Dump Trailer

[radman1]

When loading any size dump trailer, tell them to load the weight over the trailer axles. This will keep the excess weight off the tongue. They almost always will load in the center of the trailer which creates too much tongue weight. If loaded in the center, there will still be more than enough tongue wt. Dump trailers can easily hold more than they will safely carry, so put the weight on the trailer and not on your bumper.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here we are back to the nothing less than a 3/4 will do
mentatality.


1* If this is so why do I keep hearing the old tired It's gota be at least a 3/4?
2*Then right in the same breath urging a/34 over a 1/2!

You make me want to bang my head. When we were talking about towing your 2500# little BX on a 1,200# trailer a half ton or even smaller will do. These dump trailers weigh 3,500-4,500# empty then put 3-5 tons in it and you are over 1/2 tons limits.


Two completely different things.

Chris

 

[radman1]

For you guys who don't have a dump trailer but instead have a tilt (manual or electric), the tilt trailer can be sort of a dump trailer. This summer, I had to move some dirt at my sister's house. I had to haul my CUT and equipment on my 24' electric tilt trailer. I have 10" wooden sides on my trailer which has stake pockets. I loaded the trailer with the loader, then my nephew drove my loaded truck and I drove my tractor to the dump site. Tilted up the trailer, drove the CUT on the rear and scooped off the dirt. Very easy and relatively quick. I hauled about 25 yards this way. I have a 14', 14000 lb dump trailer, and the 24', 14000 tilt trailer could easily hold a much as my dump trailer.

 

[texasjohn]

Daryl, I recently went thru your decision process.

Here's what I did.
Bought a used PJ 20' 20K gooseneck dump trailer, dual axle, dual wheels each axle, (8000 lbs empty) because I have free dirt/road material immediately adjacent to my place on neighbor's property. Dump is hydraulic pump driven by HUMONGOUS 12V battery. Battery will handle 4 dumps before needing recharge.

My F350 gasser, small v8 manual transmission will not pull it around on the ranch loaded, much less on the road. Insufficient traction, burns clutch, wheels spin. I mean, it will NOT pull the load.

Studied new vehicles, Toyota Tundra has awesome pulling power, was considering it. Then found a used Ford 350 6.7L diesel dually crew cab on Craig's list just a couple of miles away which was in superb shape. Bought it for 1/5 cost of new Toyota.

Here's what I've learned:

Used is WAY cheaper.

Gooseneck is the only way to go for such heavy loads. Just trust me.

Trailer brakes and brake controller is mandatory.

The trailer is larger/longer than I need to just haul dirt... but it'll haul my tractor, other stuff too, so length is good for me.

First trip to a pit to get material, I got two scoops of their bucket = 18000 lbs... yep.. 9 tons

Don't lecture me about being overweight... it was a learning experience.

The dump trailer hydraulics will lift whatever the trailer is qualified for, in my case, 20000 lbs.

I loaded a 60% bigger mound of dirt into my trailer from the neighbor... lift would barely, barely lift the bed to dump, almost burned out the pump that time, had to wait for it to cool down several times.

Lesson...what looks like a tiny amount of dirt in the trailer bed and on the ground is amazingly heavy... extremely easy to get overloaded. I mean extremely easy.

Getting the largest weight capacity trailer is key if you are going to be doing much hauling at all..but high capacity does not dictate a big trailer.

The dually pickup wheels, IMHO, are required for hauling such a load, as is a 1 ton pickup (issues with springs, etc.)

I WISH I HAD FOUND A 4X4 DUALLY. The extra traction and speed control would make an ideal rig for my needs. As it is, when in the pasture which is rutted, bumpy, shallow inclines and dips, I find myself wishing for 4 wheel drive ... but I'm getting along by babying the clutch. Backing is worse than forward in the pasture. Net... hauling at road speed is only part of the discussion... being able to deliver the immense load exactly where you need it to the pature is equally key. If your delivery point is now and ever will be flat stable ground, not slick, then perhaps you can put less signifigance on slow speed traction with dirt conditions.

If you have never driven a diesel with a truly heavy load under pasture conditions, there is no way you can truly appreciate the wonderful low RPM lugging capability it provides. Maybe a gas engine if a dually 4wd would work also, never had one so I am not an authority.

So, do the math for your situation... trailer purchase, pickup purchase, brake controller, outfit pickup to charge trailer while driving (GOTTA use 00 wire IMHO, which is truly costly), trailer ramps, great battery charger for overnight charging divided by number of loaded trips, and factor in what other uses trailer and pickup have for you....

 

[QRTRHRS]

texasjohn,

PJ makes a nice dually dump. I had looked at a 20 footer a few years ago but did not have the bucks for the sweet 7500 price at the PA Farm Show. I picked up a used Br-Mar 16' last spring. It does not have the ramps like the PJ did that I looked at and it would take some doing to add them.

When I first looked at the trailer, I was hesitant at the 16 foot length but like you, I found out how heavy it can get with bulk material. Having a good amount of road time with tri-axles and dump trailers years ago, I should have known better.

Does yours have the tailgate or swing doors? Mine has swing doors. One of these days, I am going to modify them into a gate. The swing doors are a pain.

At sixteen feet, my lift will easily pick up a full load of topsoil or fill that my dually Dodge has trouble moving. Another area of concern when off of the pavement is how easily a loaded trailer will push a truck around when you get on some hilly terrain.

Now is not the time but my plan is to pick up an FL something baby Freightliner sometime to set up as a gooseneck hauler. Easy to work on with the tilt hood and not that expensive for farm plates and insurance.

If I could only have one trailer and my need to move equipment was only occasional, I would go with a dump if at all possible. Having shoveled off many a load, the first time I dumped that trailer with a hand held switch, I had a grin from ear to ear.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The dump trailer I use is a Bi-Mar 16' I believe. I know its a 14,000# trailer but it has a dual gate that can swing open by breaking in the middle or open like a dump truck tail gate and has chains to adjust the amount it opens. It also has pull out ramps and 4 tie down rings in it.

The trailer is not mine but belongs to a good friend. I have used it many times to haul 5 tons at a time and it works good.

Chris

 

[jgrreed]

Here we are back to the nothing less than a 3/4 will do
mentatality.

You're all grown ups, and you're all welcome to do whatever you'd like.

I've pulled 8 to 10 thousand pounds of horses and trailer with a 'properly equipped' F150 and it sucked. I was pushed all over the road. It wasn't safe at all. I won't be doing it again. If you think that it's OK to do so, please let me know what highway you'll be doing it on, and when, and I'll stay clear.

When someone new asks for advice, I think we should guide them towards what's safe, not what you can get away with.

-J.

 

[Daryl]

I guess I may need to rethink my plans.

 

[Mike Costello]

I am tired of paying for dump trucks to haul gravel for my driveway. have been looking at dump trailers. I have a 1500 chevy truck 4x4, Reg cab. Can I pull a 10x6 trailer with gravel. I am going to rent one first . The guy says I can haul 3 ton on trailer. Dont have hook up for electric brakes on truck. Guys says if I am careful I wont need them. Does this sound right.
Thanks

The guy at the yard needs his head examined! No trailer brakes=no control. I watched this happen: I was at a intersection (4 way stop) when a guy approached to my right hauling a 1 yard concrete trailer that was FULL. He was towing that load with a mini pickup. He hit the brakes--and the load proceeded to push him right through the intersection.
As he passed in front of me I could see his eyballs popping out of his head & his partner looked like he was ready to bail. I know those two dudes brown-stained their pants, plus concrete slopped out everywhere covering the back end of the mini truck!

 

[Daryl]

The truck had towing package. 2003 model. If I add brake controler will it work/be safe?