I realize I could have bought more tonnage, but I'll be using it as a site truck when I get it to Idaho so I dident see the sense in paying more.
Thanks for the #'s on dirt, I kind of thought it would be easy to over load that truck!
Just bought a dump truck
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I realize I could have bought more tonnage, but I'll be using it as a site truck when I get it to Idaho so I dident see the sense in paying more.
Thanks for the #'s on dirt, I kind of thought it would be easy to over load that truck!
LoneCowboy
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the common number I see is for dirt/fill/most smaller rock (1.5") is 1.2 tons/yard
That other number is over 2 tons per yard, big difference.
Probably ought to do some checking initially and figure out your load density
That other number is over 2 tons per yard, big difference.
Probably ought to do some checking initially and figure out your load density
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
My front loader is rated to hold 1.13 yards of material and has a 4,000 pound rating. I've heaped it pretty full of some very wet clay and haven't come close to pushing it's limit from what I can tell.
While I don't know what a yard of dirt weighs, I thought it was about 2,500 pounds per yard from what I've been told by the guys hauling dirt. How dry or wet it is really makes a huge difference, but that's what they use as an average.
Eddie
CurlyDave
Elite Member
I think the references I checked were talking about undisturbed earth.
I suspect the degree of compaction is a consideration.
I know for sure if I dig a 3' x 3' x 9' trench, the trench is 3 cubic yards, but the spoil pile that comes out of the trench is going to be 4 or 5 cubic yards, just because it is less compacted. OTOH, it won't weigh any more than the dirt did while it was in the undisturbed state.
I suspect the degree of compaction is a consideration.
I know for sure if I dig a 3' x 3' x 9' trench, the trench is 3 cubic yards, but the spoil pile that comes out of the trench is going to be 4 or 5 cubic yards, just because it is less compacted. OTOH, it won't weigh any more than the dirt did while it was in the undisturbed state.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Good point Dave, and just one more factor in the question of what does dirt really weigh. I'm sure topsoil is going to be less then silt, and good loam is going to weigh less then clay.
We had a big story in the news about an accident in the Dallas area yesterday, and it amazed me that the reporters started out the day telling us how the truck was carrying it's maximum load of 80,000 pounds of sand. The two radio stations that I listened to both said the same thing, so I'm sure they were just parroting what somebody else had written. Later in the day, a spokesman for TXDOT came on and explained it was the total weight of the vehicle and load that cannot exceed 80,000 pounds, but that they were unsure of the exact weight of the load at that time.
I know that when buying rock, I can have a few thousand pounds variation on what they load into the trailer. 26,000 pounds of rock is on the light side for a belly dump, while 28,000 pounds seems to be the heaviest loads that I've seen. 2,000 pounds variation in loads is costing the rock company money that they could have hauled and sold to me, but because of air space in the rock when loading, that's all the could get in the trailer.
Dirt is going to be the same. Some will have more density and weigh more, while other types will be more "loose" and weigh less.
Eddie
We had a big story in the news about an accident in the Dallas area yesterday, and it amazed me that the reporters started out the day telling us how the truck was carrying it's maximum load of 80,000 pounds of sand. The two radio stations that I listened to both said the same thing, so I'm sure they were just parroting what somebody else had written. Later in the day, a spokesman for TXDOT came on and explained it was the total weight of the vehicle and load that cannot exceed 80,000 pounds, but that they were unsure of the exact weight of the load at that time.
I know that when buying rock, I can have a few thousand pounds variation on what they load into the trailer. 26,000 pounds of rock is on the light side for a belly dump, while 28,000 pounds seems to be the heaviest loads that I've seen. 2,000 pounds variation in loads is costing the rock company money that they could have hauled and sold to me, but because of air space in the rock when loading, that's all the could get in the trailer.
Dirt is going to be the same. Some will have more density and weigh more, while other types will be more "loose" and weigh less.
Eddie
Builder
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I can't imagine dirt weighing 2 tons/yd. My guess for dry to slightly damp dirt would be 1&1/2. Wet clay or mud could be 2 ton/yd I suppose.
As Eddie said, fluffy topsoil seems like it's ~1 ton/yd.
I'll let you know monday. I'll be backfilling a garage with some pretyy wet stuff. My butt-meter is pretty good at judging weight when I'm in my backhoe and dumptruck.
Nice old truck. Is it a 350, 366, maybe even a 6-banger?
As Eddie said, fluffy topsoil seems like it's ~1 ton/yd.
I'll let you know monday. I'll be backfilling a garage with some pretyy wet stuff. My butt-meter is pretty good at judging weight when I'm in my backhoe and dumptruck.
Nice old truck. Is it a 350, 366, maybe even a 6-banger?
Thanks, its a 366 (first time I've heard of one).
It runs great! I took it to the recycle yard yesterday to dump a little broken up asphalt that was a little bonus when I bought it
. Got in a little practice with the splitter.
Bad news, empty scale weight is 11300#, that only gives me a 8200# load.
O well, at least the gravel pit is close
.Builder
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Thanks, its a 366 (first time I've heard of one).
It runs great! I took it to the recycle yard yesterday to dump a little broken up asphalt that was a little bonus when I bought it
Got in a little practice with the splitter.
Bad news, empty scale weight is 11300#, that only gives me a 8200# load.
O well, at least the gravel pit is close
The 366 is a mixed bag. It's actually a big block engine even though it only displaces 366 cubes, so it's very tough, almost impossible to destroy. Downside is if it's a smog motor, it will have a myriad of pumps & hoses all over it. Not a real powerhouse, but it's definately a truck engine, not a car engine.
8200lbs isn't bad. That's about the same as a new F-450, but you probably paid 1/10th the price.
The 366 is a mixed bag. It's actually a big block engine even though it only displaces 366 cubes, so it's very tough, almost impossible to destroy. Downside is if it's a smog motor, it will have a myriad of pumps & hoses all over it. Not a real powerhouse, but it's definately a truck engine, not a car engine.
8200lbs isn't bad. That's about the same as a new F-450, but you probably paid 1/10th the price.
Big block you say? Hmmm... it deffenatly has a small block in it with no smog.
I was thinking a 366 was a stroked 350? (The vin says 366.)
Maybe some one replaced it.
