Dump Trailer

[Daryl]

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

 

[Diamondpilot]

Absolutely not. First its not legal. Any trailer over 3,500# in 90% of the states requires brakes. Also, these trailers are very heavy. I use a tandem 14,000# dump trailer and it weighs 4,400# empty so in your case you could only put about 2 tons in it which is not much assuming you have a standard GM 1500 with a average tow rating of 8,000#

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here is a copy of the trailer laws for your state. I am a boat trailer dealer and have access to tons of info if you have any further questions.

Consider this. You have a accident with the trailer will you insurance cover you if you are overweight or do not have brakes.

Chris

Virginia:

Boating Law Administrator: 804-367-0939
Maximum Speed Limit: 55
Maximum Dimensions for trailer:N/A'L x 8'6"W x 13'6"H
Maximum Length with Trailer:60'
Minimum Weight requiring Separate Trailer Brakes:3000
Trailer Equipment Requirements:
Safety Chains:Y
Brakelights:Y
Taillights:Y
Clearance Lights:Y (If over 7' high and 7' wide)
License Light:Y
Turn Signals:Y
Reflectors:Y
Flares:Y
Breakaway Brakes: Y
Tiedowns:Y
Two Trailers:N
Insurance:Y
Wide Trailer Permit Phone Number: 804-786-2787 Wire: 804-766-7074

 

[jgrreed]

DON'T DO IT!!! Maybe with trailer brakes, but even then....

Not to rain on your parade, but I'd say that unless you get a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, I'd let the pro's bring your gravel. The dump full of gravel that you could pull safely with your truck would be pretty small.

Legalities aside, the sensation of being pushed around the road my your trailer is NOT FUN, trust me. It's asking for big trouble, big trouble as in death.



-Jer.

 

[LBrown59]

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

I think you need brakes and hain't sure the truck is enough to stop it.

 

[Ductape]

^^^ I'm with Diamondpilot ! Some of the new 1/2 tons are rated to tow (according to the ads on TV) 10,000 when "properly equipped". My BIL's 1/2 ton GMC is rated for 6000 (believe its a 06). What does your owners manual say? I own a small (5X10) BriMar dump, rated @ #7000. I can put 5000lbs in it legally. I drive an F-350, and i can tell you that my trailer weighing #7000 is HEAVY !!! And with my F-350 i would NEVER consider towing my trailer with brakes that weren't working, or working properly(nevermind a half ton!!!). Dirt is HEAVY...... and damp dirt is HEAVIER !!!! You would be stunned to see how little dirt it takes to bring a 7000lb trailer to max capacity. Please, for the sake of all of us, whom you share the road with..... don't do it !!!! The last thing we want to read about is how you lost everything you own and had to live with the fact that you killed a mother and her two children because you were hauling a dump trailer full of dirt in your half ton and couldn't get it stopped when she stopped in front of you. If you really want a dump trailer, step up to a truck that will safely tow it, and for gawds sake don't EVER tow it with no brakes. And while you are at it, punch the guy in mouth for me that said it was OK to tow a loaded dump trailer without working brakes on it !!!

 

[dal929]

I've got a 10k 12x6 dump trailer that I tow with my 07 Lincoln Mark LT. I think the tow capacity is 8 or 9k. The trailer has brakes on both axles. I always adjust the sensitivity of electric brakes to the load, a quick test as you let it roll slowly. It's a 4 CY trailer and I never load it with dirt more than 1/2 way. They are right when they say dirty is heavy and Damp dirt is heavier. Get your trailer and use your head. You'll wonder how you got by with out it. Always understand your load and allow room for comfortable stopping.

 

[dodge man]

I'm in the same boat, I have a half ton Dodge and am looking at buying a dump trailer. I have pulled a car trailer without brakes before, the trailer and car was maybe 5500lbs. Thats too much without brakes. Your talking maybe trailer and load of 10,000lbs. Thats way to much without brakes. The half ton will pull it but you need the brakes. The difference between 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton or 1 ton isn't just the brakes, its axles, springs, driveshaft, u joints, front suspension parts etc all being bigger and heavier. If you drive the thing gently on smooth roads, that will lesson the wear and tear on alot of those componets. If you did alot of towing a heavy trailer, some of that stuff will start to fail.

 

[radioman]

Don't do it !! You will need to have electric brakes on the trailer. I gaurantee, you are going to have at least one white knuckle event and this is all you need to change your mind. I can hear you saying- its not gonna happen to me and i am carefull and will look wayyy ahead. There is always one idiot on the road to scare you. Anyways - towing your own load of stones will depend on what the gravel pit cashier will allow you to get. The local pit here will only let me take 2 tons and not 3.5 due to the registration on my truck. my trailer is 16 ft and can carry 7k total. I have carried close to 7k total wieght in my trailer with my truck with no problems but the gravel pit will not let me leave with that much wieght. I am not trying to rain on your parade, but what about the cost for fuel and stones ? I think you will find that the truckers can do it for almost the same amount of money as you can do it for.

 

[jamestaylor72]

Count me in as well for wanting to buy a dump trailer. Mainly because I aint paying a $75.00 surcharge per load, to haul stone exactly 3 miles down the road from the gravel pit to my property. That being said however,, because I pull a 3900 LB equipment trailer loaded with my 4000 LB JD 4120 with an '02 chevy 1/2, I can strongly agree with the other fellas regarding the absolute necessity of trailer brakes !!! I've had the "learning experience" of a bad electrical connection leave me without trailer brakes once in moderate traffic with the tractor loaded, along with some other heavy tools/supplies. It was a real bad feeling. At that point, you no longer have control of your rig,, that tonnage controls you !! As far as the extra wear and tear on the truck,,,, what can I say,, if it breaks , I'll fix it !! So far though,, the only thing that really seems to strain on the truck is the engine "could use a bit more HP/ Torque" .
Also, as well as brakes,, I'd recommend the "break-away" kit . Doesn't pay to turn a blind eye to safety!

 

[allen in texas]

Has anyone mentioned that you need brakes?

 

[RollTideRam]

What year truck are you using? You mention that you don't have a break controller, they are not hard to install. My truck has a towing package and had a wire harness in the glove box. Just plug it in way up under the dash and hooked it to the controller. JC

 

[jeffster]

I have a 12x6 10k dump trailer that I absolutely love. However, I will say that I wouldn't even consider towing it with a 1/2 ton and a load of gravel. I have a 3/4 ton diesel and looking at my last ticket load of 5/8"-0, I was hauling 3.5 tons which put me about ~300 pounds over weight actually (trailer is around 3300). I can tell you that you most certainly need the additional power if you are going to pull across any grades, but as mentioned a number of times, even more important is your ability to stop this much weight. I have a brake controller, but I know people that tow the same size trailer without one and to me that is just a huge accident waiting to happen. Why take the risk? Cost me around $100 for the brake controller and adapter and took less than 5 minutes to connect and mount it.

BTW, even with my trailer, it isn't cost effective for me to haul any sizable amount of gravel. I usually order it in 30 ton increments from the rock pit. The distance is about 20 miles over backroads. So, for me to get 3.5 ton of rock in my trailer, it costs me about 5 gallons of diesel, so at $2.50/G right now, that is an additional $12.50 each run, not counting my time or vehicle and trailer wear and tear. So, for me to do the equivalent of 30 tons, it would take me around 9 trips, so an additional $112.50. It costs me about $200 for delivery for all 30 ton in a single delivery and doesn't cost me a cent in maintenance or time, so in the end it is absolutely cheaper to have it hauled.

Now, that said, I love my trailer and use it for a lot of different things, from hauling bark dust, to moving my tractor, to you name it. So, I would definitely recommend a trailer if you can get one, just don't expect to haul heavy things in it with a 1/2 ton, and no matter what, get a brake controller.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Like the others said you can have a lot of loads hauled before you pay for a $5000 trailer plus all the gas and wear and tare on your truck. My local pit is 1.5 miles from my house and they have nice drivers with nice equipment. They will bring up to 24 tons 25 miles for $75. I have tried to talk them down if I get 100 tons and they will not do it. He says he has to pay his drivers, pay insurance, and buy $100,000 dump trucks. He will let them sit before he discounts a load. I guess I cant blame him. He is in business to make money, not lose it.

What is funny is my neighbor has a Ford 700 single axle dump truck that can haul about 8 tons. He charges $40 or $45 dollars. It would take 3 deliveries for him to equal the pits trucks or $120 in fees. I have actually seen him bid jobs then pay the pit to deliver it instead of using his own truck. It just puts money back in his pocket.

Chris

 

[EdC]

Not to hijack the OPs thread but this is good info. I to am looking at a dump trailer. I work about 3/4 of a mile from where I get ground asphalt so have to go past it anyway. Having it hauled out to my place cost $100.00 per hour and is a 2 hr total round trip (not really but that is the lowest estimated fee from three different trucking companies). The material is $4 a cubic yard in addition to haulage. Hauling the regrind is a lot more expensive than buying it.

 

[jamestaylor72]

What year truck are you using? You mention that you don't have a break controller, they are not hard to install. My truck has a towing package and had a wire harness in the glove box. Just plug it in way up under the dash and hooked it to the controller. JC

Yeah, my '02 with the tow package had a plug on the fuse panel "if I remember correctly" or somewhere in that area. I simply bought my controller "Prodigy" , and the appropriate harness. Then, it was literally plug and play !!

 

[wkpoor]

I have a 6x10 Moritz that weighs 3300lb empty. My first load with it was dirt. I weighed it on the way home and it was 12K. That was 3-4 1 yard bucket from a BH. Aside from the brake issue no way a 1/2tonner can hold up the tongue. I've seen them on the highway draggin azz bad pulling those dumpers. Last load of gravel I got was 3ton and it was cost effective since I didn't need a full dump truck load. That put me right up to the 10K my trailer is rated for. And when I got home and dumped it, it looked really puny. The only load 1/2 ton trucks are good at are boats, cause they typically are light on the tongue.

 

[wushaw]

Not to hijack the OPs thread but this is good info. I to am looking at a dump trailer. I work about 3/4 of a mile from where I get ground asphalt so have to go past it anyway. Having it hauled out to my place cost $100.00 per hour and is a 2 hr total round trip (not really but that is the lowest estimated fee from three different trucking companies). The material is $4 a cubic yard in addition to haulage. Hauling the regrind is a lot more expensive than buying it.

I also drive past where I get crushed concrete on my way to work so it works out for me to haul it myself.

 

[LBrown59]

DON'T DO IT!!! Maybe with trailer brakes, but even then....

Not to rain on your parade, but I'd say that unless you get a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, I'd let the pro's bring your gravel. The dump full of gravel that you could pull safely with your truck would be pretty small.
-Jer.

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

^^^
1*I'm with Diamondpilot ! Some of the new 1/2 tons are rated to tow (according to the ads on TV) 10,000 when "properly equipped". My BIL's 1/2 ton GMC is rated for 6000 (believe its a 06). What does your owners manual say?
2*I own a small (5X10) BriMar dump, rated @ #7000. I can put 5000lbs in it legally. I drive an F-350, and i can tell you that my trailer weighing #7000 is HEAVY !!! And with my F-350 i would NEVER consider towing my trailer with brakes that weren't working, or working properly(nevermind a half ton!!!). Dirt is HEAVY...... and damp dirt is HEAVIER !!!! You would be stunned to see how little dirt it takes to bring a 7000lb trailer to max capacity.

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!

 

[jamestaylor72]

I have a 6x10 Moritz that weighs 3300lb empty. My first load with it was dirt. I weighed it on the way home and it was 12K. That was 3-4 1 yard bucket from a BH. Aside from the brake issue no way a 1/2tonner can hold up the tongue. I've seen them on the highway draggin azz bad pulling those dumpers. Last load of gravel I got was 3ton and it was cost effective since I didn't need a full dump truck load. That put me right up to the 10K my trailer is rated for. And when I got home and dumped it, it looked really puny. The only load 1/2 ton trucks are good at are boats, cause they typically are light on the tongue.

I made a wooden box enclosure for my 16 ft. equipment trailer a few years back. Over the summer, I had the pit load #57 on for me, and the slip showed 3.6 ton plus of course the trailer weight of 3900. And yes, the 1/2 ton was difinitely squatting. Actually, the tires appeared more distressed than the springs. Luckily I've only got a 3 mile sprint down the road from there,,,,, ok, it wasn't a sprint,, but a slow jog.
After reading your post WK,, and your mention of the tongue weight,, I wonder if perhaps it was because more of the weight was centered over the axles and spread out over a greater distance that I was able to pull it off with the tires blowing or worse.
At any rate,, I don't plan to overload like that again !!