Teach me about dump trailers

[Analog]

I got to use an excavator last week, it was a clients and a couple sizes bigger than shown.

It was an alder removal fest and paired with the mini skid it was an epic treat! Now I want to shift business models and get into removals with the two machines. (Kinda but not really)

I see a guy on Instagram in Maine named Matt Rinard with a setup like this. He seems to really have the solo machine assist work flow down. Really cool setups.

 

[oceans]

I see a guy on Instagram in Maine named Matt Rinard with a setup like this. He seems to really have the solo machine assist work flow down. Really cool setups.

I’ve worked with Matt when he was in PA and also during his first stint up in NH. Really good dude, going pretty hard on the Euro model of micro-mobile.

In the right type of landscape, a mini excavator can be an unreal tool. In pristine lawn scenarios, it can still apply with turf mats depending on material volume and cycles required. A really interesting machine to me is Mecalac’s wheeled excavator. 7, 9, and I think 12 ton versions available with jaw dropping capabilities.

It’s not a micro setup, but man I bet it could save a ton of turf protection, and maybe even more with turf tires vs. ag tires.

Sorry for the derail. Dump trailers are cool, and paired with a mini and short travel distances, it’s a real winner.

 

[Z'sTrees]

I've been running a mini ex for a few years now and mostly working solo as well as staying under CDL territory. Sounds like I'll fit right in on this thread...
Excavator is a kubota kx-91 which weighs about 7300 lbs with grapple. I run it on a small equipment 12k equipment trailer (derated to 9999) that weighs about 2300lbs, this gives me a few hundred pounds of wiggle room for extra attachments.
I can also squeeze the mini into my 6x12 14K (again derated to 10k) dump trailer but I'm probably right on the ragged edge of staying at 10k on trailer axles. It's not an ideal setup but works in a pinch. The bonus is using the trailer with the mini ex to forward logs or debris.



Essentially I am never on a lawn here in CO, usually working in the woods so there's hardly any drawback to the mini ex. When I lived in the NC mountains I had a dingo that was much easier on lawns or would mat for the excavator if needed.
I'd love to see even smaller wheeled excavators than what @oceans mentioned above.

 

[oceans]

I've been running a mini ex for a few years now and mostly working solo as well as staying under CDL territory. Sounds like I'll fit right in on this thread...
Excavator is a kubota kx-91 which weighs about 7300 lbs with grapple. I run it on a small equipment 12k equipment trailer (derated to 9999) that weighs about 2300lbs, this gives me a few hundred pounds of wiggle room for extra attachments.
I can also squeeze the mini into my 6x12 14K (again derated to 10k) dump trailer but I'm probably right on the ragged edge of staying at 10k on trailer axles. It's not an ideal setup but works in a pinch. The bonus is using the trailer with the mini ex to forward logs or debris.



Essentially I am never on a lawn here in CO, usually working in the woods so there's hardly any drawback to the mini ex. When I lived in the NC mountains I had a dingo that was much easier on lawns or would mat for the excavator if needed.
I'd love to see even smaller wheeled excavators than what @oceans mentioned above.

What is your tow vehicle(s)?

 

[Z'sTrees]

F-550 w/ dump body, f-350 pickup

 

[oceans]

F-550 w/ dump body, f-350 pickup

Copy that. So it’s the F550 requiring the trailer to be at 10,000 or less. Would an additional 14,000 trailer specifically for the F350 be a benefit? You could get away with a decently larger machine if it were a flatbed…

I guess the thing about working solo is maximizing each trip. So much to consider that way.

 

[davidwyby]

Been cleaning up the mess my dad left me up by @27RMT0N. Too tight to get the goose in comfortably at first so forwarding with the tractor. Feel for rocks and metal in the bushes with the bucket with the mower up high. Once leaves off, pass again with the deck lower. Skid mower maybe better for tall brush but would hit objects. Often cut down small trees with saw and mow the tops up. Save trunks for fire or rot.

Leveled an old dog run the dogs dug out.

lots of stuff out on the 32’ goose. As stated it cuts to the inside going fwd but I can back in the driveway backwards on a tight 90 because it can jackknife tighter than 90.

Unload by hand. I lost 14 lbs working all the daylight hours 7 days a week for two weeks.



A quick way to shuffle it around.



Scrapping. Zinc (I think) weights added to mower to keep Weight off front tires and on rear drives. With bucket and mower up and using the steering brakes, thing turns real tight. I can turn around in the driveway.

Bucket forks. Don’t buy cheap ones!





I think a mini or something with a grapple would save manual labor but too slow moving around the property.

The ole tractor was also cheap to rent from a friend. Only complaint was it’s real loud.

My dad left a similar one I hope I can get running.

 

[davidwyby]

Neighbor let me borrow a small dump trailer which worked well for soggy Sheetrock and MDF, and got in tight spots, but was too small to be efficient with bulky stuff.

Eventually I will be small scale low impact logging the place. Removing laminated root rot and a very select harvest of money trees.

 

[oceans]

Neighbor let me borrow a small dump trailer which worked well for soggy Sheetrock and MDF, and got in tight spots, but was too small to be efficient with bulky stuff.

Eventually I will be small scale low impact logging the place. Removing laminated root rot and a very select harvest of money trees.

Did someone say logging? Now that sounds like some fun!

 

[davidwyby]

Did someone say logging? Now that sounds like some fun!

It’s required great discipline to focus on the cleanup before the trees

 

[oceans]

It’s required great discipline to focus on the cleanup before the trees

Gotta eat all your peas before there’s any ice cream.

Tractors, though, they can vary and be really specialized and hard to compare but some are actually pretty darn useful in the woods. I think Valtra is of the few, if not the only manufacturer that saw the power of making models with swivel seats accompanied with controls…kinda like a forwarder has. Those be some cool