[bigmower_smallyard]

I have two rollers, a 317 and a 400. Neither have an engine in them, but the 400 is about stripped down to the frame. I have been thinking about turning the 400 into a hydraulic dump cart to be pulled and powered with a 430. My idea would be to take off the front axle and wheels and replace with a 2 inch receiver hitch, cap the transmission with fluid in it and leave the selector (weld?)in neutral. I have it laying around is the best reason why I'd do it, instead of buying a trailer frame to start from. Before I jump in I thought I better ask if this is not a good idea. No idea if the transmission will appreciate this kind of treatment. Please weigh in if this is a dumb idea, or if you have suggestions to make it work. I think painted up yellow and green it would look pretty nice.

 

[grandpajay]

Leave the front wheels on and make it a dump wagon. Then you don't have tongue weight issues.

 

[dd57chevy]

Brandon , I'm sorry , but I think the trailer would end up with so much extra , unnecessary , unproductive weight that you wouldn't be happy with it .

It would also be fairly.....um.......cosmetically challenged..........

 

[dayers]

i have a flat/stake body i made from a 112. i welded the front axle solid and welded the tongue to what use to be the transmission sub-frame.now after the fact i am wishing i had left the rear axle in it and made the tongue steer the front axle it would be a bit more stable. it gets a little tipsy side to side as the original front tires are fairly small and it is narrow at the axle for as tall as i made it. but a four wheel dump wagon would be cool.
ps. it is not to heavy. even with my over engineering.

 

[mikeduwe]

Seems that starting with a length of square tubing would be better off....

 

[ab318]

Brandon,
Also with this solution, the wheels are too far from the middle...
- More weight to the tongue.
- Need bigger hydraulic cylinder.
Andre

 

[69project]

The money you can make from parting out the rest of the 400 will go a long ways towards getting a dump cart.

The rear end, trans, and rims/tires should sell pretty easily. The frame probably won't, I never really see them sell.

 

[bigmower_smallyard]

All good comments and food for thought. I am headed out to spark the cutting torch. I will either have a beginning to a dump wagon, or a 400 rear end and tires/rims for sale tonight. We will see how it goes.


I will have to sort out how to make the wheels steerable up front if it is going to work. I believe Andre was hinting at problems with tongue weight if I pull the front wheels off.

Also cylinder size was mentioned. Thoughts on stroke/bore? I don't have a ton of experience with hydraulic systems. I'm sure at some size cylinder, the 430's system won't support running it? I was thinking along the lines of a 2" bore with a 12" stroke.

In the ultimate show of cheapness, I may just cobble something together from what I have laying around. If it doesn't work, it will still likely be fun. When it stops being fun, I'll just go buy a cart.

 

[charms]

A 430's hydraulic system can easily handle one 3" x 12" cylinder, so that's not a problem.

A 2 wheel trailer is much easier to maneuver than a 4 wheel trailer. If you mounted your box so the center is only about 6" ahead of the rear wheels, hitch weight is not a big problem.

The biggest problem to me, other than looks, would be the extra weight.

 

[dhager4692]

QUOTE " I may just cobble something together from what I have laying around. If it doesn't work, it will still likely be fun. When it stops being fun, I'll just go buy a cart."QUOTE (Cliff Harms)

I understand this comment. But I don't have a frame but do have wheels, an axle, and scrap steel and am trying to figure how to put it all together to male either a cart or a dump trailer. Maybe some day.

 

[knottyrope]

extra weight? What? My 420 can tow my 3500 camper in 4 inches of snow with chains on. it also has a 300 lb toungue weight.

I also tore own my shed with it too, see it here
http://www.wfmachines.com/discus/messages/335/87266.html

 

[dhager4692]

KnottyRope
I like the thread you posted and it gave me quite a laugh. I have to correct people all the time. But I got a thumbs up from a guy passing my house the other day while I was using my 318 with a 44 loader.

 

[chuckv]

It is never a matter of how much weight you CAN tow, but rather how much you SHOULD tow safely -- mostly a matter of braking in most instances...

I am sure you might have seen the ad on TV where the import truck is towing the Space Shuttle -- same idea.

Be safe...

Chuck

 

[charms]

QUOTE " I may just cobble something together from what I have laying around. If it doesn't work, it will still likely be fun. When it stops being fun, I'll just go buy a cart."QUOTE (Cliff Harms)... Not my quote

The extra weight of the 400 diff might make the difference when you are pulling a 1000+ payload up a hill, and would certainly make it a little harder to wheel around by hand.

 

[knottyrope]

Cliff, I doubt that the rear diff weight would matter. I towed my 3500 lb trailer up a 10% grade with out issue.