Homemade grass clipping collector project

[1955_Chevy_6400]

I am considering offering a clipping collection service, so I can pull a leaf collector while mowing with the rider and doing double service for more money while doing the same amount of labor. I was thinking of making this dump trailer into a clipping collector. I will be buying new blades soon and will be willing to pay a little extra for the blades I need to give the grass enough lift to go up the chute into the collector. I was thinking of building a large box out of 3/4 in. plywood and cutting a hole in the front of it for the tube. I was thinking of fabricating the bracket to fit the cub cadet mower deck, and then getting some 10 inch flex tubing to attatch the deck and box together for a grass chute. I know I will have to cut a hole in the side or top of the box and cover it with chicken wire of wire mesh to let the air vent. I will be mowing up to 1 1/2 acres. I need to know the dimensions of a box I would need to make to get it all in less than 3 stops to dump the clippings. The trailer is 2' 4" wide, and I will have the length tommorow.

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Last edited by 1955_Chevy_6400; 10-28-2011 at 11:08 PM.

[1955_Chevy_6400]

Lawn care business tips

The bed is 4 feet long, but I could let about a foot of box hang off the back.

[Steve]

Are you thinking about having some kind of gas powered suction unit assisting your mower? I don't know if it will be able to shoot the grass through a tube and into your trailer without some assistance.

Here are some pictures of what I mean.

[grass guru]

Ditto what steve said. Your tube would be almost 6' long, and there is no way your mower would get it up that far w/out assistance. Why do you want to bag clippings? Much healthier for lawn if left in lawn.

[1955_Chevy_6400]

I meant to say in the original thread to get a suction motor, but I was in a hurry and forgot to add that in. I saw one on another forum and one guy had an idea simialer to mine, but he got his suction motor off of ebay for around $300. I was thinking of mounting this on the tongue. He had a very short tongue on his, so he made a little single axle trailer that went between the collector and the mower, but it was impossible to back up and was basically a lawn train. I plan on using that type of motor, but not that type of setup. I want to offer this service because some people do not want clippings in the yard to tickle their feet, but I do not see the point. But, the customer is always right.

[Steve]

Maybe you just need a smaller trailer? If you look at some of those leaf suction trailers that are towed behind tractors, they are pretty small and lightweight.