AllisPhreak Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 Well, finally decided to build my tow-behind dump cart. I used a neat little program from Google to design the thing, gives a amazing 3-D design workspace. Here is the result : Now on to the fabrication : Dry fitting the pillow blocks, axles, & wheels : Think it's going to be a bit top-heavy ? I'll post more pics as I proceed
plastikosmd Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 sorta looks like mine [IMG]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/littletrailer1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/littletrailer2.jpg[/IMG] looks good
AllisPhreak Posted April 2, 2009 Author Posted April 2, 2009 Is your lift mechanism an electric actuator ? And if so, are you drawing the juice from your tractor, or a separate set of on-board batterys that you charge periodically ? I'm tending towards the latter.
Simpleton7016 Posted April 3, 2009 Posted April 3, 2009 Wow am I envious! Envious (in a good sense) of both your vision and your know-how. Looks great!
AllisPhreak Posted April 3, 2009 Author Posted April 3, 2009 LOL....'know how' ? Now THAT'S pretty funny ! I never tried my hand at welding before LAST springs project...a 'johnny bucket' clone (that one I really made much too heavy with oversized materials--we live & learn). But what helped a lot was to be able to construct a 3-D mockup of the cart using a handly little program called Google Sketch-up. It allowed me to properly size the construction materials, as well as helped me avoid a lot of the trial-&-error.
plastikosmd Posted April 3, 2009 Posted April 3, 2009 I havent hooked up a lift yet. I probably will run electric back to a electric hydro pump on the trailer and ram. will let you know when it is done
comet66 Posted April 3, 2009 Posted April 3, 2009 Top heavy? With all that iron in it? It looks sturdy enough to haul a car on. Nice work!
cwm1276 Posted April 3, 2009 Posted April 3, 2009 How is it going to turn? the wheels look too far apart to be like tandem trailer axel. I am afraid the the front ones will be drug side ways when turning. The fonts look like they should have wagon type steering, but they are a little to far back. I love the concept and the work.
AllisPhreak Posted April 3, 2009 Author Posted April 3, 2009 Thanks John & Carl ! Yea, it's a beast...just the iron is pushing about 80-100 lbs. And 'sturdy' doesn't quite describe it....I would feel safe with 3000 lbs on it. It's like a rock. Actually, Carl....I have the wheels spinning independent of each other, and the axle spins quite freely within the pillow blocks as well. So, unless the 'turning radius' is quite small, it's able to spin about quite nimbly without the front or rear wheels dragging. (The real test will be with the tongue attached and being pulled behind my Allis) I wanted to leave enough room in case I ever wanted to throw on larger diameter wheels....and the clearances as they are now, I can throw wheels with a diameter of up to 5" larger.
stevenj Posted April 3, 2009 Posted April 3, 2009 quote:Originally posted by cwm1276 the wheels look too far apart to be like tandem trailer axel. Perhaps he was considering the federal bridge formula when he set the spacing on the axles. :D
AllisPhreak Posted April 3, 2009 Author Posted April 3, 2009 Zack - it's 1 1/2" tube, I think it's 3/32" thickness. (at least the top part----the lower part of the frame is much heavier gauge)
MPH Posted April 4, 2009 Posted April 4, 2009 That's one stout looking trailer frame karl. Tires look way small to my likeling and I think will pull hard with a load, esp in soft or wet dirt. On your plan I only see one tounge on the hitch, think you need one on the bottom also. Your making good headway on one of my desires to build.
AllisPhreak Posted April 4, 2009 Author Posted April 4, 2009 Mph - Yea, the wheels are pretty small (11" dia, 5 1/2" radius) ....But I had them kicking around in my garage for years (my dad had bought them at a garage sale 2 decades ago and I got them when he died). That's why I placed the wheels as far apart as I did, in case I ever had the inclination or the need to throw on larger wheels. As far as the these tires bogging down in wet or soft dirt, for my use...I have a very hard packed gravel driveway, and fairly firm 'back 40'--very little soft dirt, and when it rains, I try not to used the tractor or any implement until it dries...I do not want to tear up the lawn I so painstakingly maintain. As far as the dual tongue hitch...you are quite correct...I had plans on welding a piece on the bottom to accomodate both tractors I own...the Allis & the new Crapsman my wife so mistakenly purchased for me last year.
D-17_Dave Posted April 5, 2009 Posted April 5, 2009 The tires should be to the rear as far as you can if your going to dump much weight.
AllisPhreak Posted April 5, 2009 Author Posted April 5, 2009 Dave- I have one axle situated as far to the rear as I thought prudent....the other axle I wanted to place forward enough so that I did not have to have the tractor connected to the tongue in order to stably operate the actuator mechanism.
firefoxz1 Posted April 6, 2009 Posted April 6, 2009 Can you set the axle height slightly different from each other? If the front axle were say a 1/2" lower they would carry most of the weight when the dump is down but when you dump the rear would be there to keep from tipping back so much and to help with the heavy load management. This may help with the scrubbing issue with the axle gap. With the solid tires this may not work.
mooseman3210 Posted April 6, 2009 Posted April 6, 2009 not one to question or give ideas (because i could never have come up with that . But what about the old hey wagon idea were the front tires would turn with the tongue of the trailer ? with those smaller tires it would help . plus it would be real handy to back around corners and to maneuver once you got the hang of backing it up ?? just wondering .if the tires sat back a little bit that would stabilize the load when lifting mooseman
AllisPhreak Posted April 6, 2009 Author Posted April 6, 2009 Tom- That's a H*LL of an idea, I never thought of that. Unfortunately, I doubt I could lower the front axle, but I could slide a short piece of 3/8" flatbar under the rear pillow blocks, RAISING the rear axle to achieve the same effect, couldn't I ? David - I thought about articulating the front axle in order to have it pivot with the tongue.....but I rejected the idea because of the extra moving parts meaning more wear at the pivot point, and the cart could tip slightly one way or another (causing another wear point) depending how the cart is loaded. Not to mention quite a bit more work. (LOL)
firefoxz1 Posted April 6, 2009 Posted April 6, 2009 You could, but I mentioned the front one so it would balance on that one more. If you raise the rear one it will give you more tongue weight but if that doesn't concern you go for it. Like I said though with solid tires I don't think it would work nearly as good, no flex(squat) in one set of tires to rest on the other under load.
AllisPhreak Posted April 19, 2009 Author Posted April 19, 2009 ALMOST DONE ! Except for the tongue (neccesary welding too much for my little wire welder) which has been sent out for welding. Here it is, guys ! Cart tipped : Closer views of actuator & mount : Can't wait to put this puppy to work !
land44 Posted April 19, 2009 Posted April 19, 2009 looks nice ---- nice job are you going to paint it orange?
AllisPhreak Posted April 19, 2009 Author Posted April 19, 2009 LOL.....nah, already painted gloss black ( had a can of black rustoleum left over from the ladder rack project for my truck last spring)
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