Thoughts on using a Dump Trailer for hauling my Kubota?

[NIdaho]

Well the title about says it. I am thinking of getting a Dump trailer 14' in hopes that it can do double duty of hauling my Kubota B3200.

What are other folk's thoughts and experiences?

What are your experiences with Big Tex or PJ 14' dumpers?

 

[RobertN]

What will you be carrying with you?

As a reference, my old tractor was just a little shorter than a B3200. With the loader, and a scraper on the back, it used up all of 14' of my 16' flatbed. With the 4' rotary mower on, the tailwheel hung off the trailer by over a foot.

FWIW, my buddy hauls a Bobcat skidsteer all the time in a shorter trailer.

 

[Crash101]

Will the 14 foot length allow you to load the tractor on it with the weight distributed to enable proper tongue weight? If so, it would make an ideal trailer. Good for a lot of uses.
Can I borrow it sometime?

 

[GATC35]

A dump trailer will be heavier than a regular deck trailer. So depending on your tow vehicle this could be a negative to your GCWR. This also means less payload, say comparing two trailers both with dual 5K lb axles the dump will have less payload due to trailer weight.

A dump will cost allot more compared to a deck trailer. At lest 50% more, and that can go higher depending on options.

I have a small landscaping/bush hogging/backhoe/Bobcat company as a side business. I currently have 4 different trailers that fit a certain niche: 1.) 7X14 utility trailer single 3500 lb axle for lawn mowers and ZTR's. 2.) 7 X 18 + 2 bumper pull equipment trailer with dual 7000 lb axles for Bobcat and small tractor. 3.) 8 X 20 + 5 gooseneck equipment trailer with dual 7000 lb axles for large tractor and mini excavators. 4.) 7 X 14 gooesneck dump trailer with dual 7000lb axles for hauling dirt, gravel and trash. The gooseneck dump was the last trailer purchased and would also be the first trailer gone if I decided to close shop. They are great for moving material, but are a pain to move equipment with. Even with "D" rings welded in my dump trailer it very difficult to crawl inside and chain equipment down. Also the ramps are removable and are stowed under the deck. The ramps are heavy and I always seem to tear my knuckles up getting them in and out of the storage slots.

In my opinion if I had to go down to one trailer it would not be the dump trailer. I would probably keep the 7 x 18 + 2 bumper pull equipment trailer.

It will be interesting to see with others say since most folks don't have 4 trailers.

 

[RobertN]

I get the most use out of my 16' flatbed bumper pull. I have hauled all kinds of stuff with it(except dirt, gravel).I'll grab that trailer and use it just cuase it is easier to load then the truck.

It will be interesting to see with others say since most folks don't have 4 trailers.

 

[tractorski]

If you can oly buy one trailer, money is no object, and you are not afraid of driving up a steep grade to load. Get the dump. A flatbed equipment trailer would be cheaper and easier. If you plan to haul material...well, you know the answer.

 

[Diamondpilot]

My uncle has a 14' Bri-Mar dump that is a 14,000# BP trailer. He also has a JD 33 HP tractor and a 300 loader. It is all it will do to fit even with no implement on the rear.

Chris

 

[DDT]

I have a 06 model 14' PJ GN 2-7K axles, works well for me but rarely haul tractor on it. just tractor and loader will fill it but to narrow for a 7' box blade or any thing else I would need.

 

[BeezFun]

The height of the tractor on a dump trailer raises the center of gravity, also restricts you from backing into garages or getting under things that a flatbed trailer would allow. The bed on a dump trailer is really smooth, you'd have to put some additional restraints on tractor to make sure it doesn't slide around. My dump trailer is like an ice skating pond when it's wet, I don't even like to walk on it.

 

[LoneCowboy]

IMHO hauling in a dump trailer is less than optimum.

it's up MUCH higher, you'll really notice how high up your load is. It also makes it harder to load (steep!)

your whole tractor has to fit inside and the hydraulics have to lie flat (FEL, backhoe, whatever). (although if you have a gooseneck, you can lie the FEL on the gooseneck part and secure it)

it's a PITA to secure, it's not easy to work around the tractor and the walls and work the chains/straps.

Dumps are really useful trailers, if you need it a lot, most people don't and would do better with a equipment trailer.

 

[davygp38]

I do see a few guys hauling their tractors around in big dump trailers. I thought it was a good idea when I saw that, but when I moved up to a bigger tractor, I had a hard enough time getting it on my 16' bp. I have not seen to many dump trailers that have a 16' body. I could not imagine trying to get it loaded in a box.

 

[magicheater]

I have 2 trailers. A 16' equipment and a 12' dump. I can haul my B7800 in the Dump and do sometimes but not with any 3PT attachment on. I haul my L4350 on the equipment trailer w/ any attachment I want.
All this has been said before; Equipment trailer: Easier to chain down, lower center of gravity, can haul long items. Dump Trailer: Higher center of gravity, steeper loading angle, Restricted room when tractor inside, but you got it to dump and it does.

I do use the dump to haul my B7800 when I go for manure and then don't have that extra R/T bringing the other trailer, plus the time to hook and unhook. :thumbsup:

 

[Trucker1]

Just my .02 worth. If you are hauling just the tractor/loader and are only going to have one trailer, then yes go with a dump. They are heavier as mentioned earlier. I have a 10k lb 10ft box. The trailer weighs 3300 empty. Not exactly light duty and quite a bit heavier than my flat bed. You are definitely going to want some truck to be hauling your setup. No 1/2 tons or foreign stuff for this job!!

Also look into low profile dump trailers, that will keep your center of gravity a bit lower. Another trick, if you have a slight grade available on property, is load tractor with your truck/trailer pointed down hill. This will make for easier loading.

 

[hthg21]

Thanks for asking this question, I'm in the same pickle as you. I have a JD 4720 and was looking at a 8x18 or 8x20 dump to haul it in, but I'm not sure if it is the right solution. I need something that I can dump with be it a trailer or a dump bed insert for my truck. I'd really like to kill multiple birds with one stone, but I also don't want to buy a big 'ol gooseneck dump and it not work out.

Any other ideas anyone?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Dump bed inserts are about worthless except for mulch and rose pedals. You can only haul a few tons at best. A true dump is a different story.

There is a guy on this site that has a heck of a trailer. I can not remember who he is but he had a custom built car/equipment hauler. Its a bumper pull 14,000# unit that has stake pockets and removable sides but is a full dump also. He had some pictures of it dumping firewood and it was slick. Great all around trailer.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I found it.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/104218-your-towing-rigs-trailers-2.html

Best trailer I have ever seen.

Chris

 

[LBrown59]

*Dump bed inserts are about worthless except for mulch and rose pedals.
You can only haul a few tons at best.
A true dump is a different story.



Chris

Why do you say this?

 

[Pops15]

It depends on what else you're going to do with the trailer. Do you need to haul stuff that can be loaded or unloaded with forks? Then a dump isn't for you. Do you need to haul dirt, stone, debris? Then you need a dump.
If you're going to have one trailer, you're going to have to compromise somewhere. Will you be using the trailer primarily for hauling your tractor, or material?
While tying a tractor down in a dump trailer is a little more difficult (allot more if you add side boards), there's an added measure of security in having the box to keep the tractor on the trailer.
The floor of my dump trailer is lower than the deck of my deck over flatbed.
I don't have any info about the brands of dumpers the OP mentioned. I looked at several brands before I decided to go with B&B (Behnke). It's 14' X 80" X 2' sides. 14K GVWR. It's hands down the best brand of dump trailer I looked at. Everything about it was built stronger or was thought out better than the other brands available around here. It has a single hyd cylinder with a scissor set up as opposed to twin cylinders that the cheaper trailers have. The single cyl set up is safer. That's why most HD dump trucks use them. The down side to B&B is the price. A 14'/14K GVWR dump will set you back over $7K compared to other brands in the $5K range.

Chris, That's a good looking trailer for hauling a tractor, lumber, firewood, etc. Doesn't look like it would be very useful for dirt, gravel, or debris because of the low sides and low dump angle. Still, it would be a good compromise for allot of folks.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Why do you say this?

Do I really need to explain? Average payload on a 1 ton dually maybe 3,000# Dump bed, 1,200#. What does that leave you 1,800#? My grandpas brother had a Eazy Dump dealership. We borrowed his demo truck once to get gravel and had to shove 1/2 off before it had the guts to dump it.

Chris

 

[patrick_g]

Well the title about says it. I am thinking of getting a Dump trailer 14' in hopes that it can do double duty of hauling my Kubota B3200.

What are other folk's thoughts and experiences?

What are your experiences with Big Tex or PJ 14' dumpers?

My dump trailer is 2x7x12 and has built in ramps. It caries my Kubota Grand L4610HSTC just fine. With FEL on the front I can park the bucket up on the front to get the tractor farther forward. With a 6 ft brush hog on back the brush hog rests on the trailer deck but sticks out the back so I have to leave the "French Doors" open and tie them to the BH. The bottom of my cab doors clear the 2 ft sides so getting in and out while trailer born is not a problem. With side boards... well, take the driver side sideboard off till you unload the tractor.

My dump trailer has HD "D" rings at all four corners of the deck for good tie down points if you are worried the tractor will jump up over 2 feet and get over the side. OK OK don't call the safety police, I secure it for highway travel but not local (on my property) travel.

A 14 ft deck would work even better than my 12 footer. My rear wheels have just an inch or two clearance from the sides so a larger tractor would require a larger trailer. I have a HD car hauler (18'3" on its steel diamond plate deck with partial dovetail which is my preferred tractor hauler) but sometimes the dump trailer is the best choice. I can haul the tractor to a site, unload the tractor, use it to fill the dumper, go dump, (lather rinse repeat), and then when through re-load the tractor and head for the barn.

Pat