to about 6' deep with green redgum and bending the axles!

[ledgend80]

have you thought about using one of those exhaust bags to jack up the trailer instead of using a hydraulic ram.

[BundyRumandCoke]

I have, as I have a bull bag at home. I know its been done before, but have dismissed it as not a brilliant idea.

[geopaj]

have you thought about using one of those exhaust bags to jack up the trailer instead of using a hydraulic ram.

I hired a 7x4 tilt trailer a couple of years ago that used a permanently mounted exhaust bag between the trailer chassis and the trailer 'body'. I was amazed how well it worked (ie quick to lift and easy to operate)