Dump Trailers

[Jason05216]

Is it better to have a hydraulic ram or a scissor lift. I saw that someone mentioned not being able to lift the bed to dump with a full payload. Is that a common problem?

 

[Jason05216]

My truck is the variant with the 11,000 GVWR and 19900lb towing rating.

 

[4570Man]

Is it better to have a hydraulic ram or a scissor lift. I saw that someone mentioned not being able to lift the bed to dump with a full payload. Is that a common problem?

I have 3 trailers 2 with a telescoping hoist and one has a scissor hoist. The scissor hoist will dump its rated payload. It probably will dump at least a ton over rated payload. But I have overloaded it and it failed to dump. The telescope hoist always dump.

 

[WM75Guy]

I vote for the hydraulic ram at the front. My first dump trailer was a 14' Big Tex 14GX with a scissor lift. Listed allowable payload was 11,250 lbs. Topsoil weights 2,000 - 2,200 lbs depending on wetness. It wouldn't lift 6 yards of topsoil without having to shovel some out of the front. And yes, it was overloaded a little. My 14' Big Tex 14TD has a 12 ton 3-stage hydraulic ram at the front. Lifted 6 yards without an issue.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Is it better to have a hydraulic ram or a scissor lift. I saw that someone mentioned not being able to lift the bed to dump with a full payload. Is that a common problem?

Depending on the material and if front loaded heavy it is a common problem... Heavy material like 2'' minus you really have to watch to not put too much and well distribute the load... Sand is pretty much never a problem but it can be if you overload the front.

 

[Jason05216]

I vote for the hydraulic ram at the front. My first dump trailer was a 14' Big Tex 14GX with a scissor lift. Listed allowable payload was 11,250 lbs. Topsoil weights 2,000 - 2,200 lbs depending on wetness. It wouldn't lift 6 yards of topsoil without having to shovel some out of the front. And yes, it was overloaded a little. My 14' Big Tex 14TD has a 12 ton 3-stage hydraulic ram at the front. Lifted 6 yards without an issue.
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There's a Big Tex dealer near me. Any issues with your trailer? Anything you wish you had? Would you buy it again?

 

[Hay Dude]

I had a Big Tex 25,000LB GN for about 5 years, but it was a flatbed (not dump). Served me well, but needed a heavier-duty trailer.

I’m pretty surprised how these trailer manufacturers will make a 38,500lb GN tandem axle flatbed, but I’ve only found one company who offers even a measly 25,000lb GVWR GN dump trailer.

It’s like they’re scared to make a dump trailer that hauls anything close to 10 ton.

 

[WM75Guy]

There's a Big Tex dealer near me. Any issues with your trailer? Anything you wish you had? Would you buy it again?

I currently have 4 Big Tex trailers, only brand of utility trailer that I buy. Had 3 more that I traded in over the years that I outgrew and traded in on new trailers. All the trailers have held up well. I have a great dealer in Triple M Trailers and we are close to the Big Tex manufacturing sites, so parts are readily available. No major issues, only warranty issue was they forgot the put hooks on the back of my 14TD dump trailer to hold the tarp bar in place when it was built. Dealer took care of that.

Only modifications after the purchase that I have had done was to put a winch and battery, 2 stake pockets at the front, and rear jacks on my 70PI utility trailer. I have d-rings in all the stake pockets to clip in chains and straps when securing the loads. Made quick work of securing the shavings with my cargo net that I hauled yesterday.

I recommend going with G rated tires on a dump trailer. Mine are the Hartland in house brand from Discount tire. I have TPMS on all my trailers that hook up with my GMC 3500HD. I did have to buy 4 new rims to fit a TPMS stem as the stock Big Tex rims have a larger valve stem hole.

 

[WM75Guy]

I had a Big Tex 25,000LB GN for about 5 years, but it was a flatbed (not dump). Served me well, but needed a heavier-duty trailer.

I’m pretty surprised how these trailer manufacturers will make a 38,500lb GN tandem axle flatbed, but I’ve only found one company who offers even a measly 25,000lb GVWR GN dump trailer.

It’s like they’re scared to make a dump trailer that hauls anything close to 10 ton.

I would guess that would be a small market. For that much weight most would use a pintle hitch pup trailer behind a dump truck. Could you do that with your dump truck?

 

[Jason05216]

Anyone have any experience with Texas Pride trailers? They have a dealer reasonably close to me.

I currently have 4 Big Tex trailers, only brand of utility trailer that I buy. Had 3 more that I traded in over the years that I outgrew and traded in on new trailers. All the trailers have held up well. I have a great dealer in Triple M Trailers and we are close to the Big Tex manufacturing sites, so parts are readily available. No major issues, only warranty issue was they forgot the put hooks on the back of my 14TD dump trailer to hold the tarp bar in place when it was built. Dealer took care of that.

Only modifications after the purchase that I have had done was to put a winch and battery, 2 stake pockets at the front, and rear jacks on my 70PI utility trailer. I have d-rings in all the stake pockets to clip in chains and straps when securing the loads. Made quick work of securing the shavings with my cargo net that I hauled yesterday.

I recommend going with G rated tires on a dump trailer. Mine are the Hartland in house brand from Discount tire. I have TPMS on all my trailers that hook up with my GMC 3500HD. I did have to buy 4 new rims to fit a TPMS stem as the stock Big Tex rims have a larger valve stem hole.

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Does the rear spreader gate work well? I saw a couple of videos of the rear doors failing when trying to use the spreader gate, not sure the trailer brand on the videos.