The Dump Trailer Won't Dump

I have a part-time landscaping job -- or hobby. I needed a dump trailer to tow behind an ATV (all terrain vehicle). I did a bit of research. I went to Northern Tool (no offense to them). I looked up details on the heavier models they offered that would not end up leaving ruts in the yard. I read comments by users, and I was generally impressed with their trailers. So, for $650, plus $150 shipping, I bought a dual-axle, heavy-duty trailer.

After putting it together, I figured I better try it out before taking it to a job site. Well, it didn't take too long -- like two minutes -- to figure out that this trailer (a Polar Trailer), while being generally well built, was not going to do the job of a dump trailer. It would not and could not dump anything such as dirt or rock. Problem is, the design allowed the bed to tip but not enough to unload anything.

I was disappointed. I was also a little desperate, since I had a job to do. So I purchased some metal and extended the wheel mounting section up 18 inches. I modified the tongue to correspond, added a couple of braces, and it performed like a champ. Later on, after looking at more trailers, I found that virtually all of them -- for garden tractors and ATVs -- are designed just as poorly as mine was.

Perhaps there is a reason for this. Maybe there are safety regulations that prevent a functional design. Needless to say, I was a bit put off. My review for the product was rejected for being too offensive, so I toned it down some. But now at least there's one review on the site that's less than enthusiastic.

This entry was submitted by Michael Koch and edited by Rob Spiegel

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