Griffin Dump Trailer Issues Never Again

[TWarrenNE]

I have a Griffin 6x12 Dump trailer I purchased new in June 2024.
Updated pics to show trailer rating

The battery lasted about 3 months
The tires lasted about 4 before they were coming apart.
I just broke a spring last week, not covered by warranty.
I took the suspension apart and found the bushings had all failed, the equalizers are worn out of round, the links are also worn out.

Are these made as though most people would not actually use them much?

 

[ultrarunner]

Wow… good to know…

 

[RandyT]

And how much weight were you hauling with that trailer.

 

[WM75Guy]

Welcome to TBN. It is easy to overload a dump trailer causing premature failure of parts. I have learned to ask the weight per yard before buying bulk material for my Big Tex 14TD dump trailer. I traded in a 14GX dump trailer with a scissor lift for the 14TD with the 12-ton hydraulic ram. It had the same weight capacity of 11,250# of material and a 7.2 yard capacity. Even though 6 yards of topsoil easily fit in it, the 14GX wouldn't lift it. Turns out topsoil weighs 2,000# per yard dry and up to 2,800# wet. It would be overloaded even if dry and grossly overloaded if the slightest bit wet. The 14TD will lift 6 yards but I blew out 2 E-rated 10-ply tires. It now has G-rated 14-ply tires and I only get 6 yards of mulch, 5 yards of topsoil, and 3-4 yards of rock.

 

[TWarrenNE]

Welcome to TBN. It is easy to overload a dump trailer causing premature failure of parts. I have learned to ask the weight per yard before buying bulk material for my Big Tex 14TD dump trailer. I traded in a 14GX dump trailer with a scissor lift for the 14TD with the 12-ton hydraulic ram. It had the same weight capacity of 11,250# of material and a 7.2 yard capacity. Even though 6 yards of topsoil easily fit in it, the 14GX wouldn't lift it. Turns out topsoil weighs 2,000# per yard dry and up to 2,800# wet. It would be overloaded even if dry and grossly overloaded if the slightest bit wet. The 14TD will lift 6 yards but I blew out 2 E-rated 10-ply tires. It now has G-rated 14-ply tires and I only get 6 yards of mulch, 5 yards of topsoil, and 3-4 yards of rock.

It is rated to haul 8K. Most of what I have been hauling is gravel I have bought at the quarry. They weigh in and out, so I've only been over 8k a couple times by a few hundred pounds.

The tires that came on it had a max rating only a couple hundred pounds more than the loaded weight of the trailer.

As I pull it apart, I see all plastic bushings and no greasable bushings.

I will be upgrading to brass and greasable.

I have no complaints on the actual trailer and hydraulics. My issues are the light duty tires and suspension components.

 

[WM75Guy]

I think most trailer manufacturers spec the cheapest components that will carry the rated load, nothing more. I don't know what you were sold, but you might want to recheck the rated load capacity. The capacity I see on their website for the GT612 6'X12' dump is 6,000# load capacity. I don't see an option to upgrade load capacity, just a jack increase from 7,000# to 10,000#. That might account for your excessive wear. Also check the load rating for the tires. It doesn't list a rating on the website, just 15" radial tires, but they may have been Load Range D 8-ply tires. That would barely cover the GVWR of 9,990# with 6,000# of payload weight. If that is so, I would up that to a Load Range E 10-ply if it were my trailer.

 

[workinonit]

Those are cheap suspension parts. Put some good equalizers and shackles on it. I have MoRyde on my 5th wheel. Never heard of a Griffin trailer around here. I guess that's why.

 

[deezler]

I think most trailer manufacturers spec the cheapest components that will carry the rated load, nothing more. I don't know what you were sold, but you might want to recheck the rated load capacity. The capacity I see on their website for the GT612 6'X12' dump is 6,000# load capacity.

HOLY S%^&, thats some criminal trailer design right there. A 6x12 dump trailer can easily be loaded with DOUBLE that much weight.

To the OP, if you really bought a 6k rated 6x12 dump trailer without realizing it, well first of all I am sorry. but second of all, c'mon.

 

[BlueKnife]

HOLY S%^&, thats some criminal trailer design right there. A 6x12 dump trailer can easily be loaded with DOUBLE that much weight.

To the OP, if you really bought a 6k rated 6x12 dump trailer without realizing it, well first of all I am sorry. but second of all, c'mon.

Any dump trailer can easily be overloaded. I've never seen a 6x12 dump trailer that is rated to haul 12,000 lbs. But, you have a good point. The OP bought a trailer from a company that specifically advertises that it's products are cheap. "Affordable" and "inexpensive" is all over the place on their website. When it comes to trailers, you often get what you pay for.

 

[deezler]

Unfortunately so. A 6x12 should have 14k axles under it, in my opinion.

My neighbors 5x10 dual axle is a 10k rated trailer, and it weighs ~3k lbs itself and can hold 3 yards. 3 yards of wet gravel is easily 9k+ lbs of load. So I limit myself to 2.5 yd purchases when borrowing it.