Front-Unloading Silage Wagon Converted To Rear-Unloading "Dump Wagon"

Front-Unloading Silage Wagon Converted To Rear-Unloading "Dump Wagon" WAGONS/TRAILERS Conversions 24-1-4 "They unload a lot faster than conventional front-unloading models and are virtually maintenance-free," says Ben Currier, Mantorville, Minn., about his two rear-unloading "dump wagons" made from 20-year-old, front-unloading, H & S silage wagons. Each 14-ft. long wagon is raised and lowered by a 10-ton hydraulic cylinder that operates off tractor hydraulics. Ben and his brother Jay bought the wagons from Curt Harris of Kasson, Minn., who made the actual conversions. The Curriers use the wagons to fill their silage and haylage bunker silos. Harris unbolted the unloading conveyor, cross apron, and beaters and also removed the apron from the floor. He used a sheet of plywood to close off the front end of the wagon, made a new wooden subfloor, and added heavy-duty treated lumber sides as well as a wooden endgate. The endgate is hinged at the top and is held in place on each side by metal tabs. The wagon is hinged at the back where it raises up. To support the weight of the wagon as it's being raised, he reinforced the frame, using a pair of steel I-beams that run lengthwise and are connected by 2 by 8-in. U-channel cross members. The hoist mounts on one of these cross members. "We've used the wagons for two years with very few problems," says Ben. "They save us a lot of time because it used to take five to eight minutes to unload each one, but now it takes only about 15 seconds. We reinforced the frame after one of the frames broke. We also installed a steel roof over each wagon to increase its capacity. "The operator manually opens the endgate by flipping a lever on front of the wagon that's connected by a steel rod to the back of the endgate. An æover center' steel rod on the side of the wagon keeps the endgate from accidentally opening whenever the wagon goes over a bump. To operate the hoist we just hook up a hydraulic hose to the tractor that's pulling the wagon. "We also lined the sides and floor of the wagon with plastic to make it easier for the silage to flow out." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ben Currier, 59314 272nd Ave., Mantorville, Minn. 55955 (ph 507 635-5743).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.