Menu

Stay in Touch
Sign up for ENews
Subscribe Now

Unlimited access >

Menu

Help me brainstorm! Moving dumpster with tractor

Around The Farm
#1

I just had a little 2 yard dumpster delivered to dispose of manure. Unfortunately, I have a paved driveway and the trash truck cannot drive on it without it cracking - or so they tell me. They are wanting me to pull/push the dumpster to the curb for weekly pick up. I have a Kubota BX with a front end loader. The dumpster is on wheels, and only needs to be moved about 50 feet.

This is my only option for manure disposal, so I somehow need to come up with a solution. Are there any attachments that would help me with this? Can I somehow use chains and the front loader? Any and all ideas welcome!

#2

If you have a 3pt hitch on your tractor you can get a carry all like this. I think you can find them with different arm lengths.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/countyline-carry-all

#3

Well that looks perfect! Now to figure out how much weight my hitch can handle


#4

You have a front end loader?

See if these pallet forks for buckets may work for you:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too
FQcaaQodMrICXA

Scroll to the bottom, there are several others in different prices and weight range.

You can also use them for so, so much else, with a pallet to carry stuff around, to reach high places, etc.

Just be sure your tractor is balanced for a heavy weight in front, but to move that 50 feet, very low, most anything should do it, if by pushing, lifting with a chain from the handles or lifting the whole box a little and moving it back and forth.

#5

Since the dumpster is on wheels, use the BX to push it to the curb. BUT
 attach a eye bolt to the Dumpster for a hook & chain to the front of your BX. You don’t want the dumpster to get away from you while pushing it. It might roll into your neighbor’s shiny new car. (or your car) :eek:

#6

You guys are giving me some good ideas
I’m still debating. The dumpster has a handle on either side. What about attaching a chain to each handle and then to the hooks on the FEL, lifting the bucket a tiny bit and pulling it?

Pushing it with the FEL sounds great, in theory, but the dumpster is housed in a privacy fence enclosure (meaning I can only pull it out) and my driveway slopes downhill. I can see it now, Hoss, a giant manure filled dumpster crashing into the neighbors car :lol:

#7

Yes you can try hooking a chain to the handles and lifting it enough with the FEL to back it out of where it sits and move it around.

#8

The trash driver is absolutely correct. The weight of the truck will break up your paved driveway. He has likely seen it too many times daily. Look at the paving in front of dumpsters of several local business.

The dumpster has two handles ? Does the truck pick it up using those handles? Chains from each side of your FEL to the handles is the solution I would use. Merely lift the FEL to tighten the chains (not pick it up). Your BX will then easily pull it out and move it to the curb on its wheels.

#9

If the handles won’t do the trick, get some of those yellow nylon straps haulers use to secure loads on trucks and wrap one all around one end of the box vertically, the other around the other and lift the whole box with the FEL with the straps.
Chains would also work, but the straps may be kinder on the box, won’t scrape the paint off like a chain may.

#10

Or get a good work horse ;). I remember from poor decisions made as a teenager that a startled pony can shift a dumpster thats on wheels. Nothing bad ended up happening but it certainly stuck in my mind!

At one point a friend was posting FB photos of using her harness broke horse to harrow the arena.

Probably not a serious suggestion.

2 Likes
#11

Bluey 
 I doubt even the largest of the BX series (sub-compact) will lift a dumpster with 2 yards of manure


#12

I would position FEL so that edge is facing down almost backwards – I would then position the top (kinder edge) of loader up against handle side of dumpster (leave a little space between the two) – put chain through dumpster handle and then wrap chain around center of loader and drive backwards – slowly – pulling the dumpster.

Very easy to ‘direct’ things (you’re pulling with loader) while driving in reverse.

#13

suggest you have a concrete pad for this container to set, if on blacktop the wheels will overtime settle into the surface of the pavement 
 if this dumpster has the little solid rubber rollers these are normally used in a warehouse 
 you may want to have a cradle made to set the dumpster in that would have larger pneumatic or larger solid tires

#14

Yes, a handle on each side - I assume that’s how the truck will pick it up. I’m thinking this idea will work, I don’t need to pick up the dumpster, I just need roll it down the driveway!

Thanks for all of the great ideas, I plan to experiment today to see what works best. Any idea if there’s a way to replace the wheels with something bigger and sturdier? The wheels are like shopping cart wheels and make it tricky to maneuver


#15

BX22 owner here. The FEL is not capable of lifting that kind of load 
 max lift is just over 400 lbs and that’s in the bucket and suitable weight on the rear to balance the machine. This is a push/pull operation for moving that container around and the BX, in 4WD should have no trouble doing it.

As to the wheels on the small dumpster, “changing them” would have to be something asked of the dumpster owner


#16

Would it be possible to make a solid pad next for the dumpster, and leave it at the pick up point? Instead of moving it every week.

#17

Be careful if it’s a hill. You want to move a 4000 pound dumpster with a 3000 pound tractor. Might work better towed by your truck?

#18

Thanks, Jim! I knew lifting wouldn’t be possible, but was hoping pushing/pulling would be ok
you were right, it had no trouble doing that :slight_smile:

I moved it yesterday as a test run, using chains on both handles and attached to the FEL. I didn’t even need to raise the bucket, I just turned it so the flat side was flush with the dumpster and drove forward - I had no trouble whatsoever and couldn’t even tell I was pushing anything, it was a piece of cake! It really helps that it’s just needing to be pushed across smooth concrete. Problem solved - thanks for all of the great suggestions!

#19

Good for you, problem solved.

If you are where ice may be a problem, remember to push it into place before you get a storm, so you won’t have to slip and slide it out there.

#20

Thanks, Bluey! Yes - good point. Fortunately we only get ice a few times per year but I’ll definitely keep that in mind :slight_smile:

Get your Digital Subscription here - only $21.95 / year

Subscribe here
See gift options

Sign up to our monthly newsletter!

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.

Copyright © 2023 The Chronicle of the Horse