Dump truck vs dump trailer

[Reg]

It applies IF the O/P is considering a gooseneck with an upper deck that has any appreciable width.
That is the usual reason for "short bed" trucks not being able to handle gooseneck or 5th wheel trailers - - cab crunch.
My SIL has a goose with an upper deck that is a full 8 ft 6in at the front.
Wide upper decks CAN be useful for hauling tractor implements around.
My own goose tapers to 5 ft., though I have swing clearance that allows me to pull his.

It applies IF the cab to ball distance is equal to or less than 1/2 such trailer's nose width - in fact it needs to be a bit more to allow for dips and bumps.
The extenders do NOT move the trailer farther back when folded up, merely to the side and in the cab crunch scenario "to the side" doesn't do any good.

Don't ask how I know this, I just DO !
Your friend may well have something that has "worked for two years" or he may not realize what is really happening, e.g. he may not know that it is not applicable.

A long enough gooseneck trailer will fold up enough going forwards if the truck can turn tight enough, mine does.
I watch the trailer wheels at that point, when the ones on the inside of the turn start going backwards while the truck is still going forwards I back off - there is no point in turning any sharper than that.
The exception is if I have really screwed up and have to clear a wall or ditch, but I try to not do that, or I get out of the situation and start over (-:

The picture you added is of a goose that I wouldn't consider, it has very little upper deck space.
Perhaps useful purely as a dump trailer, but for my uses I want AREA as much as load capacity, e.g. I want to be able to put a couple of tractor implements up there.

 

[Xfaxman]

I wonder what the liability would be if the manual specifically does NOT recommend the goose neck trailer on that particular truck configuration in the event of an accident. I have a 5'6" box on my Lincoln lt, I was "TOLD" a fifth wheel RV simply won't fit, but that may not be true I guess. BTW at least some if not most RVs are full 8' pretty much right up to the front.

Yes, true for fifth wheel, gooseneck is a completely different hitch.

 

[Xfaxman]

I've been longing for a hydraulic dump trailer to use around the place, but I can't justify the cost of $4500+.
..................
I'd be interested in hearing other thoughts on the subject.

Thanks

Here is another option for off road use:

Tracked Dumper.


Articulated 4WD Dumper.


I found mine on eBay three and a half years ago.

Hauling brush.


Hauling about 13,000 pounds of dirt.

 

[IMCA38]

Wow, I bet those are even more! Problem would be taking it off premises then.

 

[Xfaxman]

Wow, I bet those are even more! Problem would be taking it off premises then.

Depends on how far. It has a road gear, put a SMV sign on it and it would be just like driving a tractor down the road.

It weighs a little over nine thousand pounds, so I can haul it on my trailer.

 

[Harold_J]

It isn't about box length - it IS about cab to ball distance and THAT needs to be more than 1/2 the trailer's nose width...

Isn't this just playing with words? Short box pickup has less cab-to-axle disstance than long box version of same truck. So therefore a properly positioned gooseneck ball will be closer to the cab, so in practical terms it IS about box length.

 

[Reg]

Isn't this just playing with words? Short box pickup has less cab-to-axle disstance than long box version of same truck. So therefore a properly positioned gooseneck ball will be closer to the cab, so in practical terms it IS about box length.

No,
The SPECS are always in terms of cab to axle distance.
For a standard pick-up truck (that may have a "long bed") it is 58 inches, for a chassis/cab it is 60 inches.
Body up-fitters need this to be standard, so that such things as dump bodies and ambulance shells can FIT.

The goose ball needs to be AHEAD of the axle, as far as practical but 8 inches is a good/fair distance.
There is a mistaken belief that OVER the rear axle is the proper place, but that leads to teeter-tottering, which feels very unstable.
There are sometimes other trade-offs, e.g. if you also want tool boxes or aux tanks just go for LOW ones, not anything above the bed rails.

What hangs out behind the rear axle is almost irrelevant - unless/until you leave a tailgate down and only discover it on a tight turn (-:
Cab crunch happens, truck corners don't hit trailer front walls - propane tanks or other stuff that an owner has added without much thought - maybe.

 

[IMCA38]

To add a bit of context to the discussion, here is a pic of my existing trailer. As you can see, it wouldn't take much to represent a significant upgrade.

 

[smokinmad]

Well lets see...You have to license both, so what is your annual license cost. It cost me more to put tags on a truck than a trailer. Then.....you have to put Insurance on that Truck....How much would you drive the Dump truck? Or would it sit, till needed like a trailer....

 

[kthompson]

We have a dump trailer that is 6 by 10 with dual axles. Used it a good bit and then bought a Chevy 3500 before they down rated them. Had a 8 by 14 bed. Per Chevy Commercial Truck salesman the one I had was about same capacity as the short lived 4500. I used the truck for about 3 or 4 years and was so glad the day it was sold and we still use the trailer. Reasons: we do a lot of work on farm and rather pull trailer with tractor and hook into the tractors remotes than wait for the electric pump to run on the trailer or the dump truck. With tractor easy to back or pull it where needed and can turn tighter circles. Also no tag in SC needed and towing vehicles insurance covers it.

I would not buy a dump truck with electric over hyd again. PERIOD as those beds do not raise fast not to high enough angle to dump damp dirt. Same for trailer. I bought a trunk in poor condition but the price was right, did not find it fun to drive and you need 50 acres to make a turn...well maybe only 5 acres. Was told they have stops to prevent the front tires turning as sharp as pickup to prevent high speed turns with loads to help prevent roll overs.

Dump truck has higher bed than trailer most likely, not likely to haul a tractor in there or such and if you need to get in there not as easy for me anyway. But it allows you to dump a bigger load in a pile than the trailer might be able to.

If something is to be replaced on the truck it will be costly most likely while trailer has little really working parts. But you are putting load on tow vehicle.

You need to remember you are to cover loads on either when on the road. Any problem on the truck reaching what ever system you have? My biggest recommendation is to avoid the electric over hyd period. Due to speed or lack of it for dumping and how little they do raise or all I have compared to the true hyd dump rigs.

How often you need it to me also plays a big part, if seldom a trailer if at least once a week maybe the truck. If you use it often do buy a truck that is easy to drive so you will.