Taking delivery on 7x12, 14k lb dump trailer

windy acers · Mar 21, 2009

WHAT ARE THE PROWS AND CONS OF A 7X 12 DUMP TRAILER WITH BUMPER PULL VERSES 5TH WHEEL USING A F 250 SUPERDUTY ANY COMMENTS GREATLY APREACHIATED

Diamondpilot · Mar 22, 2009

Right now is the time to buy anything if you have the means to do so. In the boat business the prices are down. Same thing is true as far as new cars goes and equipment. I have been watching used versus new and right now the gap is closing due to the shortage of good used equipment and vehicles being traded in and the great deals on new.

Was not the same story 3 months ago when I was in the market for a F-350. At the time they were giving used ones away as long as the people could get out from under the loan. Big problem was many were so upside down they were stuck.

Chris

Diamondpilot · Mar 22, 2009

windy acers said:
WHAT ARE THE PROWS AND CONS OF A 7X 12 DUMP TRAILER WITH BUMPER PULL VERSES 5TH WHEEL USING A F 250 SUPERDUTY ANY COMMENTS GREATLY APREACHIATED

I would look at a 14' version. This allows you to carry a CUT with a FEL. Serves a dual purpose.

Chris

jinman · Mar 22, 2009

windy acers said:
WHAT ARE THE PROWS AND CONS OF A 7X 12 DUMP TRAILER WITH BUMPER PULL VERSES 5TH WHEEL USING A F 250 SUPERDUTY ANY COMMENTS GREATLY APREACHIATED

Diamondpilot (Chris) certainly gave you one good reason to go to 14'. For the brand of trailer I bought, each foot over 12' is an additional $250. A 14' trailer would have been $500 more and a 16' would be $1000 more. Unfortunately, that extra length also reduces the weight you can put in the load. If you are only going to haul light-weight loads and need space to load a tractor, then the longer lengths surely do make a lot of sense.

The major difference I see between bumper-pull and gooseneck is the towing vehicle. If you will tow exclusively with a pickup or flatbed truck, then a gooseneck makes a lot of sense. If you plan to tow a lot with a tractor or even a dumptruck, then you need a bumper-pull that can be changed easily to a bulldog type hitch or pintle hook setup. My towing will be 80% with my tractor and only 20% or less with my 3/4 ton pickup. I picked the bumper-pull because of that.

Builder · Mar 22, 2009

My CUT won't fit on a 14' trailer. It's 15+ long. The only way it'll fit is if I put the FEL bucket over the bulkhead and that can cause damage.

As general advice, I'd suggest measuring your tractor to make sure it'll fit within the confines of the trailer before buying.

Builder · Mar 22, 2009

windy acers said:
WHAT ARE THE PROWS AND CONS OF A 7X 12 DUMP TRAILER WITH BUMPER PULL VERSES 5TH WHEEL USING A F 250 SUPERDUTY ANY COMMENTS GREATLY APREACHIATED

The pros are that you can buy a heavier GVWR trailer because more weight can be positioned direclty over the axle than 3-5' behind it. It's also easier to control and back into confined spaces.

The cons of a 5th wheel are that it significantly reduces cargo space in the truck bed for other items (if you carry other items). Therefore, if you do carry other items, they have to go on the 5th wheel trailer, so that reduces available cargo space on the trailer. So you need to buy a bigger 5th wheel trailer IF you carry significant items in the bed of your truck.

Pros of a bumper pull are they cost less to purchase and they leave your truck bed open to carry lots of cargo. They're also shorter so they can be stored in smaller places. They are probably also easier to sell since virtually everyone can bumper pull a trailer, but not everyone can use a 5th wheel.

Cons are they can't carry as much weight and they are not as easy to control.

As a general view- If you're just hauling things, go 5th wheel, if you are in construction or the trades and need the bed available for large cargo-go bumper pull.

Diamondpilot · Mar 22, 2009

Builder said:
My CUT won't fit on a 14' trailer. It's 15+ long. The only way it'll fit is if I put the FEL bucket over the bulkhead and that can cause damage.

As general advice, I'd suggest measuring your tractor to make sure it'll fit within the confines of the trailer before buying.

Good point. Guess I should have been a little more clear. The only dump I have sold, a 14' Bi-Mar 14K Bumper Pull, was ordered that way so the customer could haul his 33ish Hp JD Cut with FEL. Can not do rear implements.

Chris

jinman · Apr 11, 2009

Diamondpilot said:
Make sure you get a spare. My friend got a 14' dump trailer, Bi-Mar, and the second time out had a flat.

Chris

Chris, last week my wife and I drove by the Texas Pride place in Madisonville, TX while we were on a trip. I stopped in and they sold me a spare for the same price as they charge for the package deal on delivery, $150. I'm thrilled to have a steel-belted, load range E tire mounted on a 8-bolt wheel for that price. Now, all I need to get is a couple extra lugnuts to mount the tire on the holder that came on the trailer.

Diamondpilot · Apr 11, 2009

Good deal. The spare will add piece of mind while towing. Just remember to get a bottle jack that can handle the trailer loaded and a lug wrench to fit the trailer lugs. 99% of all trailer lugs are 13/16th.

I broke my F-250 jack the first time I had a flat with a heavy load then after all was said and done I did not have the right size lug wrench.

Chris

jinman · Apr 12, 2009

Diamondpilot said:
Good deal. The spare will add piece of mind while towing. Just remember to get a bottle jack that can handle the trailer loaded and a lug wrench to fit the trailer lugs. 99% of all trailer lugs are 13/16th.

I broke my F-250 jack the first time I had a flat with a heavy load then after all was said and done I did not have the right size lug wrench.

Chris

Yeah, I have two 12-ton bottle jacks that I don't use much. I can toss one of those into the battery/pump box on the trailer so it is always handy. At home, I use my impact wrench and sockets to remove tires, so now I guess I have an excuse to buy a cordless impact wrench to carry with me.

I have a Dodge 3/4 ton pickup. The first flat I had on that truck was in a rainstorm on a 4-lane street. It was on the right-rear. I pulled into a turning lane to change the tire and got out my brand new jack. The jack immediately bent and twisted, making it almost impossible to jack up the truck. Cars were whizzin' by at 50 mph and I was trying to get a tire changed in the rain. I'm probably lucky to be alive.

After that, I went out and bought a small hydraulic floor jack and carry it in the truck all the time. I've probably used that jack a dozen times and it works perfectly, but it's not going to lift a dump trailer with 5 tons of dirt. the 12-ton bottle jack is the right tool to have.