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M925A2 Trailer Made From M923A1 Truck

161
2
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Location
Argyle MI
Im curious about where you found the donor truck. Id love to do this and make it a matching dump like my truck. I already have it all set up with a rear remote to dump the trailer i have. Ive turned a couple trucks into trailers. Both were ford f600s


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big block 88

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Topeka/Kansas
You guys are in outer space. Can’t it just be a trailer? Already have it, and the de-splined hub caps. This is a spring project.

booooooo!!!! Why waste your time making just another trailer? When you can make it overly complex and difficult to service but still have the most awesomeness of trailers rolling around.

Just think you blow your ring and pinnion in those wimpy 5 ton rockwells in the middle of brown bear mating season. The sound of the metal pinnion slipping on the broken ring gear happens to sound just like a female bear in heat, youve atteacted a lot of attention. But no worries your trailer is ready to push you to safety.
 

Jbulach

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Sunman Indiana
Im curious about where you found the donor truck. Id love to do this and make it a matching dump like my truck. I already have it all set up with a rear remote to dump the trailer i have. Ive turned a couple trucks into trailers. Both were ford f600s


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You have any pictures of the front hitch/fame section of Bruce and/or his little buddy?
 

big block 88

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862
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Topeka/Kansas
Not mine but in a full turn. Wish i had a video to show how those shafts dont bind in full turns.

Worste ive had happen was a steep hill up for tractor after coming down a steep hill so mower and tractor are in a V shape. Turned to tight tire caught the shaft and draw bar. No real damage just ruined my shorts.
 

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74M35A2

Well-known member
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Location
Livonia, MI
Im curious about where you found the donor truck. Id love to do this and make it a matching dump like my truck. I already have it all set up with a rear remote to dump the trailer i have. Ive turned a couple trucks into trailers. Both were ford f600s


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Love the booooo.

You need to find somebody who parts these out. They are going to want approximately the going rate for a bed and 2 axles, so figure $1,500, but up to them. JCapple (sp?) would be one of my first picks, but you’ll have shipping.

I am doing a dump hoist on this trailer as stand alone. One on the truck also so tandem dump, but I’m sure somebody already beat me to that too.
 
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tobyS

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Location
IN
Good firewood haulers FBWT!
I've used F350 frame with duals and they track very well. I have a bus F450 (extra wide) that may be donor with an LMTV bed Picture.

So yea....I think rear clips make great trailers...especially dumps. A 20'er would be really cool and your frame may be long enough 74M35, if it's not cut.
 

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VPed

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Clint, TX
I have an M39 series frame with axles for sale in the classifieds for cheap.
 

74M35A2

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Livonia, MI
Frame is not cut yet, but will be. It is full truck length so far. Everything still on it. Steps, air tanks, tool boxes, spare tire carrier, muffler, etc... I want the trailer as close to the truck as possible without contacting in a jack-knife.
 

tobyS

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Frame is not cut yet, but will be. It is full truck length so far. Everything still on it. Steps, air tanks, tool boxes, spare tire carrier, muffler, etc... I want the trailer as close to the truck as possible without contacting in a jack-knife.

Then make a long tongue from box tube 5x5x1/2" thick or so and don't start the A frame until it's far enough to clear at 90*. Guessing you want to leave the 14' bed in place.

A 20' bed would be 6' in front of the 14's spot, not much overhang on the rear.
 
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161
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18
Location
Argyle MI
I dont remember how i decided the length for mine. Pretty sure i just cut them off where the frame wasn't wavy for the front end. Ill take pictures this weekend in detail of my design

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74M35A2

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Livonia, MI
Staying 14’ bed to match. Creative thinking on the tongue. I sketched a rough A framed tongue, I’d want it about 4’ long, given the truck bed is 8’ wide (92.5” really). This would allow it to pivot without the beds kissing. The frame rails are 34” apart, so really the only difference from an A frame tongue vs a single beam is only 17” per side max. Should be more than enough pivot for backing. I know for sure it won’t kiss going forward. Turning radius is like 3 lanes deep.

F48C03AC-F324-4001-B55F-3620F77F3440.jpg
 

Swamp Donkey

The Engineer
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Gray, GA
Staying 14’ bed to match. Creative thinking on the tongue. I sketched a rough A framed tongue, I’d want it about 4’ long, given the truck bed is 8’ wide (92.5” really). This would allow it to pivot without the beds kissing. The frame rails are 34” apart, so really the only difference from an A frame tongue vs a single beam is only 17” per side max. Should be more than enough pivot for backing. I know for sure it won’t kiss going forward. Turning radius is like 3 lanes deep.

View attachment 712317
If you're keeping the bumperettes and attaching the ring directly to the point on the A-frame, you'll have less of a turn radius than you think. Since you're making this from scratch I'd suggest using a straight tongue for the first 10-12" at the point of the A-frame or just removing the bumperettes.

This is the tongue of my M322 trailer with full A-frame between a pair of A2 bumperettes that I swapped out. The A2 bumperettes have a little more room between them than the ones from A0s. Even then, maximum angle of trailer to truck is only about 45°. Just something to consider if you're wanting the possibility to go past 45° to the truck and to keep the bumperettes. This won't be an issue if you remove them.

20171109_210510.jpg
 

74M35A2

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Livonia, MI
Yep, good point. Bumperettes get scrapped, or free to anybody that wants them, they pay shipping or pick up.

Is that a flip-lid tongue box? Good idea if so. Free storage rules.
 

tobyS

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Having an M929 and M931, I don't have bumperetts to begin with and on my A3 deuce, they are coming off.

I pull my M1061 with the type of A frame that you talk about and I find myself, when backing and turning tight, wondering if the gusset by the bed is about to snag a tire lug or tire grab an air line or that Ubar on the side of the tongue. Hasn't happened yet, but given time, it will. M1061 will probably be getting an extend(able) tongue.

If you plan for a full 90*, there is a margin of safety.

Google "pup dump trailer" and look at all the images with really long tongue. I think they do that for leverage and stability for heavy loads, but not sure. And it's a whole lot easier making it shorter when starting from a full frame, than making it longer once cut.

Edit...some long tongues are due to weight distribution because of bridge laws...they need the distance. I know Michigan had the extra axle (and other requirements) long before Indiana, so you might want to check out distance between axles. Then again...if it's for a "show truck", it's unlikely to be hauling at maximum, so wouldn't matter.
 
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Jbulach

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Location
Sunman Indiana
Having an M929 and M931, I don't have bumperetts to begin with and on my A3 deuce, they are coming off.

I pull my M1061 with the type of A frame that you talk about and I find myself, when backing and turning tight, wondering if the gusset by the bed is about to snag a tire lug or tire grab an air line or that Ubar on the side of the tongue. Hasn't happened yet, but given time, it will. M1061 will probably be getting an extend(able) tongue.

If you plan for a full 90*, there is a margin of safety.

Google "pup dump trailer" and look at all the images with really long tongue. I think they do that for leverage and stability for heavy loads, but not sure. And it's a whole lot easier making it shorter when starting from a full frame, than making it longer once cut.

Edit...some long tongues are due to weight distribution because of bridge laws...they need the distance. I know Michigan had the extra axle (and other requirements) long before Indiana, so you might want to check out distance between axles. Then again...if it's for a "show truck", it's unlikely to be hauling at maximum, so wouldn't matter.
Biridge laws in Michigan are easy, just line it with axles, no big spacing required. Long tongues are also for ease of backing, plus jack knife & dump, so you don’t have to drag your trailer across the trucks pile.
 

tobyS

Well-known member
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Location
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Biridge laws in Michigan are easy, just line it with axles, no big spacing required. Long tongues are also for ease of backing, plus jack knife & dump, so you don’t have to drag your trailer across the trucks pile.
Yea, I noticed the pics of jack knife dumping...and most seem to use the truck hydraulics, so don't want to disconnect. But reading about the long tongues, there are some states with longer spacing requirements (bridges) that would be worth a look by anyone planning such a thing.
 
161
2
18
Location
Argyle MI
My experience with my dump trailer theres no need to be able to turn that short. Mine is longer than what yours will be and you cant get much more than 45 and the turning radius is too big to bring it back straight.

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