| Click to Post a New Message!
Page [ 1 ] |
|
|
|
dump trailers
I'm down here in Miss. cleaning up the hurricane mess. Nearly everyone pulling a dump trailer seems like they are made in the state of Texas. They range from fair to very good quality. Some of these boys have nearly doubled the capacity by adding higher sides since they get paid very little per yard ($2-5 per yard). One thing they all have in common: they aren't made to haul and dump heavy loads. It's not uncommon to see a 6x6 or 8x8 under the front of the bed between the frame. The first 6-8" is very hard on the lifting mechanism. The types that use a mechanical linkage versus a straight line lift are much better and quicker to dump. Also be sure you do not get a narrow-stance trailer with the axles and wheels tucked under the body---that's a good indication of weak axles which are prone to bending, and are easier to tip sideways when dumping and don't trail behind easily. Brimar brand is usually the one that uses straight line lift and they are effectively useless under heavy load. My 5yd dump trailer which was made in Canada is rated at 12,500 GVW and has the mech. lift on it has never let me down---I've had at least 15,000 of wet sand and concrete in it. Also, a higher bed height is much better for effective dumping---though this requires longer ramps---but that can be overcome by simply raising the bed about a foot which lowers the front of the ramp and decreases the approach and greatly reduces break-over clearance/angle which is critical when hauling a tractor with a belly mower. The other consideration is a backhoe. You should take you backhoe to a trailer dealer and load it with the truck attached. Look for tongue weight which should be no more than 10% of the load and trailer, and not exceed the hitch rating. The load should be loaded 60% past the center of the trailer. Length withe backhoe my pose some problems like can you tuck the backhoe sideways to lessen the length or will the hoe have to hang out past the closed traler doors---then there could be safety issue.
As far as your truck goes, you may have mistaken the trailer towing capacity for the GVWR which is what the truck is rated to carry, not tow. The towing capacity seems like it should be much more---closer to 10,000lb. (my diesel Ram 4x4 is rated for about 13,500 towing). Just for clarity the "single axle" notation should be "single wheel", as (most) all pickups are OEM single axle.
|
|
 Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
dump trailers
I hope the ones I've seen aren't the higher end ones! 
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
dump trailers
drbandson: Yep and we can't imagine getting $5 a yard either. Keep in mind these are contracts that have as many as 5 levels of subs subbing the work out. I have loade dumpsters and dump trucks for as little as $2 a yard. We came down here for what we were told was $40 a yard. Dreaming. Many guys have gone home broke, or worse are owed so much money that we will never see (like myself about $3000) that we can't even afford to go home. There is a lot work to do and you'll see guys who spent (or borrowed) their life savings that are selling their equipment on the side of the road.
My dump trailer was made by JDJ. 12,000 GVW rated. It's 6'x10' with 24" sides. I have ramps for it that I made out of a new mobile home trailer tongue I-beam. They're reinforced with 1/2" bar stock to create a truss. Super strong yet relatively light weight. The I-beam shape creates a natural tire guide.
My buddy used it down here in Miss. picking up debris to move his machine from site to site---and pulled 2000 miles with the machine in it. He has steel tracks on his skid steer. Metal against metal the skid steer wouldn't climb the ramps with the dump box in the full-down position. But I raised the front about 18" and it walked right up with little slippage (raising it changed the approach and break-over angle just enough).
There was a post about three-axle trailers. From what the Michigan and Alabama DOT (and Motor Carrier Enforcement) has told me, by law (if even appears that you make ANY money with it) and you have a 3-axle trailer you have to have a CDL. This applies to "landscapers and even weekend warriors race car guys who make even a dollar in winnings---it's then considered 'commercial'" (this was part of conversation I had last Thanksgiving with a nice Alabama DOT officer who issued me tickets for a broken taillite, no medical card, no DOT numbers, no log book, no truck inspection, and no trailer inspection----all with me driving my 2500 Dodge Ram pulling my two-axle equipment trailer with my NH TC33D, an auger for the bobcat, and a walkbehind concrete saw. He was going to detain me for at least 8 hours on the side of the road until I told him I was cleaning up the hurricane---then he said he would let me proceed under the "FEMA Exemption" law---but I had 14 days to comply/fix everything). I'm getting to the point where I hate driving anymore!
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
dump trailers
Since all trailers are not created equally, or even marketed and sold equally, my suggestion is visit a few local dealers and size up what they have---unless you have unlimited time and resources travelling the nation for a trailer.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Page [ 1 ] | Thread 127411 Filter by Poster:
1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
|
()
Picture of the Day
bumpassgator
Unanswered Questions
Active Subjects
Hot Topics
Featured Suppliers
|
Gas Generator Weather Protecti
04-09-2006, 17:46 
Digg It 
Del.icio.us