Abstract: A rigidified suspension is provided for a load-carrying vehicle, such as a trailer for a dual use, belly-dumping and end-dumping trailer, of the type having a frame with left and right side beams connected together and to which frame wheels are mounted through a suspension. The rigidified suspension includes left and right suspension rails, which are provided having a forward end and a rearward end and are horizontally disposed inward from and below the left and right side beams of the frame. A rear plate is fastened to said left and right side beams of the frame and extends downward therefrom adjacent to the rearward end of the left and right suspension rails. A connector brace is rigidly fastened to the rear ends of the left and right rails and to the rear plate and thereby between each other and the frame. A forward suspension brace is provided, rigidly fastening the forward ends of the left and right suspension rails to the frame and to each other.

Abstract: A dual use belly-dumping and end-dumping vehicle includes a frame mounted on wheels for transport and a pivotable hopper carried in the frame. A lower pivot element is mounted to the frame with a corresponding lower pivot engaging element mounted on the hopper. An upper pivot element is also mounted on the frame with a corresponding upper pivot engaging element mounted on the hopper. Lifting cylinders are mounted between sides of the frame and sides of the hopper for pivoting the hopper at the lower pivot element between a horizontally held position and a first angled position at which the hopper is disengaged from the lower pivoted element and engaged at the upper pivot element so that it is pivoted to a second angled position for dumping materials from the end of the hopper.

Abstract: A dual use belly-dumping and end-dumping vehicle includes a frame mounted on wheels for transport and a pivotable hopper carried in the frame. The hopper is provided with angled side walls and end walls defining a top opening and a bottom opening. A pair of hopper bay doors are pivotably connected through a pair of pivot arms to the end walls of the hopper. The hopper bay doors have an inwardly pivoted position at which the hopper bay doors cover the bottom opening and an outwardly pivoted position at which the hopper doors pivot in opposite directions from each other to uncover at least part of the bottom opening. Each door of the pair of bay doors pivots about separated pivot points on the end walls, which pivot points are spaced apart from a center line of the hopper a predetermined distance which is less than one-half of the distance between the center line and each respective side wall.