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Needing advice on Hopper Bottom's

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by hotrod1653, Jul 7, 2012.

Page 2 of 2
  1. Jul 8, 2012 #11
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Only drive it on the road tarped, or rolled tight against the stops, or the wind will pull it open like a sail,and open the tarp a little while dumping so a vacuum against the tarp isn't developed to damage the tarp. The vents on a vented trailer are probably not enough to prevent this from happening.
     
    25(2)+2, Jul 8, 2012
    25(2)+2, Jul 8, 2012
    #11
    MJ1657 Thanks this.
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  3. Jul 8, 2012 #12
    Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    My dad never tarps his unless it's raining. He will go months without touching the tarp crank. With tall sides and air doors he only gets out of the truck to grab paperwork (and even that isn't necessary at a few places) Kinda defeats the purpose of a "vent" if you have to open the tarp to dump. Both of ours can open both traps with the tarp closed without any issues. We purposely order 80" sides so you don't have to tarp loaded with grain and if your vent isn't big enough to dump with the tarp shut you need a bigger vent.
     
    Jfaulk99, Jul 8, 2012
    Jfaulk99, Jul 8, 2012
    #12
  4. Jul 8, 2012 #13
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Not all trailers are vented that well, the Merrit had the little screened holes inside the posts.and those screens weren't enough even when clean, which they didn't stay clean.

    I drove for several guys, but not that much, I was told to drive with the tarps closed for a reason and to open even the vented trailers.

    Anyone ever fill that high side with beans? I wouldn't own one for local work, but to each his own.
     
    25(2)+2, Jul 8, 2012
    25(2)+2, Jul 8, 2012
    #13
  5. Jul 8, 2012 #14
    Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    Like I said they need bigger vents. What's the purpose of vents if they don't do what they're supposed to do? I bought a non vented Wilson and put a vent on it. I've currently got 2- 43' 80" hoppers and all they do is local work. Not sure how the side height would limit you with local work. They've been filled several times, you can easily get 1400bu in each. But the purpose was so the grain is 3' down from the top when loaded legal. I never saw the point of shutting the tarp to drive 30 miles empty just to open it again to reload.
     
    Jfaulk99, Jul 8, 2012
    Jfaulk99, Jul 8, 2012
    #14
  7. Jul 8, 2012 #15
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I had the occasion, when I started driving, to have 2 rigs parked at a place when the owner of my company passed away. I went to deliver the load that was loaded in my absence, it was so full the tarp would barely go over without knocking any corn off. Those darn bins held more than we thought.

    I don't remember anymore what it weighed at the river but i was sure glad he hadn't filled the other trailer, which was a super high side Merrit, which held 1500 bushels level and was used when hauling oats to get up to 80k.

    I asked the owner when loading it jokingly if I could fill it up and he acted horrified and said to not even think about that, he didn't want to go directly to jail.


    High sides are heavier and can't scale the same weight legally. and are higher to climb and hurt you more if you misstep. You tend to not get overloaded as much if the darned thing won't hold it. I liked the 60 inch other than having to move it 4 times while filling it to get to an 80k gross on corn.


    Like I said, to each his own, not my trailer so I'm not modifying it, and any driver working for someone else and told to do something should just do it and not argue. I don't want to be blamed for causing someone to damage equipment or to lose their job.

    While we are at it, do you have air suspension on the trailer and do you dump that? I was told to do that, too.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2012
    25(2)+2, Jul 8, 2012
    25(2)+2, Jul 8, 2012
    #15
  8. Jul 8, 2012 #16
    MJ1657

    MJ1657 Road Train Member

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    We dump the air on the truck and trailers at places that you can unload fast.

    As far as tarps go if its windy make sure you are facing the wind or the wind is at your tail. If not your tarp can go sailing.

    We always run with ours closed as it improves mileage. I pull a 2010 80" 43' wilson most of the time it's our lightest trailer because it has the aluminum king pin plate and aluminum frame for the rear suspersion.

    Nice part about the high side trailers is you only have to move the trailer once when filling. With our regular Wilson trailers you have to move it once or twice for each hopper.
     
    MJ1657, Jul 8, 2012
    MJ1657, Jul 8, 2012
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    25(2)+2 Thanks this.
  9. Jul 9, 2012 #17
    Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    I just put quick release valves on the suspension so you don't have to manually dump it. They're like $10 and trip whenever the suspension has more pressure than the supply does.

    I've got a 2009 cornhusker and a 2010 Wilson with every aluminum option available. The Cornhusker with a W9 weighs 21,900 and the Wilson with a T800 weighs like 23k. The taller sides don't change the weight much.

    I agree on the high sides being less work. One pile in each hopper and you don't need to climb the ladder. I put video cameras on top so even if your loading a light product you still don't have to breath the dust. Work smarter, not harder!
     
    Jfaulk99, Jul 9, 2012
    Jfaulk99, Jul 9, 2012
    #17
    lonelyswmtrucker Thanks this.
  10. Aug 25, 2012 #18
    hotrod1653

    hotrod1653 Road Train Member

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    Just figured i would give an update on my job here.... They put me in Store Freight division instead of Hopper. I thank everyone for the advice. I am running dry vans, with a day cab. This is a new thing for me being home every day (i work nights).

    Once again, thank you for the advice given.


    :biggrin_25519::biggrin_25519::biggrin_25519::biggrin_25519:
     
    hotrod1653, Aug 25, 2012
    hotrod1653, Aug 25, 2012
    #18
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