Bottom Dump trailer

[Mopar - D]

My Super Bee Trucking fleet is in need of a bottom dump trailer so I’m going to build them one. I’m still researching some of the details but I’ve started with using the rear suspension from the AMT Fruehauf tanker kit. I’m looking to use the Load King trailer design for my trailer. I’ve started on the rear suspension so far. Lot more to come. As always your comments are always welcome and appreciated. 
 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by Mopar - D

[Oldcarfan27]

Looks like you've got your work cut out for you.

Can't wait to see it being built. 

Very inspiring!

[Oldcarfan27]

BTW, what's the GTX for? Gonna have Hemi powered drop gates?

[Mopar - D]

  On 5/3/2022 at 2:22 AM, Oldcarfan27 said:

BTW, what's the GTX for? Gonna have Hemi powered drop gates?

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Patrick I was at Modelmania this weekend and I picked up the tanker and the GTX was on sale for $10 so I picked it up. 

[slusher]

Real interesting project Dan.  What are the belly dump trailers used for?  To spread the load over a distance?

[yh70]

you can do it...

[gotnitro?]

I see your feeding your squirrels frosted flakes again !! Looking forward to your belly dump trailer 

Edited May 4, 2022 by gotnitro?

[DrKerry]

Very kool, can't wait to see more!!!

[Jhill]

Nice, I like the solid sides! I have one on the bench now, and one I built over 10yrs ago. Current one is referenced off a Brazos, don't recall what the older built was referenced from!

[Mopar - D]

  On 5/4/2022 at 12:35 PM, slusher said:

Real interesting project Dan.  What are the belly dump trailers used for?  To spread the load over a distance?

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Thanks Carl I’ve seen them used on highways and also for land development. Just up to street from me there’s a new subdivision going in and they have been raising the hole area a couple feet and they have been using these bottom dumps to bring in the fill dirt. They were running about 30 or more trucks for months 6 to 7 days a week. 

  On 5/4/2022 at 2:56 PM, yh70 said:

you can do it...

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Thanks Dave. 

  On 5/4/2022 at 3:15 PM, gotnitro? said:

I see your feeding your squirrels frosted flakes again !! Looking forward to your belly dump trailer 

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lol! 

  On 5/4/2022 at 5:18 PM, DrKerry said:

Very kool, can't wait to see more!!!

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Thanks Kerry. 

  On 5/4/2022 at 6:28 PM, Jhill said:

Nice, I like the solid sides! I have one on the bench now, and one I built over 10yrs ago. Current one is referenced off a Brazos, don't recall what the older built was referenced from!

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Nice bottom dumps Jim. Do the bottom gates open up. I’m going to try and make mine to open up. There’s a lot of angles on theses trailers. Lol. 

[Mopar - D]

This trailer has so many different angles I decided that I needed to draw it in scale before I just started cutting evergreen plastic pieces lol. My progress is on paper but I’m about ready to start cutting some plastic but after making the drawings I will need to go out and get some more evergreen plastic to be able to finish it. Here’s my drawings so far. 
 

 

[Jhill]

  On 5/4/2022 at 8:24 PM, Mopar - D said:

Thanks Carl I’ve seen them used on highways and also for land development. Just up to street from me there’s a new subdivision going in and they have been raising the hole area a couple feet and they have been using these bottom dumps to bring in the fill dirt. They were running about 30 or more trucks for months 6 to 7 days a week. 

Thanks Dave. 

lol! 

Thanks Kerry. 

Nice bottom dumps Jim. Do the bottom gates open up. I’m going to try and make mine to open up. There’s a lot of angles on theses trailers. Lol. 

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They do!

[Warren D]

Interesting build.  Not sure but I think Doug Wagner at Keystone/AITM makes one but maybe not this same manufacturer.

[Mopar - D]

  On 5/4/2022 at 10:36 PM, Jhill said:

They do!

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Thanks for sharing Jim I’m planning to do something similar with mine so that they will open up. 

  On 5/4/2022 at 11:02 PM, Warren D said:

Interesting build.  Not sure but I think Doug Wagner at Keystone/AITM makes one but maybe not this same manufacturer.

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Warren your correct Doug Wagner at Keystone has one but I’m looking for more details than what I see in his pictures plus I’m not into sanding the 3D parts smooth. 

[Warren D]

  On 5/4/2022 at 11:12 PM, Mopar - D said:

 

Warren your correct Doug Wagner at Keystone has one but I’m looking for more details than what I see in his pictures plus I’m not into sanding the 3D parts smooth. 

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I hear you on that!  I have yet to find a way to get the nooks and crannies smooth.  It seems to require filler primer and lots of sanding.  While I often curse resin, it's actually easier to work with.

[gotnitro?]

Glad you mentioned the Wagner model, I thought I'd read there was w belly dump offered .  Going from plans to sheet will yield a better model anyway. 

[Mopar - D]

Thanks Jeff it’s going to be the first time that I’ve drawn up what I want to build. In doing so I’ve been able to identify different parts that I would of had to figure out how to make during the build and could of caused some reworking. 

[Mopar - D]

After picking up more evergreen I worked on the left side of the trailer. 
 

 

[Oldcarfan27]

  On 5/4/2022 at 3:15 PM, gotnitro? said:

I see your feeding your squirrels frosted flakes again !! Looking forward to your belly dump trailer 

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Well, they are Grrreeaatt!!!

[Mopar - D]

I’ve found that there’s not very many square angles on this lol. I now have the main shell together with the dimensions that I was looking for. I did go through 3 paper cut outs for the front and back panels. Now to start on all the bracing and gusset plates. 
 

 

[gotnitro?]

Man that shell looks grrrreeaaattt ! 

Those trailers really don't have as much structure overall like id assumed , very interesting 

Are the square sides evergreen box tube 

[slusher]

wow, impressive work Dan, you made a lot of progress!

[Mopar - D]

  On 5/7/2022 at 4:18 PM, gotnitro? said:

Man that shell looks grrrreeaaattt ! 

Those trailers really don't have as much structure overall like id assumed , very interesting 

Are the square sides evergreen box tube 

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Thanks Jeff Yes I used evergreen square tube #254 it’s 1/4” and evergreen plan sheet #9030. 

  On 5/7/2022 at 4:52 PM, slusher said:

wow, impressive work Dan, you made a lot of progress!

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Thanks Carl I think I think I have as much time in drawing the plans up as I do in building it so far. 

[Mopar - D]

I worked on the 5ft wheel plate that will let the trailer rotate side to side. 

[gotnitro?]

nice work on the wheel plate