Will a 14k dump trailer actually dump that much weight?

[tmcj]

My dump trailer is a single cylinder, scissor style, power up & down. It is the typical 9995# rating to keep it under the 10k limit requiring additional licensing and registering issues. It was also fitting capacity for the truck I had at the time when I bought it. The load capacity is about 6700# as the trailer is almost 3300#. I typically shoot for 3.5 ton max load weight regardless of volume in the bed, which typically leaves plenty of empty space. That being said, even when being loaded within the weight range, distribution of the load is just as important. I have had places wanting to load the front heavy with the intention of more tongue weight for stability, but I had to explain that with a dump trailer too much weight in the front just makes it more difficult to begin the lift for dumping. Of course you need to manage tongue weight correctly but wisely with a dump trailer also, or you will have trouble lifting. I have had mine overloaded before by weight and whether or not it lifted it all depended on load distribution.

I have hauled MANY loads of fill dirt and some contained a good bit of clay which would sometimes stick to the bed and would not dump well at all, regardless of weight. I came up with a trick to always have a successful and clean unloading, but I won't get into that here. I also had a very full load of mulch recently that did not dump very well either. What I have found is that once you have a dump trailer, it is used for all kinds of materials, items, etc., well beyond anything you would have thought of before buying one. I'm just saying never say never, LOL.

 

[nyone]

Years ago my friend bought a brand spanking new 10k dump trailer. After a few times of him unloading the front by hand i found the pumps pressure relief setting and turned it up for him. Dump trailers are cheap to mantain but have there limitations.

I have a mason dump and can take 4,500lbs in the bed. It can go places a dump trailer cant and i have taken it places my friend couldnt get into with his trailer. Granted insurance is expensive for a dump truck where i am but it was this or i have to buy a tow vehicle and dump trailer.

 

[4570Man]

I have a mason dump and can take 4,500lbs in the bed. It can go places a dump trailer cant and i have taken it places my friend couldnt get into with his trailer. Granted insurance is expensive for a dump truck where i am but it was this or i have to buy a tow vehicle and dump trailer.[/QUOTE]

I assume you’re referring to a ton truck with a dump bed. I have a 3500 dump truck and a 6500 dump truck. I couldn’t buy a 20,000 pound or even a 14,000 pound dump trailer for what I have in both trucks. The trucks are way easier to deal with and without the dump trucks I wouldn’t have anything to pull a dump trailer with. The 20,000 pound trailer still wouldn’t haul as much as the truck. And the trucks dump everything I’ve ever put on them none of this shoveling the front off business.

 

[nyone]

Yes a 1ton dump. I assume your compairing used dump trucks to new dump trailers. If you priced out new on both tou wouldnt be saying that. Granted i paid $850 for my 95 k3500 dump but i also put roughly 5k into it. The tranny last year nearly made the truck a $850 truck again. I basicly plowed last year to pay for its transmission. But that could be said about the tow vehicle too.

 

[4570Man]

Probably an automatic transmission. The dump trailers hold their value pretty good. If I saw a used 10 ton dump trailer for what I paid for my 6500 truck I’d own it too. Really I’d rather have a smaller dump trailer over a duel tandom 10 ton but I still haven’t seen a good deal on anything worth having. I paid more for my 1999 10 ton non dumping pintle hook than I did for the truck. And I’d still need a way to tow the trailer which was the reason I bought the 6500 to begin with. I’ve been using it for dump trucking more than I anticipated.

 

[AZTimT]

My Midsota that advertised having a 9.9 ton Rugby scissor hoist on it works better than advertised. The hoist is actually a 14 ton hoist but specs change based on geometry and pivot point. If you go with a dump trailer, make sure you get a good one that will keep you happy and you should have no regrets.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

I have a Load Trail 12ft single cylinder straight lift will dump 12k with a tad of hesitation but well distributed load of rock no problem.

See lots of PJ, Load Trail, Big Tex trailers. Load them with 966G 12ft long 5yd bucket. Can get 6yards heaped and our rock is 1.3 tons per yard and heavier if wet.

 

[redman135]

Several people have mentioned the problem of front heavy loads. Paint a mark on the body AND write "load centre" under it. This is done mainly on trucks that require off-centre loading to get the correct axle loads, but should work with your trailers. The loader driver can't ignore it with out trouble.

 

[some zilch]

i used to borrow a 9990lb gvw dump trailer. it had the single cylinder/non-scissor hoist. it would not dump 3 tons; i would have to help it with my tractor the first foot or two. it was beyond annoying.

i bought a new sure-trac 14k dumper with the telescopic ram at the front of the trailer like big dump trucks and trailers have. the quarry has overloaded me several times, and i have easily dumped 6.5 tons and 7.1 tons. that huge, front mounted ram will lift and dump anything

 

[nikerret]

Several people have mentioned the problem of front heavy loads. Paint a mark on the body AND write "load centre" under it. This is done mainly on trucks that require off-centre loading to get the correct axle loads, but should work with your trailers. The loader driver can't ignore it with out trouble.

Excellent idea. Thank you. Great for every type of load. I will do this on all my trailers.

 

[RichM752]

i used to borrow a 9990lb gvw dump trailer. it had the single cylinder/non-scissor hoist. it would not dump 3 tons; i would have to help it with my tractor the first foot or two. it was beyond annoying.

i bought a new sure-trac 14k dumper with the telescopic ram at the front of the trailer like big dump trucks and trailers have. the quarry has overloaded me several times, and i have easily dumped 6.5 tons and 7.1 tons. that huge, front mounted ram will lift and dump anything

i would had bought the same, but need trailer to haul tractor.

 

[natedog75]

I have a 6x10 7k dump trailer. I do a lot of construction in subdivisions and need something compact. We built sides to take it up to 4 feet. My guys over loaded one time by taking aluminum windows and busting the glass out in the trailer and braking down the frames. It was a lot of glass. I also had some shingles in there along with other debris. I pulled across the scales at 18k+change. My truck and trailer weigh 9400lbs empty. I came in at 9k on the load. It dumped no problem.

I was severely overloaded and make every effort not to let that happen.

I do have a cable running to the battery on the dump that charges it off the truck. I also keep the trailer on a maintainer while it is parked. It is used often so I don’t have battery problems.

This is a trailer made locally. It has a single cylinder. No scissor lift. Not the best made trailer but it was cheap and has severed it purpose well. I am actually thinking about moving to roll off dumpsters due to having multiple jobs going at the same time and being concerned with theft. But that is an expensive endeavor to get into. I could buy several dump trailers for what I would pay to get setup with that.

Things to consider with a dump trailer:

Look at the tool box on the front. It is nice to have plugs to connect electrical and controller components to with our having to open the box. My box is just a box with a lid very basic. It works but isn’t convenient.

Look at tie downs. You will want some inside the box as well as outside.

Think about how you will tarp. It is a must with dump trailers. No worse day than sitting o. The side of the road explaining to your agent how you put a 2x4/rock through somebody else’s windshield. (Hasn’t happen to me yet thank the Lord)

The jack is very important on a dump trailer. You will want a drop leg. The loads get heavy and if you have to disconnect with a load In The box you want a jack rated for the weight.

Door options are a big thing. Don’t forget to tie them back when you dump. I just have barn doors. Sometimes I wish I had a spreader gate but a piece of plywood strapped to the back will work in a pinch.

You will use it for more things than you thought. And there are times you wonder why you lived without it much like a FEL.

 

[some zilch]

i put my tractor right in the trailer. the cylinder is completley outside the box, unlike some bigger dump trucks and trailers. there is no "indent"

 

[DanHen]

i used to borrow a 9990lb gvw dump trailer. it had the single cylinder/non-scissor hoist. it would not dump 3 tons; i would have to help it with my tractor the first foot or two. it was beyond annoying.

i bought a new sure-trac 14k dumper with the telescopic ram at the front of the trailer like big dump trucks and trailers have. the quarry has overloaded me several times, and i have easily dumped 6.5 tons and 7.1 tons. that huge, front mounted ram will lift and dump anything

I have the same Sure Trac and the same results. Worth a couple hundred extra bucks for the telescopic ram.

My buddies BIL bought the 14’ scissor lift and had to hand shovel quiet a bit before it would dump. (I ended up finishing the driveway gravel job)

 

[KY Gun Geek]

Several people have mentioned the problem of front heavy loads. Paint a mark on the body AND write "load centre" under it. This is done mainly on trucks that require off-centre loading to get the correct axle loads, but should work with your trailers. The loader driver can't ignore it with out trouble.

Why would I write "load centre" on my trailer? What the heck is that? EVERYBODY in Kentucky would ignore that :stirthepot: I do agree that load distribution matters when you are pushing the limits. The box on my trailer is big, so it is easy to get stuff in the wrong place.

My 14k (Gatormade 16' - 2 7k axles) struggles over about 9k, and I agree - keep it to 10k of payload to stay legal and safe. I have overloaded just a couple times and didn't like the way the trailer or the truck behaved.

I use my trailer mostly for horse stall muck which is very light compared to dense dirt or gravel, but as stated above, once you have a trailer, you will come up with lots of reasons to use it. If I didn't plan on hauling fluffy stuff, I would get a smaller box to manage the load a bit better.