Trail King live bottom trailers.

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by Shawn2130, Aug 25, 2019.

  1. Shawn2130

    Shawn2130 Heavy Load Member

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    Hello all.

    About a year ago, the company I work for purchased a Trail King live bottom tri axle trailer.

    This is a 2007 model

    9F894426-ED16-4387-B43A-1A32433A0D7D.jpeg

    It was a repossession and not too bad shape. It was in a jack knife at one point which damaged the landing gear and punched a hole in the skin of the outer wall.

    I replaced all the bent metal for the landing gear and straightened it out. Works good now.

    I have a few questions about those trailers as this is our first one to use.

    For the most part, we have figured out how to use it.

    We have to always walk back and run the manual button controls for lift axle, tail gate locks and tail gate.

    Do these trailers come factory with a control to operate the tailgate, lock and electric tarp?

    There is a secondary 7 pin plug which I’ve tested it with power and it works at activating the tailgate, the locks.

    There is also a 2 prong plug for the electric tarp.

    When running the belt, do we let the heap get large and pushed back under the weight of the moving load until near empty or we keep creeping ahead when the pile gets up to the belt?

    Some guys told me that pushing the pile off “burns the belt” but I’ve seen others doing that too.

    I’m also trying to figure out how to operate the chain Oiler system. I’ve got the oil to flow but makes a mess on ground when running.

    We really like this trailer as it’s really safe compared to end dump trailers we used to have.

    We’ve had several trucks/trailers flopped on their sides multiple times (before I worked there) and like many companies, the end dumps are at the point of not being welcome to sites anymore.

    How does the belt get replaced on these trailers?

    Trout river has videos of their trailer operations and how to change the belt but Trail King has limited info or videos.

    I look forward to learning more about these trailers.
     
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  3. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    Is the belt a solid belt attached to drive chains or flaps attached to drive chains, or just a rubber belt that runs on rollers???
     
    singlescrewshaker Thanks this.
  4. Shawn2130

    Shawn2130 Heavy Load Member

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    Cattleman 84:

    Hello, it’s a solid belt attached to chains
     
  5. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    I am not familiar with one like that, back around 90 we rented a chain floor trailer for a few loads toll we got our live bottom. I knew the people had busted a chain at least twice and had to unload that puppy by hand, I was sloooow unloading it and kept my fingers crossed too. lol
     
  6. Shawn2130

    Shawn2130 Heavy Load Member

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    Starmac:

    That’s gotta be terrible to unload by hand.

    I’ve had to help our live bottom that had frozen stone inside.

    The loader operator smushed the froze. stone chunks on the ground and scooping them up before dumping into the trailer.

    The load still froze up and became nearly solid an hour later.

    Had to break up 3/4 of the load with shovels twice this year.
     
  7. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    We were hauling ground alfalfa, but yea, it is a double pain from what I heard.
     
  8. Idahojoel

    Idahojoel Light Load Member

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    Never used a trail king but used a Flowboy a lot at a job I had for 8 years we always pulled up when the pile got to the belt just so it didn’t get the product all over the back of the trailer. Not going to “burn” that belt it’s attached to a chain but you can break it when it gets worn out and it’s not fun to replace. We hauled sand we used to load those poor trailers with 30 tons
    Wire up some switches for the tailgate if it has a plug
     
  9. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    I forgot about them friggen flowboys, some companies in Houston bought them to haul asphalt years ago, they wee some chain breaking fools, with asphalt and black base.
     
  10. Shawn2130

    Shawn2130 Heavy Load Member

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    Idahojoel; I’ve never heard of a flowboy. I’ll have to look them up.

    The trailer does have 2 plugs besides the standard 7 pin for lights etc.

    Just have to wire up switches and wiring for 4 tractors to use this trailer as everyone in the company drives the truck they like.

    Starmac; sounds like you don’t like the flowboys.
     
  11. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    I nevr pulled one myself, I was running equipment the little I was around them, I know one company that bought some parked them and finallty done some conversions with them and use some of them for something else I heard. This was years ago, I am sure if hey are still around they have n=been improved.
     
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