Dump Trailers

[WM75Guy]

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

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.

Mine work fine. I have only used them once. I just retopped part of my driveway with recycled asphalt. For that I dump the pile, spread it with the tractor, and level it with my landplane.

My dump trailer came with ramps and rear jacks. I haven't used them. But they are there if I need them. I have utility trailers to haul tractors and such.

Here is the spreader chains and latch release to use the spreader gate.

 

[Jason05216]

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.

Here's a video on a 32K GVWR Texas Pride

 

[Jason05216]

Mine work fine. I have only used them once. I just retopped part of my driveway with recycled asphalt. For that I dump the pile, spread it with the tractor, and level it with my landplane.

My dump trailer came with ramps and rear jacks. I haven't used them. But they are there if I need them. I have utility trailers to haul tractors and such.

Here is the spreader chains and latch release to use the spreader gate.

View attachment 4327475

I've got another trailer that I use to haul my tractor, etc. I doubt I would use this to haul any equipment around so I don't really care about having ramps.

Have you found that you load the trailer to it's max payload most of the time? I'm wondering if I should find something that maximizes the payload. In my area I've found a 20K GVWR with a 13870 payload and a 17.5K GVWR with a 13060 payload. Found another one that is 21K GVWR which is higher than my truck is rated for but I could always haul a little less than max payload. It's payload is 16190. It's got 3 7K axels. Not sure if that's a positive or not?

 

[4570Man]

I've got another trailer that I use to haul my tractor, etc. I doubt I would use this to haul any equipment around so I don't really care about having ramps.

Have you found that you load the trailer to it's max payload most of the time? I'm wondering if I should find something that maximizes the payload. In my area I've found a 20K GVWR with a 13870 payload and a 17.5K GVWR with a 13060 payload. Found another one that is 21K GVWR which is higher than my truck is rated for but I could always haul a little less than max payload. It's payload is 16190. It's got 3 7K axels. Not sure if that's a positive or not?

Unless you have a CDL I’d stick with a 14k.

 

[WM75Guy]

The majority of what I haul is 6 yards of pine mulch for the arena, 600 lbs/yard or 3,600 lbs total weight. A little more if it is wet. I was hauling 6 yds of topsoil occasionally at 2,000 lbs - 2,200 lbs per yard to fill in around the stables. That definitely is more than my rated capacity of 10,030 lbs. I will probably cut down to 5 yards on future loads. I also haul recycled asphalt for the driveway, 4 yards at 2,600 -2,800 lbs/yard. That also puts me at the upper limit.

I have some wiggle room. On paper my 14TD with 7,000 lb axles has a GVWR of 14,000 lbs. Specs shows the trailer weighs 3970 lbs and has a payload capacity of 10,030 lbs. But there is no additional weight capacity for the 10% tongue weight. The newer model 14TD with 7,000 lb axles shows an empty weight of 4,570 lbs, cargo capacity of 10,830 lbs, and a GVWR of 15,400 lbs. That would include the 10% tongue weight of 1,400 lbs. So I am OK with going a little over the 10,030 lb capacity.

 

[WM75Guy]

Unless you have a CDL I’d stick with a 14k.

I agree with stating under CDL requirements. My 2024 GMC 3500HD DRW has a GVWR of 10,500 lbs. The only trailer I have that would put me in CDL territory is my Big Tex 14GN at 15,900 lbs. Texas allows you to tow a trailer with farm tags up to 20,000 lbs GVWR on a Class C license, so I covered there. My dump trailer is at 14,000 lbs GVWR so under CDL territory. Even the new model 14TD is at 15,400 lbs GVWR so I would still be under CDL requirements.

 

[Jason05216]

Unless you have a CDL I’d stick with a 14k.

I've got a CDL.

 

[Jason05216]

The majority of what I haul is 6 yards of pine mulch for the arena, 600 lbs/yard or 3,600 lbs total weight. A little more if it is wet. I was hauling 6 yds of topsoil occasionally at 2,000 lbs - 2,200 lbs per yard to fill in around the stables. That definitely is more than my rated capacity of 10,030 lbs. I will probably cut down to 5 yards on future loads. I also haul recycled asphalt for the driveway, 4 yards at 2,600 -2,800 lbs/yard. That also puts me at the upper limit.

I have some wiggle room. On paper my 14TD with 7,000 lb axles has a GVWR of 14,000 lbs. Specs shows the trailer weighs 3970 lbs and has a payload capacity of 10,030 lbs. But there is no additional weight capacity for the 10% tongue weight. The newer model 14TD with 7,000 lb axles shows an empty weight of 4,570 lbs, cargo capacity of 10,830 lbs, and a GVWR of 15,400 lbs. That would include the 10% tongue weight of 1,400 lbs. So I am OK with going a little over the 10,030 lb capacity.

Looks to me like 11370 payload with the 2' side. Yours is 2' sides, correct?

 

[WM75Guy]

Looks to me like 11370 payload with the 2' side. Yours is 2' sides, correct?

Correct. The 4' sides would be more of a pain than benefit for me. I didn't see a need for 4' sides except I could haul more mulch in a trip. Dirt and rock it would not help, I am limited by weight, not size. Also. the extra height adds weight taking some away from payload capacity.

With 2' sidewalls it is really easy to flatten out the load below the top of the sides with the garden hoe I carry in the truck and put the tarp over the load by myself. That way the tarp is tight and even with the top of the sides, even with 6 yards of material. Very little if any can blow out.

 

[Hay Dude]

Here's a video on a 32K GVWR Texas Pride

I watched the video on that trailer and although the guy doing the video is a well meaning, helpful guy, he makes some mistakes in his “facts”.
He also went through a lot of trouble to redesign the tailgate and the ramps. He is also woefully overloaded with the weight he is hauling.
It also dumps so slow, he had to artificially speed-up the video to keep viewers interested.

I DO like the load capacity and the 15K axles, AND the 3” coupler. I have not been able to find anyone who offers a 3” coupler outside of Kaufman.
Also, the sides are much too high for my needs and the hoist is not telescopic.

I appreciate you posting it though. I may contact them to see if they could build something more like what I want.

 

[sandman2234]

I rented a dump trailer and thought it was nice having it, and with this thread, I decided to take a look at the trailer manufacturer that I rented. Sticker Shock! I had no idea that new dump trailers had gone up in price that much!
I think if I need one regularly that I will convert "*ugly dump trailer" to something that hauls dirt, meaning to add sides to it.
David from jax
* ugly dump trailer was a twisted tongue 45' commercial boat trailer a friend and I converted to a 20' flatbed that the rear 13' dumps.

 

[D&D]

I also place a great deal of intrinsic value on “time”. If I have my own dump truck or dump trailer, I can be on the road getting material in 15 minutes v. waiting for delivery. I can also work after hours or weekends when there’s little help available from a vendor.
That is a huge plus to ownership that is frequently overlooked.

You’re paying yourself either way so which is more valuable to you? Moving dirt, gravel, etc. or fetching and toting?

 

[Jason05216]

You’re paying yourself either way so which is more valuable to you? Moving dirt, gravel, etc. or fetching and toting?

I agree with HD on this. I like to be able to do things on my schedule and not have to rely on when I can get something delivered or when I can rent something. I've rented these in the past and it always seemed like I was scrambling in order to get it returned on time. I'm also thinking that this will be like many other things that I have purchased, once I have it I'm sure I'll use it for more things than I'm thinking right now.

 

[Rockbadchild]

It is alwayse case by case,... Time is money and that’s true, but only if your time creates or saves money. Doing something yourself displace expenses. While your waiting you’re just spending time AKA wasting money.

 

[Hay Dude]

I agree with HD on this. I like to be able to do things on my schedule and not have to rely on when I can get something delivered or when I can rent something. I've rented these in the past and it always seemed like I was scrambling in order to get it returned on time. I'm also thinking that this will be like many other things that I have purchased, once I have it I'm sure I'll use it for more things than I'm thinking right now.

Yep.
Working Saturdays and evenings are commonplace for me. Heck, even some Sundays (I really try to avoid).
That’s why I like having my own rig.

 

[Hay Dude]

Here's a video on a 32K GVWR Texas Pride

Called Texas Pride today. Had a very productive conversation!
They can build just about exactly what I want:

32,000 GVWR
16’, 18’, or 20’ length
(2) 15K axles
18 ply 17.5” rubber
Hydraulic jacks
Twin batteries
30” or 36” sides
17.5” spare wheel/tire
Red color

The only thing they can’t do is a telescoping hoist. I have to do twin ram underbody hoist and it’s slow as molasses.

 

[4570Man]

Can you order it with a gas engine and pump to help with the speed issue plus you could run unlimited cycles daily?

 

[Hay Dude]

Can you order it with a gas engine and pump to help with the speed issue plus you could run unlimited cycles daily?

Uh huh.
$8,000 option.

No thanks. I’ll wait.

 

[4570Man]

Uh huh.
$8,000 option.

No thanks. I’ll wait.

I wouldn’t have expected that. A 11hp Honda GX with electric start is about a grand and you could downgrade to knockoff motors for $300-400. You could easily put together the hydraulic part for under a grand. I wouldn’t expect the whole setup to cost a lot more than an electric pump with dual batteries. This is no bargain. You could buy all the parts and assemble it yourself cheaper and it’s still half that cost. Even if you downsized to a 5hp motor to save money I’m sure a 5 hp would still outperform a battery pump by a good margin.

 

[QRTRHRS]

The Bri- Mar 16k GN dump that I used to own had a scissors lift and would go much higher than that Texas Pride does. It did have four foot sides and they could be an issue but they were removable. The high sides were nice for light weight bulk material like sawdust. I like the hydraulic jacks and the frame looks to be pretty stout.