Looking To Buy Small Dump

[jgbanshee]

I am looking to buy a small 1 ton dump. I have been seen a few newer Chevy/GMC 3500HD with the 6.0L gas motors. What, if any, downfalls are there with the 6.0L gas in this size truck? I plan on pulling a 12K trailer with this dump from time to time.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am looking to buy a small 1 ton dump. I have been seen a few newer Chevy/GMC 3500HD with the 6.0L gas motors. What, if any, downfalls are there with the 6.0L gas in this size truck? I plan on pulling a 12K trailer with this dump from time to time.

The main down fall is the payload. You will be lucky to get one yard of gravel on it and still be under the GVWR. Do your homework, find out the GVWR, and then weigh any trucks you are looking at and do the math.

Other issue is tow rating with the 6L motor. Its not a power house by any means but will get the job done.

If it were me I would look at a real dump truck. Something like a 600-800 series. On these you can haul 6 to 8 yards of material or about 7 tons compared to the 1 to 2 tons on a 3500 series. They are cheaper also to buy. I see them all the time in my area. Late 70's start at about $1200 and late 90's are $7500. They can tow 3 times more than a 3500 legally also.

If you do not want to get into this class of truck get a Dually pickup and a 14,000# dump trailer. You can legally haul 5 tons in them or 5 yards and most that size also have ramps to load a tractor or Bobcat in. My uncle has one and its super handy and cost $4200 new.

Chris

 

[schoolsout]

With gas, you will be limited to electric dump

 

[mj007]

With gas, you will be limited to electric dump

Or a PTO pump off a manual tranny

 

[SLHawkins]

Are you getting a 'dump body' or a 'landscape/materials' body? Eventhough your actual weight is still limited, you cubic (volume) capacity is much higher with a 'landscape/materials' body. Whereas, you will only get 1 yd or gravel, sand, or topsil, you can get maybe 8 -12 yds of mulch and lighter materials. However, I agree with diamond and recommend consideration of a 14k dump. I pulled at 6x14 7ton texas bragg dump behind my f350 dualie. I routinely hauled 5-6 yards of topsoil and gravel without issue. When not hauling material, I could haul my tractor in the trailer (with FLE and rear implements) to and from the jobsite. The only drawback is I could not haul material and equipment at the same time. Which meant, sometimes I was making two trips. I have a few videos on youtube if you want to see the setup.

Hawk

 

[BoFuller]

I was looking at a 350 originally, but I need to haul enough gravel for a 1/4 mile drive. Then I changed my search to F800, but considering I have to drive 70 miles to the gravel yard one way, even that wasn't economical for me. A few days ago I got a F8000. Yes I will have to get my class A CDL, but so what. It's something I wanted to do anyway.

First figure out how much you need to haul and how far. then decide what to get.

 

[SLHawkins]

I was looking at a 350 originally, but I need to haul enough gravel for a 1/4 mile drive. Then I changed my search to F800, but considering I have to drive 70 miles to the gravel yard one way, even that wasn't economical for me. A few days ago I got a F8000. Yes I will have to get my class A CDL, but so what. It's something I wanted to do anyway.

First figure out how much you need to haul and how far. then decide what to get.

Bo,
That's an option too. Though the dump trailer handled the loads and the tractor, it was still a bit cumbersome not being able to haul my equipment and material at the same time. I looked for a decent, cheap F350/450 dump as well. I eventually came across a old diamond reo dump truck that was in decent enough shape and runs great. Of course, I had upgraded to a much larger tractor as well, otherwise I would not been able to load the dumptruck with my other tractor. Which brings up another consideration. The sides on the truck are much higher than those of the trailer. Through they work great with dump trailers, many compact tractors are not able to load trucks. And, anything over 6' wide will not fit inside the dump trailer, unless it is the over-the-wheel type.
Hawk

 

[SLHawkins]

Or a PTO pump off a manual tranny

You can run a PTO off of an auto trans as well. I have an old F700 with a gas motor, automatic trans, and mechanical PTO that runs a knuckleboom and dump bed.

 

[schoolsout]

Newer gas trucks will not have PTO provision on transmission, to my knowledge. OP stated he has been looking at some newer GM products.

 

[crashz]

... Or the Holy Grail: Central Hydraulics!

 

[CompactTractorFan]

... Or the Holy Grail: Central Hydraulics!

Like on a govt. plow truck?

 

[schmism]

I can squeeze 4500lbs payload in my 85 C30 dump.

PTO pump and it dumps that 4500 lbs without breaking a sweat.

its a 3spd with granny low... so it doesnt get up and move quick but with the 350 (i dont have the big block) I still have plenty of power to get up any hill in 2nd gear (aka 40 mph)

but then again i bought it and use it for short haul around the property in the country. It has never been on the interstate.
so for the purpose i bought it for, it was worked great.

would i choose to use it everyday (or every few days) for some sort of landscape service.... no...

in service

 

[scoutcub]

You haven't said how you're going to use it? That'll make all the difference for advise/best rig for you're situation.
I bought a 94 F350 dump last year with the 460/auto to move a bankful of material to build a garage. Got my money's worth out of it, and sold it, and also learned a bit about dumps. It had an electric dump, which would ~just~ dump a FULL load of gravel or heavy clay/dirt....but would absolutely knock the (brand new) battery down to dead. I would fill it up to the point of bottoming shocks over small bumps. And climbing hills with a load was a challenge. You won't be able to take a full load and tow any kind of load at the same time.
Bottom line for me, if you want to move a decent amount of material, go diesel and at least a f550 sized vehicle with a 9-10 ft bed. The 1 tons are just too limited, in my opinion, unless you have unlimited time to make numerous trips.

I will get another one in the future, and would look for a 550 with 10' bed, and 4wd. If I didn't need the 4wd I would seriously consider the advice of others and look at a ford/international 5 ton, keep it under 26K so no CDL needed, and they are much heavier duty and can take much more payload.
Good luck!

 

[schoolsout]

another suggestion is to look at weights of different commodities
a cu. yd of dirt weighs more than that 1 ton can really handle.

 

[schmism]

another suggestion is to look at weights of different commodities
a cu. yd of dirt weighs more than that 1 ton can really handle.

i suppose that depends on the weight of the dirt.

but generally speaking a yard of dirt will be between 2400-3500lbs.

so based on what my C30 can haul, 2 yards of nice loamy top soil or a yard of wet dense clay. (both of which i have done)

 

[crashz]

Like on a govt. plow truck?

Yep - Hydraulic power is supplied by an engine driven pump. Gives instant power, can be used anytime while driving and typical provides more flow to run spreaders and such. Probably overkill for the dump bed only, but if running a plow and spreader, its nice.

Nice looking truck Steve!

 

[schoolsout]

i suppose that depends on the weight of the dirt.

but generally speaking a yard of dirt will be between 2400-3500lbs.

so based on what my C30 can haul, 2 yards of nice loamy top soil or a yard of wet dense clay. (both of which i have done)

Yes

A "1 ton" truck would be overloaded with that.

I sell commercial trucks for a living and trucks in that class are overloaded all the time, but just making sure the OP realizes actual weights of things. Most that just get into the "biz" that I deal with are surprised when I spec them a truck they really need....and then they go down to the Ford dealer (car dealer) and get an under spec'd truck.

 

[fowllife]

To answer your question, the 6.0L should pull that fine. We have a 1 1/2 ton with the 6.0 and a 5 sp were I work and it pulls that much almost everyday.

It depend on what you are looking to do if the dump capacity will be what you want. It is very rare in my area for someone the check your weight on a small, especially privately owned dump. So rated capacity and what is actually hauled is totally different. I regularly see 1 ton dumps pull out of the quarry with 4-5 tons on them.

If your looking for a tow rig, with the occational dump use I say go for it. I haven't heard much bad about them, and my employeer has 20 plus of them on the road right now.....

 

[schoolsout]

To add on the 6.0L aspect of things, barring ratio differences as I do not know specs of Chevy/GM chassis off hand, the 6.0 is used in Isuzu NPR HD gas truck with a GVWR of 14,500. I want to say GCWR is 18k, but I don't have the info handy.

 

[schmism]

A "1 ton" truck would be overloaded with that.

I sell commercial trucks for a living and trucks in that class are overloaded all the time, but just making sure the OP realizes actual weights of things.

I cant say for others but my C30 has a factory GVWR of 10K. with 2 ton in the back it scales right at 11K. I have scale tickets to prove.

so while technically overloaded per what the 1985 paperwork says, manufactures have continued to increase ratings on paper far faster than actual mechanical parts on trucks, which is especially true for late model versions.