Easier Way to Get Coal From Dump Truck to My Basement Bin?

I'm old, fat and ugly.
The ugly doesn't pertain to this question.


And a little lazy, too, sometimes.

I would appreciate any ideas on an easier way to get my coal into my basement coal bin when the dump truck delivers it.

I've been getting 3 tons delivered at a time.
Dumping it on the ground and shoveling it in through my window.

Ideally, I'd like to find a way to eliminate that last step.
The problem is the height of the window.
It's almost as high as the bottom of the tailgate of the truck.
I suppose I can remove a couple blocks and lower the door to solve that problem.

Then devise a chute to dump the coal on to get it into the bin.

Any better ideas than that?

Thank you

You can get delivery from a supplier that has a high lift dump body. That will allow a better dump angle.

Thanks for the reply.
Not sure we have that kind of technology in this neck of the woods.


But I have to get the coal from the truck into the bin.
How sturdy do you think I need to make my chute and supports?

Have to know more about truck capabilities ...

Best option is for the coal to go right from truck into your house.

Pretty simple...the truck bed goes higher or the chute opening goes lower.

Dump trucks have a wide opening. Any chute would have to be that wide and then funnel down to the window opening.

In years past deliveries in these situations were done by using a wheelbarrow, but the coal truck had a narrow gate to direct the flow into the wheelbarrow.

Some sort of ramp to the window would also be needed to get the wheelbarrow high enough to dump into the window. 2 x 10 raised at one end.

The way he backs up, the tailgate opens perpendicular to the wall so it wouldn't need to be that wide.
Thanks for the responses

You'd have to block off part of the gate, chute made of aluminum or SS. Wood lined with PVC or thin aluminum will work too. If you use galvanized it will corrode and it's like trying to get coal to flow across sandpaper.

You need about a 35 to 40 degree angle for it to flow depending on the size of the coal and how clean it is. Larger sizes need less pitch. If it won't flow it can be swept down the chute, before dropping the block in the wall try blocking up the back tires on the dump.

If you are no where near that you can shovel it down the chute, better than lifting it off the ground.

Thank, Richard.
My guy has a small door in his tailgate but not sure how well coal would come out before jamming.

I agree that pushing it down the chute would be easier than lifting it up.

A chute with a piece of plywood on the bottom?

larryfoster wrote:Thank, Richard.
My guy has a small door in his tailgate but not sure how well coal would come out before jamming.

Presumably he has a gate in the middle you can open a little bit?It will work fine as far as coming out the box, most of it should flow out and you'll have a little left in the corner that you just shovel or push out with your feet.

A chute with a piece of plywood on the bottom?

You would use the plywood if you have thin material like PVC sheeting that can't handle the weight. Actual coal chutes are real expensive, something like 25 a foot if you are buying 8 footers but they are very thick, reinforced on the sides and high grade aluminum. This is main one and telescopes:
That hook would go below the opening in the tail gate where there is another hook. For dumping it off sideways there is two other hooks on the truck on either side.

I want me some of those!!!

I cut a bunch of 55 gallon poly drums in half to make a chute. Stitched them to a ladder. The rounded shape and poly material aren't really coal flow friendly so you need additional angle, 5-10 degrees more should do it.

If you do build a chute out of plywood,...... if you tack galvanized roof flashing to it's inner surfaces that will make it much slipperier then the wood can be. Even then it may help to have a broom, or floor scrub brush, handy to help nudge the coal along the chute as needed.

Paul

if you tack galvanized roof flashing to it's inner surfaces

Great minds think alike, Paul.

Or, in my case, even a blind pig gets a lump of coal once in a while.

Not 5 minutes before I read your post, I thought of lining with flashomg

larryfoster wrote:

if you tack galvanized roof flashing to it's inner surfaces

Great minds think alike, Paul.

Or, in my case, even a blind pig gets a lump of coal once in a while.

Not 5 minutes before I read your post, I thought of lining with flashomg

I use a reinforced sliding board from an old kids swing set