tlbuser
Veteran Member
That thing looks neat. How do you like it? Advantages/disadvantages over a tracked frame?
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Dump Trucks
- Thread starter Big Bri
- Start date
- Views: 25765
That thing looks neat. How do you like it? Advantages/disadvantages over a tracked frame?
capt_met
Silver Member
on flat ground the advantages of the menzi are not as obvious. the menzi has a larger footprint for its weight so it cranes better imo. on slopes is where it shines. you can level the cab on steep slopes and dig a flat bottom trench. it easily works in places you can't take a track hoe without building a road first. it definitly changes your approach to excavation and what is possible.
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
I have owned dump trucks in the past but never found it to be very profitable. I agree with Builder for the most part.
I got into landscaping after being in the plumbing and heating business for over 20 years, just prefer this type of work. Don't have to do it but I do like it and it pays okay not great. I bought a 14k dump trailer in excellent shape, still has paint the original finish in the bed for $4000 this spring. I pull this dump trailer and equipment trailer with an F550 4x4 diesel and have it loaded with construction tools. A dump trailer is great for the small jobs hauling colored rock, debris from sites and similar chores.
I would recommend you try to do a wide variety of small dirt jobs utilizing your tractor and other equipment rather than dirt hauling only. I typically have another contractor with an excellent driver haul the dirt gravel and topsoil I need, I think it is cheaper that way. I have found I come out much better and have more fun doing a complete job from clearing trees and stumps to finished lawn with sprinklers and pavers. It does take more equipment but I find the equipment side more rewarding and fun than the dump truck side.
Here's a picture of the dump trailer 2008 PJ 14k and the F550 4x4.
I got into landscaping after being in the plumbing and heating business for over 20 years, just prefer this type of work. Don't have to do it but I do like it and it pays okay not great. I bought a 14k dump trailer in excellent shape, still has paint the original finish in the bed for $4000 this spring. I pull this dump trailer and equipment trailer with an F550 4x4 diesel and have it loaded with construction tools. A dump trailer is great for the small jobs hauling colored rock, debris from sites and similar chores.
I would recommend you try to do a wide variety of small dirt jobs utilizing your tractor and other equipment rather than dirt hauling only. I typically have another contractor with an excellent driver haul the dirt gravel and topsoil I need, I think it is cheaper that way. I have found I come out much better and have more fun doing a complete job from clearing trees and stumps to finished lawn with sprinklers and pavers. It does take more equipment but I find the equipment side more rewarding and fun than the dump truck side.
Here's a picture of the dump trailer 2008 PJ 14k and the F550 4x4.
Builder
Super Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2006
- Messages
- 6,155
- Tractor
- Kubota, AGCO, New Holland LB
New Mexico must be a great place to buy equipment. No rain, snow or SALT.
Nice dump trailer. :thumbsup:
Nice dump trailer. :thumbsup:
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
New Mexico must be a great place to buy equipment. No rain, snow or SALT.
Nice dump trailer. :thumbsup:
Lately you wouldn't worry too much about rust as everything has been sandblasted for the last two months or so. I live in a ski resort town so we do get snow, salt and more rain than average for the state.
Builder
Super Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2006
- Messages
- 6,155
- Tractor
- Kubota, AGCO, New Holland LB
Lately you wouldn't worry too much about rust as everything has been sandblasted for the last two months or so. I live in a ski resort town so we do get snow, salt and more rain than average for the state.
Ahh, OK. My time spent in Cimarron NM. Very dry. Snow capped mountains, though. Thought it was really nice.
My utility body is only 5yrs old and rust is already beginning to set in.
Taylortractornut
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2002
- Messages
- 2,770
- Location
- Iuka Mississippi USA
- Tractor
- 3550 Fard Backhoe and a 1948 Farmall Cub,
Im kinda backwards here my 1 ton makes more than the 2 ton truck. I have an 87 F350 4wd. It got a 97 cab on it. THe 4wd isnt workable yet someone sold the frontdrivers live axle before I bought it. I have mulch sides for it. My customers are the ones in town that need a little stone or mulch and gravel or top soil that dont want to buy 10 yards at a time. I can load it with the skid steer to. I load do several drive ways per year. My insurance is light commercial like a mowing service. In the winter I haul fire wood and planer shavings. I also do clean up with a tractor or the skid steer and a tlb.
My brother has a 6 yard IH crewcab and a KW with a 14 yard bed. Others ued 5 yard trucks but they more or less wont haul one load unless they are working a job for you. I do make a little profit off the material hauled to thats one thing to know if you dont own a dirt pit. I keep a small stock pile of gravel, crushed stone up to surge size lime and sand. Most home owners in town need a yard oof material that the uarry wont load. Youd be amazed at how many folks dont know they live 6 miles from a crush stone quarry. One of my best customers is one couple that was older that saw me in town with a load of 3 inch stone. They asked about a load. and i told them 65 dollars. It was 20 for the load and about 5 in fuel for the round trip. When I got there the old man had a little wet spot around the front of his mower shed. I dumped a few piles and helped him rake the stone down and it filled the bill. HE came back with the full amount and I said to take the rest back since he ordered so much.
I billed him 5 for the trip and 20 for the load Ijust couldnt charge for the full load. Now I make 1000 per year hauling mulch and sand to them and debris away from them.
I also have some friend that mow and clean flower beds but not enough to own a dump I do alot of hauling for them. Im now gettin alot of yard waste hauling that im composting on the farm. I need another truck my wife can drive. I bought a 1990 ISUZU/GM 4000 cabover sattelite refue truck from a friend. THe bed was gone but the pto was still there. Im building a bed for it now thats gonna be a flat dump for the brush to with removable sides. I like it Ive done some tests driving around obstacles in the yard and its great not having the conventional nose and the automatic.
I parked my old f700 for now its a 75 model I had trouble with the breaks. I want to redo it since it was my first truck I bought. I currently have a long F700 1995 model Ford truck with a 7 speed and air brakes. I like air brakes since theres less to go wrong with them. I want to make a debris grapple/dump truck from it or a light rolloff, anything I want to do we have to shorten the frame.
Another business that would be neat is a small roll off busniess. I nthe off season I have rented my ton out with the mulch sides to use for a dumpster to roofers and dry wallers.
My brother has a 6 yard IH crewcab and a KW with a 14 yard bed. Others ued 5 yard trucks but they more or less wont haul one load unless they are working a job for you. I do make a little profit off the material hauled to thats one thing to know if you dont own a dirt pit. I keep a small stock pile of gravel, crushed stone up to surge size lime and sand. Most home owners in town need a yard oof material that the uarry wont load. Youd be amazed at how many folks dont know they live 6 miles from a crush stone quarry. One of my best customers is one couple that was older that saw me in town with a load of 3 inch stone. They asked about a load. and i told them 65 dollars. It was 20 for the load and about 5 in fuel for the round trip. When I got there the old man had a little wet spot around the front of his mower shed. I dumped a few piles and helped him rake the stone down and it filled the bill. HE came back with the full amount and I said to take the rest back since he ordered so much.
I billed him 5 for the trip and 20 for the load Ijust couldnt charge for the full load. Now I make 1000 per year hauling mulch and sand to them and debris away from them.
I also have some friend that mow and clean flower beds but not enough to own a dump I do alot of hauling for them. Im now gettin alot of yard waste hauling that im composting on the farm. I need another truck my wife can drive. I bought a 1990 ISUZU/GM 4000 cabover sattelite refue truck from a friend. THe bed was gone but the pto was still there. Im building a bed for it now thats gonna be a flat dump for the brush to with removable sides. I like it Ive done some tests driving around obstacles in the yard and its great not having the conventional nose and the automatic.
I parked my old f700 for now its a 75 model I had trouble with the breaks. I want to redo it since it was my first truck I bought. I currently have a long F700 1995 model Ford truck with a 7 speed and air brakes. I like air brakes since theres less to go wrong with them. I want to make a debris grapple/dump truck from it or a light rolloff, anything I want to do we have to shorten the frame.
Another business that would be neat is a small roll off busniess. I nthe off season I have rented my ton out with the mulch sides to use for a dumpster to roofers and dry wallers.
LoneCowboy
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 1,212
I own a real dump truck. (54,000lb GVW, 20' box, 30 yards, tandem dump truck) and 95% of the time when I need something for a job (rock, dirt, whatever) I pay somebody to deliver it.
What does that tell you?????
big trucks are just expensive to run. ***** breaks all the time, seals wear out, etc. tires don't last long, transmissions go, etc. Dump trucks work a HARD life. Figure 6mpg, if you are lucky.
insurance for a commercial policy is always more than a regular policy but mine isn't bad.
Liability insurance for your business can be hit or miss.
Advertising, marketing, phones, etc all add up.
USDOT #'s (over 10,000lbs CGVW), DOT inspections, emissions, etc.
it all costs money. Figure a $1.00 to $1.25 per mile just to operate.
It is EXTREMELY easy to overload a single axle dump truck. 5 to 6 yards of concrete or big rock can easily put you overweight. Overweight tickets are incredibly expensive. (and you're out of service til you remove the weight).
Some people just aren't going to get service, because
a. they are too cheap.
b. the job just doesn't make sense.
if you need two yards of dirt and it's $10/yard but the delivery charge is $75, well that's just dumb. Get 14 yards and put it somewhere else, or, you simply don't need the dirt.
There are TONS of construction companies looking for work and they can't cover it either. It simply can't be done.
My opinion, it's a bad idea, unless you have a super narrow niche like builder, myself, others. But just delivering doesn't make money.
What does that tell you?????
big trucks are just expensive to run. ***** breaks all the time, seals wear out, etc. tires don't last long, transmissions go, etc. Dump trucks work a HARD life. Figure 6mpg, if you are lucky.
insurance for a commercial policy is always more than a regular policy but mine isn't bad.
Liability insurance for your business can be hit or miss.
Advertising, marketing, phones, etc all add up.
USDOT #'s (over 10,000lbs CGVW), DOT inspections, emissions, etc.
it all costs money. Figure a $1.00 to $1.25 per mile just to operate.
It is EXTREMELY easy to overload a single axle dump truck. 5 to 6 yards of concrete or big rock can easily put you overweight. Overweight tickets are incredibly expensive. (and you're out of service til you remove the weight).
Some people just aren't going to get service, because
a. they are too cheap.
b. the job just doesn't make sense.
if you need two yards of dirt and it's $10/yard but the delivery charge is $75, well that's just dumb. Get 14 yards and put it somewhere else, or, you simply don't need the dirt.
There are TONS of construction companies looking for work and they can't cover it either. It simply can't be done.
My opinion, it's a bad idea, unless you have a super narrow niche like builder, myself, others. But just delivering doesn't make money.
Builder
Super Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2006
- Messages
- 6,155
- Tractor
- Kubota, AGCO, New Holland LB
I own a real dump truck. (54,000lb GVW, 20' box, 30 yards, tandem dump truck) and 95% of the time when I need something for a job (rock, dirt, whatever) I pay somebody to deliver it.
What does that tell you?????
big trucks are just expensive to run. ***** breaks all the time, seals wear out, etc. tires don't last long, transmissions go, etc. Dump trucks work a HARD life. Figure 6mpg, if you are lucky.
insurance for a commercial policy is always more than a regular policy but mine isn't bad.
Liability insurance for your business can be hit or miss.
Advertising, marketing, phones, etc all add up.
USDOT #'s (over 10,000lbs CGVW), DOT inspections, emissions, etc.
it all costs money. Figure a $1.00 to $1.25 per mile just to operate.
It is EXTREMELY easy to overload a single axle dump truck. 5 to 6 yards of concrete or big rock can easily put you overweight. Overweight tickets are incredibly expensive. (and you're out of service til you remove the weight).
Some people just aren't going to get service, because
a. they are too cheap.
b. the job just doesn't make sense.
if you need two yards of dirt and it's $10/yard but the delivery charge is $75, well that's just dumb. Get 14 yards and put it somewhere else, or, you simply don't need the dirt.
There are TONS of construction companies looking for work and they can't cover it either. It simply can't be done.
My opinion, it's a bad idea, unless you have a super narrow niche like builder, myself, others. But just delivering doesn't make money.
That's right. It needs to serve multiple duties to make money. I'd say mine breaks even or makes me a few bucks. Repairs I can't do are so expensive, the average guy that's not ready for a bill like that would have a heart attack. If I get a random person ask me to deliver a few yards of dirt, I usually refuse it. If it's an ongoing customer, I do it because I don't want some punk swooping in on me and offering to take away all the other work I do for them. Owning a dumptruck is a necessity, but don't make money like a tractor or attachments would.
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
Times sure have changed things. Back in the late sixties/early seventies I worked for some contractors that ecked out a pretty good living with a couple of single axle dumps and a few pieces of equipment. Seems like everything just got much bigger since then.
You could pick up a used road tractor and throw a dump bed on for pretty cheap. Other than weight watchers, as long as you kept your lights working, there was not much worrying about the DOT.
One guy I worked for had a couple of R190's and a later model (forget which) with the 549 V8 in it. He had a around a TD9 and a Hough payloader with a pretty good sized detachable hoe attached to it and an IH175 track loader. Anything else, he would rent. He used to put the two 190's and the payloader on with the state during the winter months. Always picked and chose who he would work for, no deadbeat payers. Never worked a saturday or a sunday save for the winter work. Always had plenty of green in his wallet.
You could pick up a used road tractor and throw a dump bed on for pretty cheap. Other than weight watchers, as long as you kept your lights working, there was not much worrying about the DOT.
One guy I worked for had a couple of R190's and a later model (forget which) with the 549 V8 in it. He had a around a TD9 and a Hough payloader with a pretty good sized detachable hoe attached to it and an IH175 track loader. Anything else, he would rent. He used to put the two 190's and the payloader on with the state during the winter months. Always picked and chose who he would work for, no deadbeat payers. Never worked a saturday or a sunday save for the winter work. Always had plenty of green in his wallet.