Propane Tank Trailer Handles Tough Hauling Jobs
Lyle Carpenter offers cleanup services to folks around Walhalla, N. Dak., and he needed a trailer to haul rocks, stumps, trees and scrap metal. When he and his son, Leeroy, couldn't find any commercial trailers rugged enough, they decided to build their own out of a propane semi tanker.
Carpenter contacted propane companies to find an old tank trailer that no longer passed certification.
"It has to be an over-the-road propane tank, not the bulk propane tanks you see in back yards," Carpenter emphasizes. The bulk tanks are mild steel but the semi tankers are 3/8-in. high-tensile steel.
"When we dump 5-ft. dia. rocks we don't have a scratch anywhere," he says.
Before they used a cutting torch to cut the tank in two, the Carpenters removed the tank's cap, opened the vents and blew air from a fan through the tanker for three days. If it had held anhydrous, they would have run vinegar through it to neutralize it. The Carpenters cut the 7-ft. dia. trailer in half leaving one rounded end on each half tank so they got two 32-ft. long boxes - big enough to hold 22 yards of gravel.
The Carpenters made the frame just as tough, using 80,000-lb. tensile strength steel for the beams to meet DOT specifications; 4-in. high tensile, square tubing; three axles and five-leaf springs.
"Having five main leaves in the spring is very important," Carpenter emphasizes. "You have to stiffen the springs up." He's seen too many three-leaf spring dump trailers out of commission.
They welded the trailer together with 7018 welding rods, sandblasted, primed and painted it and built a side swinging gate for the back out of 2-in. square tubing and 1/8-in. AR steel sheeting to be light yet tough.
The tires are 8 1/2 ft. apart so the tank fits down in the frame, which adds to the trailer's stability when it's dumped. A large hydraulic cylinder raises the bed up to a 48-degree angle and the tank's curved shape helps everything slide out easily.
"We've hauled a 45-ft. tree on a stump and even an old milk delivery truck in it," Carpenter says. "This trailer is heavy duty for the rugged jobs."
The Carpenters have been using the trailer for nearly 15 years. They sold the trailer they made out of the other half of the tank to a man who hauled huge chunks of concrete from an air base when missile silos were dismantled.
Though the trailer is heavy, it pulls easily behind a Peterbilt semi, and it continues to perform well.
"We did our homework," Carpenter says. "I just wish we'd had it 30 years ago."
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lyle Carpenter, Walhalla, N. Dak. 58282 (ph 701 549-3727).
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Propane Tank Trailer Handles Tough Hauling Jobs WAGONS/TRAILERS Conversions Lyle Carpenter offers cleanup services to folks around Walhalla N Dak and he needed a trailer to haul rocks stumps trees and scrap metal When he and his son Leeroy couldn t find any commercial trailers rugged enough they decided to build their own out of a propane semi tanker
Carpenter contacted propane companies to find an old tank trailer that no longer passed certification
It has to be an over-the-road propane tank not the bulk propane tanks you see in back yards Carpenter emphasizes The bulk tanks are mild steel but the semi tankers are 3/8-in high-tensile steel
When we dump 5-ft dia rocks we don t have a scratch anywhere he says
Before they used a cutting torch to cut the tank in two the Carpenters removed the tank s cap opened the vents and blew air from a fan through the tanker for three days If it had held anhydrous they would have run vinegar through it to neutralize it The Carpenters cut the 7-ft dia trailer in half leaving one rounded end on each half tank so they got two 32-ft long boxes ù big enough to hold 22 yards of gravel
The Carpenters made the frame just as tough using 80 000-lb tensile strength steel for the beams to meet DOT specifications; 4-in high tensile square tubing; three axles and five-leaf springs
Havingáfive main leaves in the spring is very important Carpenter emphasizes You have to stiffen the springs up He s seen too many three-leaf spring dump trailers out of commission
They welded the trailer together with 7018 welding rods sandblasted primed and painted it and built a side swinging gate for the back out of 2-in square tubing and 1/8-in AR steel sheetingáto be light yet tough
The tires are 8 1/2 ft apart so the tank fits down in the frame which adds to the trailer s stability when it s dumped A large hydraulic cylinder raises the bed up to a 48-degree angle and the tank s curved shape helps everything slide out easily
We ve hauled a 45-ft tree on a stump and even an old milk delivery truck in it Carpenter says This trailer is heavy duty for the rugged jobs
The Carpenters have been using the trailer for nearly 15 years They sold the trailer they made out of the other half of the tank to a man who hauled huge chunks of concrete from an air base when missile silos were dismantled
Though the trailer is heavy it pulls easily behind a Peterbilt semi and it continues to perform well
We did our homework Carpenter says I just wish we d had it 30 years ago
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Lyle Carpenter Walhalla N Dak 58282 ph 701 549-3727
