Haul tractor on dump trailer?

[MWB1564]

I have a Kioti CK30HST that I am probably going to need to haul very rarely but it could happen. What I really need is a dump trailer for hauling dirt, gravel, and other material. I'd like to only buy one trailer so my question is...If and when I need to, is it practical to haul a medium size tractor in/on a dump trailer provided it doesn't exceed the weight limit of the trailer and towing package? I have not had the chance to look at a dump trailer up close and I guess my concerns are with the strength and support of the decking and the stability of the dump box with equipment that rises well above the rails. I do have a backhoe but I'm assuming that will not be able to go along for the ride. Ideally I would be able to get the tractor w/loader only onto a 14 foot double axle dump trailer. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[dieselfuelonly]

Sure, there are plenty of people that haul their tractor in a dump trailer. Many will even come with ramps from that factory these days for loading equipment with.

As long as you don't exceed the weight ratings like you said, there should be no trouble. I'm not sure how equipment gets secured in a dump trailer - I'm guessing you can get d-rings installed in the bed.

The only thing you would probably have to be a little more careful with would be the center of gravity. It would be sitting a bit higher up than a trailer with the bed that sits between the wheels. But then again I don't really see much of a difference between the height of that and a regular deck-over trailer.

Are you considering a gooseneck or a bumper pull hitch?

Good luck with your decision. When I can afford it I'd love to have a dump trailer to do the same thing you want to with my Bobcat and little Yanmar.

 

[GATC35]

I have a small landscaping business I run as a sideline to my real job. I bought a PJ 7 x 14 14,000 lb gooseneck dump trailer last year for the very reasons you listed. I haul my NH TC-45D in it quite a bit. Just lay the front end loader up on top of the gooseneck. It will fit with the backhoe on, NH 757-C, if you swing the back hoe all the way to one side. Tow vehicle is a 1999 F-250 long bed 4x4 with the 7.3L Powerstroke engine. Works like a dream!

I just bought a Bobcat last week have not tried it in the dump trailer yet.

I need to get some pictures of tractor in dump trailer, this subject comes uo quite often.

If you have more questions just let me know.

 

[Dmace]

I feel that is the optimum setup, a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup truck with a 12-16ft dump trailer rated at 10-14k GVWR. A 1-ton dump truck can typically only haul about 4-5,000lbs in the dump and it is high and tough to load. That same truck though can typically tow around 12-17,000lbs so you can safely haul 4-6 tons more gravel, equipment, wood, etc... with the same truck.

I am currently looking to sell my 1-ton dump truck to get a new dump trailer and those PJ trailers look very strong and well built. For me, a 16ft 10-12k trailer would be perfect. Then I will upgrade my 1/2 ton truck to a 3/4 or 1 ton and it would still make a good daily driver, a 1-ton dump truck is not a good daily driver.

 

[Diamondpilot]

With the purchase of any trailer make sure you know the empty weight and subtract that from the GVWR, this gives you the payload. Most 16' dump trailers weigh about 4,000-5,000# so do the math.

On a side note. A heavier trailer does not equal better. Its like a bridge and must be constructed smartly.

Chris

 

[MWB1564]

Thanks for the great info, guys. Its much better to know that people do it all the time than just that "it can be done". I take it that all dump trailers are not created equal so now I start the job of finding a quality dump trailer. For various reasons I'm going to stick with a standard hitch instead of a gooseneck. Is there anything in particular to look for, or look out for, when judging a trailer as far as quality? Thanks

 

[Beavis]

Here is a photo of my truck, trailer, and tractor. The trailer is a 14' PJ which should run you about $6,000. For the 2009 model year, PJ starting making the same (bumper pull) dump trailer in a 16' length. The extra 2ft. is kinda pricey, but would definitely be nice. With the dump trailer and medium compact tractor, you don't have a lot of length for shifting tongue weight forward or rearward. My 3320 with loader fits perfect as long as I don't have anything attached to the 3pt. In the picture you see, If I have the box blade hooked to the tractor, the loader bucket will be resting on the front of the trailer, not down inside. Not a problem if you aren't going to be towing it often or far. The PJ was the "best buy" for me, however my first choice would have been a Hillsboro brand dump trailer. The PJ sits higher than the Hillsbor, H+H, etc.

Good luck shopping.

 

[LBrown59]

I feel that is the optimum setup, a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup truck with a 12-16ft dump trailer rated at 10-14k GVWR.
1* A 1-ton dump truck can typically only haul about 4-5,000lbs in the dump and
2*it is high and tough to load.
That same truck though can typically tow around 12-17,000lbs so you can safely haul 4-6 tons more gravel, equipment, wood, etc... with the same truck.
==I am currently looking to sell my 1-ton dump truck to get
3*Then I will upgrade my 1/2 ton truck to a 3/4 or 1 ton and
4* it would still make a good daily driver,
5* a 1-ton dump truck is not a good daily driver.

1*but couldn't you also haul a few ton on the trailer?
2*Wouldn't a flat bed help on that so you don't have to load /unload over the side ?
==Why sell the 1 ton and get another 1 ton?
3*Why swap the 1/2 ton for a 1 ton when you all ready have a 1 ton?
Wouldn't it be simpler and less expensive to just sell the 1/2 ton and tow the trailer with the one ton you have now ?
4*How would getting another 1 ton make it a better daily driver than the one ton you now have?
5* If that's true how can swapping the 1/2 ton for a 1 ton give you a better daily drive then than the 1 ton you currently own?
I'm a bit confused by your statements on this.

 

[wallace]

Here is one of my customers...

 

[Iowachild]

Here is one of my customers...
View attachment 127117

Is there a bucket attached to that loader? Sure looks like it would severely limit turning if there is one attached.

 

[MWB1564]

Here is one of my customers...
View attachment 127117

Well Wallace, that picture is worth a thousand words right there. That even looks like my tractor except for a little different BH. Can you tell me what length and width trailer that is? It doesn't look very big. Maybe I can get by with a smaller rig than I thought. I see the bucket is hanging over the front so obviously there is no problem doing that. I appreciate the help.

 

[MWB1564]

Is there a bucket attached to that loader? Sure looks like it would severely limit turning if there is one attached.

Interesting question. I didn't think about that. I'll bet there is no bucket attached. I think it would be visible by the right front corner of the trailer.

 

[Builder]

Belmont makes a really nice trailer. I'd love to get one.

One thing a (4x4) dump truck will do better than a trailer is manuever better, and go through serious mud better (if it's a 4x4). I see guys trying to back dumptrailers through the mud and even with 4x4, the truck doesn't want to do it if it's a heavy trailer.

Saw a guy a few years back burn up reverse in a tranny in an F-350 while trying to back a dump trailer though a long stretch of mud to a dirt pile.

Trailer/truck combinations are also more space consuming to store than dumptrucks.

All that said, for most of you guys, a dumptrailer is without question the best choice especially if you already own a pickup.

 

[Dmace]

1*but couldn't you also haul a few ton on the trailer?

Once you put a few ton in the back of a 1-ton dump truck you are already at your maximum GVWR and cannot legally tow a loaded trailer as well.

2*Wouldn't a flat bed help on that so you don't have to load /unload over the side ?

Flat beds are useless when it comes to hauling loose loads such as gravel and loam so it may be easier to load but impossible to haul.

==Why sell the 1 ton and get another 1 ton?

My 1-ton is a 94 F-350 Dump truck, I want a 1-ton pickup truck without a dump body.

3*Why swap the 1/2 ton for a 1 ton when you all ready have a 1 ton?
Wouldn't it be simpler and less expensive to just sell the 1/2 ton and tow the trailer with the one ton you have now ?

See above, the 1-ton is old and not a good daily driver.

4*How would getting another 1 ton make it a better daily driver than the one ton you now have?

Once again, the new 1-ton would NOT be a dump truck. Daily driving a dump truck is not very fun.

5* If that's true how can swapping the 1/2 ton for a 1 ton give you a better daily drive then than the 1 ton you currently own?

See above. I feel like I am answering the same question 4 times...

It's nice to be able to just unhook a trailer and have a good light easy driving truck that gets 20+mpg and can easily sit 5 or 6 people as opposed to a heavy dump truck getting 16-17mpg on a good day and only seating 3 people unless you get a much heavier much more expensive 4-door dump truck.

 

[wallace]

It's a 6'8"x12' 10k
There is a bucket on it and the reason you don't see it is because it is only 60" wide

 

[wushaw]

With the purchase of any trailer make sure you know the empty weight and subtract that from the GVWR, this gives you the payload. Most 16' dump trailers weigh about 4,000-5,000# so do the math.

On a side note. A heavier trailer does not equal better. Its like a bridge and must be constructed smartly.

Chris

My 16' GN dump weighs a hair over 9k, it's a duall tandem though.

 

[LBrown59]

1*Once you put a few ton in the back of a 1-ton dump truck you are already at your maximum GVWR and cannot legally tow a loaded trailer as well.
2*Flat beds are useless when it comes to hauling loose loads such as gravel and loam so it may be easier to load but impossible to haul.
3*My 1-ton is a 94 F-350 Dump truck, I want a 1-ton pickup truck without a dump body.
4*Once again, the new 1-ton would NOT be a dump truck.
5*Daily driving a dump truck is not very fun.
See above.
6*I feel like I am answering the same question 4 times...
7*It's nice to be able to just unhook a trailer and have a good light easy driving truck as opposed to a heavy dump truck

`````````````````
1*I thought Towing Capacity and Pay Load were 2 difference things and could be used independently .
I didn't realize it was an either or situation.
2*Why not side boards in that case.
3*I'd like a 1 ton pick up but I don't want nothing to do with having to shovel gravel dirt etc off it .
The problem with a pick up style bed is it's to high to load from the sides with my BX23
and like you I don't want a dump truck bed.
A bed that dumped but didn't have sides would be ideal in my situation.
4*That's why I first considered A Dump bed Pick up because I really do not need a full fledged dump truck.
But then the high sides presented a loading problem for my BX23 hence the decision to go with a flat bed.
5* I agree but I have Toyota Nissan and Doge D50 pick ups for daily drivers;so would not be daily driving a 1 ton.
6*That's casuse I can be dense when I wanna be.
Remember I said it not you!
7*I couldn't agree with you more on this point.

 

[JB4310]

Once you put a few ton in the back of a 1-ton dump truck you are already at your maximum GVWR and cannot legally tow a loaded trailer as well.
Flat beds are useless when it comes to hauling loose loads such as gravel and loam so it may be easier to load but impossible to haul.
My 1-ton is a 94 F-350 Dump truck, I want a 1-ton pickup truck without a dump body.
See above, the 1-ton is old and not a good daily driver.
Once again, the new 1-ton would NOT be a dump truck. Daily driving a dump truck is not very fun.
See above. I feel like I am answering the same question 4 times...

It's nice to be able to just unhook a trailer and have a good light easy driving truck that gets 20+mpg and can easily sit 5 or 6 people as opposed to a heavy dump truck getting 16-17mpg on a good day and only seating 3 people unless you get a much heavier much more expensive 4-door dump truck.

I agree with all your reasoning for swapping the dump truck for dump trailer, though I don't know where you found a dump truck getting 17 MPG

When I first got my 6x10 5 ton dump trailer I went to the quarry to see if I could get a tag from them that lets me buy from there, they don't allow pick ups or home made trailers. Was worried they might not allow this type of trailer, the guy at the scale house said they prefer this type of transport over a one ton landscapers truck with an over sized dump body, where the owner thinks he can fill it to the gunnel's with process road base.

I drive right in there now like I own the place, show the loader operator 4 fingers and drive out with 4 tons of product, which is not that big a pile in a 6x10 bed. Of course the trailer weighs more than a ton but with the substantial amount of weight on the tongue, I'm legal.

I'd get a 6 ton now as it's easy to overload, and wouldn't get anything less than a 12 footer, especially for OP's intent to hall tractor.

This pic is of 4.5 tons of wet process, I was probablly over a little on this load. doesn't look like much though.

JB.

 

[JB4310]

Once you put a few ton in the back of a 1-ton dump truck you are already at your maximum GVWR and cannot legally tow a loaded trailer as well.
Flat beds are useless when it comes to hauling loose loads such as gravel and loam so it may be easier to load but impossible to haul.
My 1-ton is a 94 F-350 Dump truck, I want a 1-ton pickup truck without a dump body.
See above, the 1-ton is old and not a good daily driver.
Once again, the new 1-ton would NOT be a dump truck. Daily driving a dump truck is not very fun.
See above. I feel like I am answering the same question 4 times...

It's nice to be able to just unhook a trailer and have a good light easy driving truck that gets 20+mpg and can easily sit 5 or 6 people as opposed to a heavy dump truck getting 16-17mpg on a good day and only seating 3 people unless you get a much heavier much more expensive 4-door dump truck.

I agree with all your reasoning for swapping the dump truck for dump trailer, though I don't know where you found a dump truck getting 17 MPG

When I first got my 6x10 5 ton dump trailer I went to the quarry to see if I could get a tag from them that lets me buy from there, they don't allow pick ups or home made trailers. Was worried they might not allow this type of trailer, the guy at the scale house said they prefer this type of transport over a one ton landscapers truck with an over sized dump body, where the owner thinks he can fill it to the gunnel's with process road base.

I drive right in there now like I own the place, show the driver 4 fingers and drive out with 4 tons of product, which is not that big a pile in a 6x10 bed. Of course the trailer weighs more than a ton but with the substantial amount of weight on the tongue, I'm legal.

I'd get a 6 ton now as it's easy to overload, and wouldn't get anything less than a 12 footer, especially for OP's intent to hall tractor.

This pic is of 4.5 tons of wet process, I was probablly over a little on this load. doesn't look like much though.

JB.

 

[Dmace]

I agree with all your reasoning for swapping the dump truck for dump trailer, though I don't know where you found a dump truck getting 17 MPG

Well even my old 94 F-350 non-turbo IDI diesel dump truck gets 14-15mpg on the highway and I assumed the newer trucks would get at least 1-2mpg more. You know what they say about assuming though...