Dump Trailer or Dump Truck?

[YUKON 659]

I've been trying to decide if a "new" 12K dump trailer would be more practical than a "very used" 1 ton dump trucK for my part time tree removal business. I'm kinda leaning toward the trailer, the only draw back to it would be having to take 2 trucks to most of the jobs...1 for the chipper and 1 for the trailer.
Any thoughts...pro or con?

Thanks, Jeff

 

[xtremetrees]

Jeff,
Same here bro. Tuff decision.
The trailer would require less maintence,
the truck would be able to do more.
I am about to spend 12 grand so i understand what your going thru.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

i recently bought a new large dump trailer..ive found it a bad buy i hardly use it ....

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

too conveinient too just jump in the truck ..and hitch up the chipper ..also 1 extra truck and trailer soon takes up a lot more space..the only time ive used the trailer is when weve had very large jobs 4+loads

 

[MasterBlaster]

We have a guy here that is doing that. The only problem is it will wear out the truck that your using to haul it. I've seen both methods, and I would prefer a chip truck.
One way or another, your gonna have to have a vehicle involved. A dump trailer would work great as an addition to(instead of replacement for) a chipper truck.
Chips in the chipper truck, logs in the trailer.

 

[topnotchtree]

Kind of an out there suggestion, but it is legal in my state to pull a trailer behind a fifth wheel trailer.You would have to have a pretty good sized pick-up with a fifth wheel hitch.Add a reciever hitch behind your dump trailer to pull your chipper. I have thought about this myself but decided against it.

 

[dtw902]

I thought about a trailer but decided on a truck with dump, and a Prentice loader. Truck has a 18' bed with 6' sides, can chip into the bed then load the logs on top. Another bonus is all the other jobs you can do with the loader.
Dave

 

[MasterBlaster]

Yur gonna be a happy camper, Dave!

 

[dtw902]

Yep very happy use it all the time.
Dave

 

[Menchhofer]

I would vote for the dump also...and agree the trailer would be a nice accessory for the dump/pick up

If you have the slightest idea you will be growing in size, it makes the decision even more affirmative.

I have been that route. Started with pick up. Added trailer. Added chipper...added dump truck. Added larger dump truck ...larger chipper...bucket w/dump(utterly useless)...added larger trailer and larger dump truck.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Originally posted by Menchhofer
I would vote for the dump also...and agree the trailer would be a nice accessory for the dump/pick up

If you have the slightest idea you will be growing in size, it makes the decision even more affirmative.

I have been that route. Started with pick up. Added trailer. Added chipper...added dump truck. Added larger dump truck ...larger chipper...bucket w/dump(utterly useless)...added larger trailer and larger dump truck.

thank god its not just me who changes his set up regulary..im always going bigger..my ideal set up would be ..4x4 mercedes unimog with 12inch chipper mounted on the front of the vehicle [front pto]large chipbox in the middle with hiab 090 crane at the rear gross weight around 12 tonnes and about 6 tons carrying capacity there abouts ,plus vermeer 50 tx grinder i could keep going ill think ill stop here

 

[Kleek]

It is inconvenient sometimes with a dump trailer, but I have found in some situations the trailer can do more than a 1-ton truck. I have ramps with my 14 foot dumper and haul my loader tractor to the site. I have nearly double the capacity of a typical 1-ton in both volume and weight carrying. My licence plates are around 15% of the price of the plate for a dump truck (24k). That said, if I had to make two trips each time to get my tools to a job site, I would get a truck if it would do it in one trip.

 

[Menchhofer]

Originally posted by ROLLACOSTA
thank god its not just me who changes his set up regulary..im always going bigger..my ideal set up would be ..4x4 mercedes unimog with 12inch chipper mounted on the front of the vehicle [

After reading your post I kept thinking....what is he writing w/regards to a unimog? What the heck is that?

Saw them on Discovery channel tonight and I now understand. They are awesome trucks. Guess I have just been a little behind the times on this one!!!

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

heres some sites too see tree mens unimogs

www.unimogs-acprice.co.uk

www.unimogs.co.uk

 

[Chainsaw_Maniac]

I had to make a similar descision a while back and i went with the trailer and I'm glad i did. Then again you're hauling wood chips and equipent while I'm hauling firewood so it's not really the saem thing.

 

[Menchhofer]

One other thought worth mentioning is we use our dump trailer to transport our stump grinder and power trac which works out very nice. We also use it to clean up stump debris after grinding instead of taking a larger vehicle out. It is additionally used to transport 4-5 yds of topsoil for small landscape jobs and filling in after stump removals.

 

[YUKON 659]

Thanks for the replies. I guess there seems to be a few that like the dump trailer and a few that would prefer a dump truck. The reasons I would prefer the dump trailer have been mentioned above....less maintainance, lower insurance & registration and the trailer will have about twice the payload as the truck. Another reason I may opt for a trailer at this point is the fact that I can buy a a new trailer for about $4000. If I spend the same amount on a 1 ton dump I may end up with a mechanical headache!!!!

Jeff

 

[topnotchtree]

make sure you let us know what you come up with!

 

[MasterBlaster]

Yukon, don't forget the wear and tear on the truck thats hauling that trailer around! It will really put it to it!

But, you can allways use that as an excuse to get a big, badda$$, brand new dualie!!!

 

[YUKON 659]

Butch, I just recently bought a new F-250 Super Duty with a trailer towing package. I know it aint no dually put it should be able to handle it. Remember I'm only doing this tree stuff part time....I've got a full time day gig.

Jeff