Griffin Dump Trailer Issues Never Again

[TWarrenNE]

I have a Griffin 6x12 Dump trailer I purchased new in June 2024.
Updated pics to show trailer rating

The battery lasted about 3 months
The tires lasted about 4 before they were coming apart.
I just broke a spring last week, not covered by warranty.
I took the suspension apart and found the bushings had all failed, the equalizers are worn out of round, the links are also worn out.

Are these made as though most people would not actually use them much?

 

[ultrarunner]

Wow… good to know…

 

[RandyT]

And how much weight were you hauling with that trailer.

 

[WM75Guy]

Welcome to TBN. It is easy to overload a dump trailer causing premature failure of parts. I have learned to ask the weight per yard before buying bulk material for my Big Tex 14TD dump trailer. I traded in a 14GX dump trailer with a scissor lift for the 14TD with the 12-ton hydraulic ram. It had the same weight capacity of 11,250# of material and a 7.2 yard capacity. Even though 6 yards of topsoil easily fit in it, the 14GX wouldn't lift it. Turns out topsoil weighs 2,000# per yard dry and up to 2,800# wet. It would be overloaded even if dry and grossly overloaded if the slightest bit wet. The 14TD will lift 6 yards but I blew out 2 E-rated 10-ply tires. It now has G-rated 14-ply tires and I only get 6 yards of mulch, 5 yards of topsoil, and 3-4 yards of rock.

 

[TWarrenNE]

Welcome to TBN. It is easy to overload a dump trailer causing premature failure of parts. I have learned to ask the weight per yard before buying bulk material for my Big Tex 14TD dump trailer. I traded in a 14GX dump trailer with a scissor lift for the 14TD with the 12-ton hydraulic ram. It had the same weight capacity of 11,250# of material and a 7.2 yard capacity. Even though 6 yards of topsoil easily fit in it, the 14GX wouldn't lift it. Turns out topsoil weighs 2,000# per yard dry and up to 2,800# wet. It would be overloaded even if dry and grossly overloaded if the slightest bit wet. The 14TD will lift 6 yards but I blew out 2 E-rated 10-ply tires. It now has G-rated 14-ply tires and I only get 6 yards of mulch, 5 yards of topsoil, and 3-4 yards of rock.

It is rated to haul 8K. Most of what I have been hauling is gravel I have bought at the quarry. They weigh in and out, so I've only been over 8k a couple times by a few hundred pounds.

The tires that came on it had a max rating only a couple hundred pounds more than the loaded weight of the trailer.

As I pull it apart, I see all plastic bushings and no greasable bushings.

I will be upgrading to brass and greasable.

I have no complaints on the actual trailer and hydraulics. My issues are the light duty tires and suspension components.

 

[WM75Guy]

I think most trailer manufacturers spec the cheapest components that will carry the rated load, nothing more. I don't know what you were sold, but you might want to recheck the rated load capacity. The capacity I see on their website for the GT612 6'X12' dump is 6,000# load capacity. I don't see an option to upgrade load capacity, just a jack increase from 7,000# to 10,000#. That might account for your excessive wear. Also check the load rating for the tires. It doesn't list a rating on the website, just 15" radial tires, but they may have been Load Range D 8-ply tires. That would barely cover the GVWR of 9,990# with 6,000# of payload weight. If that is so, I would up that to a Load Range E 10-ply if it were my trailer.

 

[workinonit]

Those are cheap suspension parts. Put some good equalizers and shackles on it. I have MoRyde on my 5th wheel. Never heard of a Griffin trailer around here. I guess that's why.

 

[deezler]

I think most trailer manufacturers spec the cheapest components that will carry the rated load, nothing more. I don't know what you were sold, but you might want to recheck the rated load capacity. The capacity I see on their website for the GT612 6'X12' dump is 6,000# load capacity.

HOLY S%^&, thats some criminal trailer design right there. A 6x12 dump trailer can easily be loaded with DOUBLE that much weight.

To the OP, if you really bought a 6k rated 6x12 dump trailer without realizing it, well first of all I am sorry. but second of all, c'mon.

 

[BlueKnife]

HOLY S%^&, thats some criminal trailer design right there. A 6x12 dump trailer can easily be loaded with DOUBLE that much weight.

To the OP, if you really bought a 6k rated 6x12 dump trailer without realizing it, well first of all I am sorry. but second of all, c'mon.

Any dump trailer can easily be overloaded. I've never seen a 6x12 dump trailer that is rated to haul 12,000 lbs. But, you have a good point. The OP bought a trailer from a company that specifically advertises that it's products are cheap. "Affordable" and "inexpensive" is all over the place on their website. When it comes to trailers, you often get what you pay for.

 

[deezler]

Unfortunately so. A 6x12 should have 14k axles under it, in my opinion.

My neighbors 5x10 dual axle is a 10k rated trailer, and it weighs ~3k lbs itself and can hold 3 yards. 3 yards of wet gravel is easily 9k+ lbs of load. So I limit myself to 2.5 yd purchases when borrowing it.

 

[5030]

Time to bore the equalizers and rebush with 660 CA bronze alloy bushings, cross drilled for grease fittings and the outer links need to be remade and bronze greaseable fittings installed there as well.

All trailer builders go with the least expensive components to glean the best profit margin. Plastic bushings don't work on ANY trailer, least in my opinion but that is what you most always get anyway along with no grease fittings.

Had that issue with my Kaufman goose neck and redid the suspension myself plus I added triangular gussets the the outboard spring hangers to eliminate any twisting of the hangers when making tight turns with the GN loaded or overloaded as the case may be.

 

[Tinhack]

Never heard of a Griffin trailer around here.

Me either. Except for one dealer in Utah (probably a relative), they don't have any dealers west of the Mississippi. I guess the way they make them "affordable" is to use cheap parts and materials. Griffin doesn't sell directly to the public, so they don't have any prices on their website.

 

[workinonit]

I'll never for the life of me figure out why they put nylon bushings in those shackles and equalizers. My $60K RV had them. They were gone in no time. I bought the MoRyde bronze bushing kit for mine.

 

[Tinhack]

Time to bore the equalizers and rebush with 660 CA bronze alloy bushings, cross drilled for grease fittings and the outer links need to be remade and bronze greaseable fittings installed there as well.

That might work as long as they're not the cheap cast iron equalizers.

 

[Engineer42]

I'll never for the life of me figure out why they put nylon bushings in those shackles and equalizers. My $60K RV had them. They were gone in no time. I bought the MoRyde bronze bushing kit for mine.

Meets the minimum specifications required by the American Trailer Manufacturers Assoc. Or whatever they are calling themselves. Or the DOT. They're making money on the sales. Other than the few reputable builders, the rest are flash in the pan hustlers. They sell to the "Harry Homeowner" crowd and not most who research and crawl under what they purchase.

 

[BlueKnife]

Unfortunately so. A 6x12 should have 14k axles under it, in my opinion.

My neighbors 5x10 dual axle is a 10k rated trailer, and it weighs ~3k lbs itself and can hold 3 yards. 3 yards of wet gravel is easily 9k+ lbs of load. So I limit myself to 2.5 yd purchases when borrowing it.

I assume, by "14k axles" you mean tandem 7k axles. They don't make 14,000 lb. axles that will work under a trailer that small. But yes, it's very easy to overload a dump trailer with rock. Even the highest quality manufacturers don't necessarily make them to be loaded to the gills with rock. If they did, the trailer would be to small to haul a machine, or efficiently haul mulch, for example. A person needs to work within the limitations of their equipment.

 

[RandyT]

I think most trailer manufacturers spec the cheapest components that will carry the rated load, nothing more. I don't know what you were sold, but you might want to recheck the rated load capacity. The capacity I see on their website for the GT612 6'X12' dump is 6,000# load capacity. I don't see an option to upgrade load capacity, just a jack increase from 7,000# to 10,000#. That might account for your excessive wear. Also check the load rating for the tires. It doesn't list a rating on the website, just 15" radial tires, but they may have been Load Range D 8-ply tires. That would barely cover the GVWR of 9,990# with 6,000# of payload weight. If that is so, I would up that to a Load Range E 10-ply if it were my trailer.

View attachment 3196527

6410 payload listed in the chassis specs below the picture. But well under the 8K the OP was hauling.

 

[TWarrenNE]

HOLY S%^&, thats some criminal trailer design right there. A 6x12 dump trailer can easily be loaded with DOUBLE that much weight.

To the OP, if you really bought a 6k rated 6x12 dump trailer without realizing it, well first of all I am sorry. but second of all, c'mon.

No, it's got 2x6k axles, rated for 8K payload. The sticker on the trailer also says so.

I am guessing they de rated them after poor performance.

 

[deezler]

No, it's got 2x6k axles, rated for 8K. The sticker on the trailer also says so.

That's good, sorry to doubt you at all. Bummer about the suspension bits though.

 

[TWarrenNE]

I'm guessing they de rated after poor performance.

6410 payload listed in the chassis specs below the picture. But well under the 8K the OP was hauling.