1 ton dump truck

[Nut4trucks]

I can honestly say I will probably never be without a 1 ton dump. My first was a 1986 chevy 350 4 speed truck. I just used it for homeowner landscaping stuff but it was invaluable. I wish I did not have to get rid of it as it was a good little truck. After several years of not having one I picked up a 1995 F-Superduty (F-450 today) with a 7.3 stroke 5 speed with a 12' flat bed dump. I my opinion small dumps make the perfect farm truck. I like going to the landfill in the heat of summer and never getting out of the truck, with the A/C on just push the button. Up goes the bed and drive away. My truck cost me 4k and it was worth every penny.

 

[scoutcub]

Just wanted to say this is a great thread, and listening to all the advice/experience/opinions has changed my mind. I was looking for a minimum 1 ton dump, but unless you get much older they are $$ spendy. Then came the 2-5 ton class, and being an "IH" man, I looked at several Internationals, and ALMOST pulled the trigger on one.....till I really looked it over, and did an extensive road test. The 6.9 diesel was struggling up a small hill empty, the motor was leaking brake, PS, coolant, and engine oil. The price was right, but when I really started looking......
Saw lots and lots of plow/salt trucks. Don't personally want part of that scene.

Soooo to make a long story longer......this post convinced me I would be better off with a nice dump trailer. I will be using it for hauling gravel, dirt,rocks, stumps, etc. Have a 1 ton dually to pull it, and plan on using the Compact to tow it around the property as well. Guess this would rule out a gooseneck. Now just have to find a HD 14-16' used dump trailer!

thanks again....!

 

[dodge man]

I was the original poster and never did buy a 1 ton dump. There are times I think one would be handy, but this post convince me they just don't haul enough to make it worth the cost.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I was the original poster and never did buy a 1 ton dump. There are times I think one would be handy, but this post convince me they just don't haul enough to make it worth the cost.

I think that a 3500 series single wheel pickup with a dump trailer set up to move the tractor on occasion would suffice more often than not for most folks, But, IMHO, it depends on your circumstances. I used my Dodge dually for a daily driver/work truck for ten years until I finally sold it after my five speed needed rebuilding again. If you do work a regular job as well as farm, etc. then you need to keep the commute down. The places you that you do your business with have to have ample parking, etc., etc. Overall, you need to weigh your needs and options is all.

My truck had a flatbed. I would have made it into a dump if the main frame rails were stouter but it was only meant to be a flatbed. The need never outweighed the expense.

If I were to set up a one ton dump, I would go with a flatbed that had the means to accomidate a gooseneck. That way, I could make up both short and tall sideboards for the task at hand.

FWIW, I picked up a 92 F150 for a daily driver. (And yes, I miss the feel, sound and power of that 5.9) For my farm use, I picked up an FL70 to pull my dually dump trailer around. For that purpose, there is for the most part no comparison. The freightshaker offers superb ride comfort with air/air/air, tighter steering ratio and a much better view of the road. Ten mpg for occasion use I can live with. Now I just need to pick up a set of 255/70.22.5 mud chains because the truck gets stuck on "snot".

 

[schmism]

hears my 1 ton dump

85 C30 with PTO pump

also known as the beater truck
also known as the $1500 farm truck.

-reliably starts,
-needs exhaust work
-breaks are solid
-stearing is reliable/predictable
-not a single dash gauge works
-dumps a full load of dirt/manure./gravel/much just fine.

few more loads of material from town avoiding the $20 delivery fee and it will have paid for itself.

 

[DJ54]

Here's a picture of my 1 ton dump, about halfway through a project I did here at home. I hauled 400..., yes, 400 loads like this to fill my pond.

My neighbor was digging a new pond, and I needed to fill mine in, as my young filley went through the ice on my pond the Feb. before. It took me and 8 firefighters to pull her out. Thank goodness she made it out unscathed..

I made up my mind while taking 3 hours to blow dry her with a hair dryer, that the pond WAS going to be filled in.!!

My neighbor has a 410 JD hoe, with frontwheel assist, and all the amenities... He said I could use it to load, all I had to do is haul the dirt. A once in a life time deal, as it was 7/10's of a mile round trip..!!

I hauled that 400 loads on less then 5 tanks of gas. Judging the mudflap distance from the ground, when I haul stone, there had to be better than 4 tons per load. More like 4.5. The best I did in 1 day was 52 loads... That's a lot of climbing in and out for a fat guy..!! LOL..

I bought "Dumpy" new in '93. My birthday present to myself. It is also my trailer toter for my BP trailers. The Dodge Cummins handles the goosenecks. With the 350/5spd., and 4.10 gear it does OK. Nothing compared to the torque of the Cummins, but will haul 4 tons down the road at 55 mph, slicker than a button.

I use it all the time around my small horse farm. Seems you always need a load of something. Great if I need a little jag of sand, and gravel for concrete projects I mix myself, with my 3 pt. mixer.

It's first job from the dealer was finishing hauling fill for my 36' X 80' shop/storage building. I started out with my old '85 Chevy dump, but it was getting tired. I lost count after 300 loads on the project... I ordered this one from my local dealer. His brother worked at Buckeye Body, and had this cab and chassis in stock, along with several others... All I had to do is pick the options, and color. 6 days later, I'm hauling with a brand new truck..!!

I have another upcoming project in the spring, as I'll be moving back to the homestead. Need to haul fill for a new 44' X 88' horsebarn, and 40' X 40' shop. I haven't figured the tonnage as of yet, but should be a couple weeks worth of hauling. There is a gravel bank about 1 mile from there, so shouldn't be too bad.

A word of advice as to something larger than a 3500 series truck. The 450 Super Duty flatbed I had cost almost double for insurance, as it does on this truck. Simply because it was rated a commercial class truck. I called numerous insurance agents, and they all told me the same... So "Henry" went down the road...

Plus I like my BP hitch setups I had custom built. Ball/Pintle combo, with receiver below to pull my small 2 horse BP.

 

[crashz]

Nice trucks DJ!

I think I'd break mine in two with a load like that! I know for a fact my electric hoist could not dump even half that load. Its probably gonna be replaced with a simple single piston without the scissor lift.