grain trailer's question for you pro's

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i'll have pics up friday afternoon to really explain what we are doing. but here's the low down. we took a on a project some other shop screwed up. they cut a 38 foot by 4 foot hole in the top of this trailer. now the customer wanted sliding metal door's rather than a tarp. i know crazy right!! so they built these door's that were supposed to be oparational from the ground. yeah didnt work so well. my question is have any of you guys done something simaliar? thanks guys
Reply:I wanna see this. I would think the doors would operate on air cylinders. Seems like a interesting project.
Reply:Air cylinders would be the way to go. I'd build multiple doors on rails with air cylinders. I can't see any issue loading the trailer with rails spanning the width. I've loaded grain trucks from my combine with extensive bracing without issue. I use 4' air cylinders on my milking parlor entrance and exit doors. My doors are HEAVY to withstand cow abuse, so trailer doors should be easy.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:Let me first say, I'm not a pro and not highly knowledgable about semi trailers.A grain trailer is normally open on the top so it can easily be loaded. It is also constructed from much heavier gage material and framing so it can withstand the load and not buckle in the middle.It sounds like this customer took a standard van type trailer and cut a 4x38 foot hole out of the top of the trailer. The idea is great but you must understand that the skin and lite framing around the entire trailer is what gives this type trailer its strength. A hole of that size would so greatly reduce the integrity of the original engineered strength that I don't think I would want to be any part of the finished poroduct. It could be a real life threatening disaster on the highway.I would advise you to give this a lot of consideration before becoming involved in the project. If there was a accident, an attorney would certinally include the one who modified the trailer.Waiting for some pictures.
Reply:The nice thing about grain trailers is that you can add internal bracing and not affect grain flow when unloading. But they ate built for heavy loads against the walls. If this is a van type trailer and not a true grain trailer, I would pass on the job. It's a disaster waiting to happen.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:We would haul grain in van trailers all the time, but they were loaded by shooting the grain in the rear doors. As far as the trailers themselves they are fine. They had plywood along the walls 4 foot tall the length of the trailer.Last edited by Mac_nd; 02-22-2013 at 10:19 PM.Reason: added something
Reply:How did you unload the van trailers? Shovels?Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:Gravity will make the grain run out of the trailer. A lot of trailers were unloaded this way but some one told me they dont have tippers much like they did when i was young.
Reply:Gravity only gets you so far. I can't see a box trailer getting 1/4 of the grain out with gravity alone. It flows, but bit also piles. For the OP, what type of trailer is this? Is it bottom unloading?Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:Unloading facility had a platform that tipped truck and trailer up
Reply:Originally Posted by Mac_ndUnloading facility had a platform that tipped truck and trailer up
Reply:if your doors are as big as i think they might be i would say a gear reduction motor and a rack and pinion setup or possibly chain drive.  but agree with all that has been said above.  If this is a van trailer with the roof cut off RUN AWAY from this project.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by Mac_ndUnloading facility had a platform that tipped truck and trailer up
Reply:Here is one, wood chips I think. pretty cool ramps,
Reply:Originally Posted by mckutzyHere is one, wood chips I think. pretty cool ramps,