Dump Truck or Dump Trailer?

[Moss Man]

I have an 87 3500 GMC dually platform dump that I have been delivering firewood with for 4-5 years now, it holds 1.2 cords of loose thrown wood. Problem is that it is getting pretty rusty in the sheet metal department.

I just picked up a 2005 Chevy 3500 single rear wheel witha regular pickup body on it. I have been wondering if delivering wood ina dump trailer behind this one might be better from the standpoint that I could run one truck instead of two.

How much loose thrown wood will a decent sized dump trailer haul with sideboards? Are they hard to back up fully loaded? Would the newer chevy have the guts to haul the fully loaded dump 50-100 trips a year? It already has high miles and I love it for my everyday driver, so I wouldn't want to comprise that.

Just tossing ideas out there, my brain is always trying to find easier more economical ideas.......................

 

[TBrown]

I have a 14 foot goose neck dump trailer and a 3500 srw gmc. The 7.4 pulls it fine, backs up nice, loaded or empty. It is the regular narrower type dump, about 81" wide box with about 1 foot side board it holds 5 face cord. I just delivered 3 loads this afternoon with it and everything went fine. It also has ramps and tie downs for hauling skid steer, will be testing that out this week.

 

[Moss Man]

I have a 14 foot goose neck dump trailer and a 3500 srw gmc. The 7.4 pulls it fine, backs up nice, loaded or empty. It is the regular narrower type dump, about 81" wide box with about 1 foot side board it holds 5 face cord. I just delivered 3 loads this afternoon with it and everything went fine. It also has ramps and tie downs for hauling skid steer, will be testing that out this week.

5 face cords is 1 and 2 thirds cords right? Is that in the trailer loose thrown or piled?

I wouldn't mind having a dump trailer with ramps, I'm always needing to haul vehicles.

Can you post a couple photos?

 

[flushcut]

I have a F450 dump and a 14 ft dump trailer and I have sides for the dump trailer. The 450 will hold a cord thrown and the dump will hold 2 cords thrown easily. The dump trailer for deliveries is a little bit of a pain for me because of some of the tight driveways I deal with, but for hauling wood out of the bush or from a job it can't be beat. I would think that any 3/4 ton will handle a 14000 lb trailer

 

[Moss Man]

I found this photo that was posted by treevet in the wood hauler thread;

 

[Moss Man]

Seems to be a viable choice;

 

[STLfirewood]

Dump trailers are great. I use them almost everyday. Just as easy as any trailer to back up. If your loaded on a hill just use 4low. I use 4low all the time to save the tranny and clutch. Just don't back them off into soft ground. They will sink when fully loaded. I have one that is 14x7. It's not quiet 7 on the inside but close. With 4ft sides it holds 2 cords loose. To bad your so far away my friend has one for sale that would work great for you.

Scott

 

[Moss Man]

Dump trailers are great. I use them almost everyday. Just as easy as any trailer to back up. If your loaded on a hill just use 4low. I use 4low all the time to save the tranny and clutch. Just don't back them off into soft ground. They will sink when fully loaded. I have one that is 14x7. It's not quiet 7 on the inside but close. With 4ft sides it holds 2 cords loose. To bad your so far away my friend has one for sale that would work great for you.


Scott

Send me the info, the price and a photo if he has one. You never know, someone I know just had a Jeep delivered by FedEx and the price wasn't too bad. I'm sure they could haul a trailer.....

 

[johncinco]

Both have good advantages. A trailer does not require plates (or as expensive of ones) every year, you dont have to insure a trailer. Its easier to park a trailer for long periods if you are not using it. A lot less mechanical stuff to take care of on a trailer than a second truck. Lke you mentioned, you can put a car or something big in a trailer that you can not put in a truck.

Trucks are easier to get through the woods, easy to back up, only 1 thing to work on.

I have had both, and am sticking with a truck for everyday use and limited hauling, and then have a have duty trailer for wood and everything else. It also seems any size trailer I get, I should have gotten the one 1 foot longer! I cant put my tractor with the front end loader and tiller in the bed, unless I haul it with the loader up over the front, or disconnect the tiller and set it sideways. That 1 foot got me again.

 

[TBrown]

5 face cords is 1 and 2 thirds cords right? Is that in the trailer loose thrown or piled?

I wouldn't mind having a dump trailer with ramps, I'm always needing to haul vehicles.

Can you post a couple photos?

I will take some pictures later this week when i'm haulin wood home. The five face cords was dumped into trailer. With taller wood sides it woud fit a full two cords easy.

 

[Moss Man]

I will take some pictures later this week when i'm haulin wood home. The five face cords was dumped into trailer. With taller wood sides it woud fit a full two cords easy.

Thanx!

I just got a pretty good deal on the Commercial Insurance for the 1987 Dually firewood truck so I'll keep using that for now. As the insurance rates looked they were going to double on me, I started wondering if having the old truck was economically feasable anymore. It is a pretty handy vehicle, but I'm always weighing out options.

 

[firewood guy]

Don't know what the DMV fees are there, but it might be better to have a trailer rather than a dump truck. I have both in CA, but the insurance and DMV fees are killing me! I'm looking to just use 1-ton or less trucks w/ standard beds and no CA / DOT #s , and just pull regular trailers w/ 10k or less GVW. Much less stress as CA is looking for any excuse to get more revenue out of us..

 

[The Count]

have them both if you can
cheers

 

[Circle B MN]

Both have good advantages. A trailer does not require plates (or as expensive of ones) every year, you dont have to insure a trailer. Its easier to park a trailer for long periods if you are not using it. A lot less mechanical stuff to take care of on a trailer than a second truck. Lke you mentioned, you can put a car or something big in a trailer that you can not put in a truck.

Trucks are easier to get through the woods, easy to back up, only 1 thing to work on.

I have had both, and am sticking with a truck for everyday use and limited hauling, and then have a have duty trailer for wood and everything else. It also seems any size trailer I get, I should have gotten the one 1 foot longer! I cant put my tractor with the front end loader and tiller in the bed, unless I haul it with the loader up over the front, or disconnect the tiller and set it sideways. That 1 foot got me again.

A commercial vehicle policy can require you to have the trailer as well as the trucks insured for at least liabilty. On a $6k + trailer I would probably spend the extra $50 a year on full coverage.