This is a customer story of how this one-of-a-kind Dumping Flatbed Trailer came to be. Words from the builder.
Customer Story From Toby
This is my Dumping Flatbed trailer affectionately known as the Flimsy trailer that I built in 2022/2023. There is a reason we call it the “flimsy” trailer. One day my dad looked over my progress and said to me “It looks kinda flimsy,” even though the drawbar is made of 3/8″ thick steel and the frame rails are 5/16″ thick…
I even got a custom license plate for it that says FLIMSY. Anyway, I was looking for a dumping flatbed trailer and nobody really offered what I was looking for. My options were limited to A) A dedicated dump trailer with fold down sides, B) A deckover flatbed trailer that didn’t dump, or C) A tilting deckover flatbed trailer that only tilted to load equipment but wouldn’t actually dump. So I set out to build my own.
What you see here is the result.
A Deckover Dumping Flatbed Trailer
The deck is 16 feet long and 8 feet wide, the rub rails take the width to 8 foot 6 inches. I built everything including the scissor hoist myself as the hoists available for sale were priced well above my budget, or they didn’t have the capacity I was looking for.
The axles are quite far back for a number of reasons. First, I didn’t want the back of the truck to lift off the ground when dumping, something I noticed a LOT of dump trailers tend to do. Another was that I didn’t want to deal with stabilizers anytime I load a piece of equipment to prevent the same issue. Also, to provide space to install a third axle if I need the extra capacity. This does make the tongue load a bit heavier than optimal, but behind my one ton dually it really isn’t a problem.
I built a set of ramps that slide into pockets on the deck, and I can hook them anywhere on the sides or back of the trailer so I can load over the side or over the back as a situation may dictate. The hoist is powered by a 5.5 hp gas engine and there are a few reasons I chose gas over electric, one of the main reasons are that most dump trailers I used are good for 4 or 5 loads before they need recharging, even when wired into the truck’s charging circuit. It also dumps a LOT faster than most electric over hydraulic dump trailers. I also have a second hydraulic valve to run my log splitter or a winch.
I have built sides that are 2 feet high for hauling dirt/gravel/debris and a set of log bunks for hauling logs.
So far I’m really pleased with how this dumping flatbed trailer has turned out. It is a tad bit heavy, it weighs about 5500 lbs empty which leaves me with about 8500 lbs of capacity. It will comfortably haul this and also dump it without any hesitation. Attached are some pictures for your enjoyment. Thank you!
Thank You For The Story And Photos!
From the images, this looks like a great trailer. Thank you for sharing both the story and the photos. This is one to be proud of, for sure.
I agree with your assessment of the axle position – back too far. If you keep the heaviest loads back, it should be OK. Do be aware of the towing limits of your vehicle as it is pretty easy to exceed the tongue weight while being well under the towing weight.
You have to be pretty brave to paint a work trailer white. It looks awesome! But it will take some work to keep it looking clean.
I do like the deckover as a base for the dumping flatbed trailer. Also, the removable sides. That is a great use of stake pockets, and I especially like that you used metal verticals. I see a lot of wood sides with wood verticals which don’t last too long. Great job with that.
Overall your Dumping Flatbed Trailer is impressive! It looks good, and according to you it functions well. Bucking the trend and using a gas powered pump is an interesting idea, and your reasoning is sound. Good job.
Again, thank you for sharing flimsy with us – all of us in the DIY build community.
The Dumping Flatbed Trailer Photo Gallery
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