Want to buy a dump trailer, kinda torn here.

[Jackstack76]

Wanting to buy a dump trailer, I’ve wanted one for a while as it would be handy. My buddies and I could have used one many times for various things. I’m also humoring some sort of side hustle if I get one. I have a newer 3/4 ton Silverado gas truck with the 6.0 and 4:10’s out back. If I buy one I’m just going to go for one in the 14k trim.

I see a lot of guys pulling these things and nine times out of ten they’re a bumper pull. Toss a skid steer in one and unless you’ve got a one ton Dually I see a lot of these trucks with the front end reaching for the moon. Obviously they cold have loaded it a little tongue heavy ect.

I don’t have a skid steer but that’s another purchase down the road. That said I do have a 20 foot bumper pull electric tilt speedloader in 10k trim so that’s probably more ideal for hauling/loading/unloading a skid steer.

What I’m torn on is if I should go 12 or 14 foot. Should I go for the gooseneck? I’ve never pulled a gooseneck before, I get the obvious pros and cons to one. With my truck now it’s rated for 14k which I think is a stretch for it being a gas truck. Just seems if you loaded a 14k dump trailer to the max with a bumper pull that might get sketchy especially with such a short trailer.

Price wise I’m another 675$ to go gooseneck, drop in the bucket compared to the price of the trailer already. If a guy could have both bumper pull and a gooseneck that would be great but that’s not a option for now. I should also add I don’t have a gooseneck hitch in my truck so I’ll be out another 600$ or so for that.

Just need some guidance thanks in advance!

 

[4570Man]

I have a bumper pull because I don’t have any vehicles with a GN but it’s riding close to 1k on the hitch empty. Add any load and you’ll really be feeling the sag with a 2500. My trailer is 14’ foot and it’s about the minimum length for putting a skid steer in. I also have a 20’ equipment trailer and it’s leaps and bounds better for putting equipment on.

 

[fried1765]

Wanting to buy a dump trailer, I’ve wanted one for a while as it would be handy. My buddies and I could have used one many times for various things. I’m also humoring some sort of side hustle if I get one. I have a newer 3/4 ton Silverado gas truck with the 6.0 and 4:10’s out back. If I buy one I’m just going to go for one in the 14k trim.

I see a lot of guys pulling these things and nine times out of ten they’re a bumper pull. Toss a skid steer in one and unless you’ve got a one ton Dually I see a lot of these trucks with the front end reaching for the moon. Obviously they cold have loaded it a little tongue heavy ect.

I don’t have a skid steer but that’s another purchase down the road. That said I do have a 20 foot bumper pull electric tilt speedloader in 10k trim so that’s probably more ideal for hauling/loading/unloading a skid steer.

What I’m torn on is if I should go 12 or 14 foot. Should I go for the gooseneck? I’ve never pulled a gooseneck before, I get the obvious pros and cons to one. With my truck now it’s rated for 14k which I think is a stretch for it being a gas truck. Just seems if you loaded a 14k dump trailer to the max with a bumper pull that might get sketchy especially with such a short trailer.

Price wise I’m another 675$ to go gooseneck, drop in the bucket compared to the price of the trailer already. If a guy could have both bumper pull and a gooseneck that would be great but that’s not a option for now. I should also add I don’t have a gooseneck hitch in my truck so I’ll be out another 600$ or so for that.

Just need some guidance thanks in advance!

I currently have a 20' bumper pull equipment trailer (with Equal-i-zer hitch), because my tow vehicle is now a K2500 Suburban.
When I had an F250 P/U I had a gooseneck.
Gooseneck all the way for me!
There is no comparison!

 

[4570Man]

I currently have a 20' bumper pull, because my tow vehicle is a K2500 Suburban.
When I had an F250 P/U I had a gooseneck.
Gooseneck all the way for me!
There is no comparison!

In my experience the 2500 suburbans and excursions are more like a 5/8 ton and not equal to a 250 truck probably further skewing your test but I agree a GN definitely handles better than BPs.

 

[Jackstack76]

I have a bumper pull because I don’t have any vehicles with a GN but it’s riding close to 1k on the hitch empty. Add any load and you’ll really be feeling the sag with a 2500. My trailer is 14’ foot and it’s about the minimum length for putting a skid steer in. I also have a 20’ equipment trailer and it’s leaps and bounds better for putting equipment on.

Seems the axles are pretty far back on these things when you go 14 foot, the 16 foot ones look worse. They look more proportioned with a 12 foot one, I’m wondering if that would help the tongue weight with the shorter trailer? Or is my thought process off here?

 

[4570Man]

Seems the axles are pretty far back on these things when you go 14 foot, the 16 foot ones look worse. They look more proportioned with a 12 foot one, I’m wondering if that would help the tongue weight with the shorter trailer? Or is my thought process off here?

I’m thinking the logic is you need to load the trailers back heavy so they’ll dump and the rearward placed axels balance better like that.

 

[Jackstack76]

I’m thinking the logic is you need to load the trailers back heavy so they’ll dump and the rearward placed axels balance better like that.

I’m thinking the logic is you need to load the trailers back heavy so they’ll dump and the rearward placed axels balance better like that.

Fair enough, makes me think a gooseneck might be the better option for the tongue weight aspect.

 

[Jackstack76]

I currently have a 20' bumper pull equipment trailer (with Equal-i-zer hitch), because my tow vehicle is a K2500 Suburban.
When I had an F250 P/U I had a gooseneck.
Gooseneck all the way for me!
There is no comparison!

Does a gooseneck jerk as bad as a bumper pull?

 

[3Ts]

Does a gooseneck jerk as bad as a bumper pull?

No, the gooseneck is far smoother riding than a bumper pull.
I have a 7k 16' utility trailer and a 14k 16' dump trailer.
I was concerned about the axle placement and putting to much weight on the truck since the dump axles are farther back than on the utility trailer but it works out well. The GN trailer tracks well and is smooth riding, much better than a bumper pull.

 

[bdog]

I have owned dozen of trailers over the years. Bumper pull trailers are a lot easier to hook and unhook but that is about the only advantage they have over a gooseneck. I have a 7x14 14k Lamar gooseneck dump trailer and really like it. I put my skid steer in it once (way overloaded) for a five mile trip and it worked fine. If you are going with a 14k trailer I would strongly recommend a gooseneck. Heavy bumper pull loads behind light trucks are scary.

As to length I really like the 14’ but definitely wouldn’t get longer. a few years back I had a 16’ dump and it was far to easy to overload it to the point it wouldn’t lift. The 12’s seem too small to fit various things in and the 14’s seem just about perfect. I haven’t used the dump feature or hauled any dirt/gravel with mine in about six months but I have used it a ton hauling other things. Last week I used it to pick up a grain drill 300 miles away, the week before that I hauled two tons of deer corn to the ranch, I haul my UTV in it a lot, I have even stuffed a army truck in the bed once.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I have owned dozen of trailers over the years. Bumper pull trailers are a lot easier to hook and unhook but that is about the only advantage they have over a gooseneck. I have a 7x14 14k Lamar gooseneck dump trailer and really like it. I put my skid steer in it once (way overloaded) for a five mile trip and it worked fine. If you are going with a 14k trailer I would strongly recommend a gooseneck. Heavy bumper pull loads behind light trucks are scary.

As to length I really like the 14’ but definitely wouldn’t get longer. a few years back I had a 16’ dump and it was far to easy to overload it to the point it wouldn’t lift. The 12’s seem too small to fit various things in and the 14’s seem just about perfect. I haven’t used the dump feature or hauled any dirt/gravel with mine in about six months but I have used it a ton hauling other things. Last week I used it to pick up a grain drill 300 miles away, the week before that I hauled two tons of deer corn to the ranch, I haul my UTV in it a lot, I have even stuffed a army truck in the bed once.

How would a skid steer overload a 14K GN dump? Assume you have a 4500 lb trailer with a 14K gross and 20 percent tongue weight transferred to the truck. You've got atoms 13,000 worth of legal payload in the trailer. I didn't know that there were 13K lb skid steers. Our New Holland C232 is the largest frame size they make and it's 10,600. It's been riding in a 14K Appalachian bumper pull dump every day for 8 years doing tree service. The trailer doesn't care at all, the dump trucks know the weight is there from engine per view, but otherwise they don't care.

 

[bdog]

My skid steer weighs 13,190 lbs per the manufacturer specs. My trailer weighs 4,670 lbs per the specs. That is 17,860 lbs. I know there is no way I was putting 3,860 lbs on the pin and if I was I would have been overloading my F-250.

 

[Rock Crawler]

My skid steer weighs 13,190 lbs per the manufacturer specs. My trailer weighs 4,670 lbs per the specs. That is 17,860 lbs. I know there is no way I was putting 3,860 lbs on the pin and if I was I would have been overloading my F-250.

You should have had around 3500 lbs on the pin. You would have been barely overloaded. I've done far far worse.....

 

[Hay Dude]

I think a 3/4 ton is barely enough truck for a dump trailer like you are considering. If I were in your spot, I’d be looking at a pair of Firestone ride rite air bags.
I had a set of them on my 2008 F-250 and they made the towing the trailer a much, much better ride. They are a cheap investment for what you get back if you are going to load that trailer up heavy.

 

[Jackstack76]

I have owned dozen of trailers over the years. Bumper pull trailers are a lot easier to hook and unhook but that is about the only advantage they have over a gooseneck. I have a 7x14 14k Lamar gooseneck dump trailer and really like it. I put my skid steer in it once (way overloaded) for a five mile trip and it worked fine. If you are going with a 14k trailer I would strongly recommend a gooseneck. Heavy bumper pull loads behind light trucks are scary.

As to length I really like the 14’ but definitely wouldn’t get longer. a few years back I had a 16’ dump and it was far to easy to overload it to the point it wouldn’t lift. The 12’s seem too small to fit various things in and the 14’s seem just about perfect. I haven’t used the dump feature or hauled any dirt/gravel with mine in about six months but I have used it a ton hauling other things. Last week I used it to pick up a grain drill 300 miles away, the week before that I hauled two tons of deer corn to the ranch, I haul my UTV in it a lot, I have even stuffed a army truck in the bed once.

Thanks for the input!

The 16 foot ones seem awfully big and I can see how people can easily overload them. I think I’m leaning towards the gooseneck in 14 foot. The trailer weighs just under 4K so that would give a hair over 10k of payload. More than enough for my needs and a smaller skid steer.

 

[Jackstack76]

I think a 3/4 ton is barely enough truck for a dump trailer like you are considering. If I were in your spot, I’d be looking at a pair of Firestone ride rite air bags.
I had a set of them on my 2008 F-250 and they made the towing the trailer a much, much better ride. They are a cheap investment for what you get back if you are going to load that trailer up heavy.

View attachment 695365
View attachment 695366
View attachment 695367

I’ll see how it does, I’ve been looking for a 1 ton but it’s not a great time for truck shopping right now. What I’ve pulled with it now it’s done better than I anticipated. I’d like a diesel but I don’t want the diesel bill if stuff goes south.

 

[Hay Dude]

Measure your skid steer with the longest conceivable attachment you will install on it. If it’s a rotary cutter, it will be pretty long.
Me? I’d get the 16 foot. I don’t think you will overload because you already have demonstrated you are aware of the overloading situation.Either one is nice, but once you buy a trailer and realize you outgrew it, you’ll be back looking for a bigger one at a bigger price. 16’ better for debris cleanup, mulch and longer lumber, too

 

[Rock Crawler]

It's super easy to not realize that your overloaded to the point that your lift will not work. This was about 2/3 full and we had to unload a lot by hand to get it to lift. This was the second load with fully charged dual battery on a 14K gross. Typically you can overload by a ton or two and still lift.... I'm guessing I must have had 18,000+ with trailer and load. It happens easier than you think. I cut loading this short to make sure it would dump. I was wrong. About half full arms to be more safe when your dealing with heavy material. If it's mulch you can fill it full.... dirt, concrete and asphalt will humble you real quick.

 

[Rock Crawler]

The load.

 

[Jackstack76]

It's super easy to not realize that your overloaded to the point that your lift will not work. This was about 2/3 full and we had to unload a lot by hand to get it to lift. This was the second load with fully charged dual battery on a 14K gross. Typically you can overload by a ton or two and still lift.... I'm guessing I must have had 18,000+ with trailer and load. It happens easier than you think. I cut loading this short to make sure it would dump. I was wrong. About half full arms to be more safe when your dealing with heavy material. If it's mulch you can fill it full.... dirt, concrete and asphalt will humble you real quick.

Im wondering now if I should go for the 16k, not sure the extra 1300$ is worth another 2000 pounds of payload.