Looking for a used dump trailer

[Joeybagodonuts]

This will not be the most popular option but I recently bought an old Ford 1 ton instead of the trailer (won't be popular due to the age of the truck) but it has been working out great for me. I'll attach a few pics of it. It has an 8'X12' flatbed that can be used for hauling equipment (miniskid, attachments...) , brush, logs, and occasionally a chip box. Before this truck I had a half ton Silverado that I felt I was limited to a 6x10 dump as well. With this truck the dump trailer isn't needed as badly as the truck can do all of the same jobs, besides dump, and when the time comes for the dump trailer I can now handle a larger one for more debris. The cost of this truck was $1100 and I feel like it paid for itself the first week.

The picture with the chip box was with a full 8x8x4 box along with the mini and pulling the chipper. It did great with the load, the same with the rental dump trailer with 3-5'x40" pine logs and the stump cut and mini loaded on the flatbed. I find it to be very versatile and capable for the money.

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Its deff a hard decision to make.. especially when strapped.. you can have all the gear in the world, but if you ain't got no equipment this is a hard gig to operate on your own, while presenting yourself as the real deal.. You gotta start somewhere though & make the smart purchases that will benefit you down the road.. Like Jehinten did.. he's got a flatbed that can be multipurpose as well as handle any trailer he's going to want to tow with..

My rule of thumb is, always go bigger than you think your gunna need.. if that means your truck will need upgrading, then work towards that goal in the meantime.. but never go smaller based on something that's going to change (like your truck). For example, buy small on the dump, but still blow an expensive tranny on your tundra, get fed up, end up buying bigger truck, then have to look for a bigger trailer.. You know what i mean? End up chasing your tail everytime you want to upgrade..

Idk your personal situation, but just to throw it out there, tree work can be very lucrative. Last small crew i worked for, the owner payed his crane off in a single season because of how much more work we could complete by having it that year.

 

[B_Strange]

[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I appreciate the input. I agree that your decision makes sense. I’ve been burned buying older used trucks and am kinda leery of that but it looks like you found a gem! I like your thought process and the truck looks ver versatile. It is something I will definitely think about

 

[B_Strange]

Its deff a hard decision to make.. especially when strapped.. you can have all the gear in the world, but if you ain't got no equipment this is a hard gig to operate on your own, while presenting yourself as the real deal.. You gotta start somewhere though & make the smart purchases that will benefit you down the road.. Like Jehinten did.. he's got a flatbed that can be multipurpose as well as handle any trailer he's going to want to tow with..

My rule of thumb is, always go bigger than you think your gunna need.. if that means your truck will need upgrading, then work towards that goal in the meantime.. but never go smaller based on something that's going to change (like your truck). For example, buy small on the dump, but still blow an expensive tranny on your tundra, get fed up, end up buying bigger truck, then have to look for a bigger trailer.. You know what i mean? End up chasing your tail everytime you want to upgrade..

Idk your personal situation, but just to throw it out there, tree work can be very lucrative. Last small crew i worked for, the owner payed his crane off in a single season because of how much more work we could complete by having it that year.

Thanks @Joeybagodonuts ! First, love the screen name! Yep I agree with buying bigger than I think I will need. I hear you and that is what I want do. But as you said I gotta start somewhere and it looks like my somewhere will be the tundra, a smallish d-trailer and some very careful math and planning. I feel kinda screwed already even putting the word “math” in a sentence as I am fairly certain I gave my high school math teachers lip about needing the higher maths in the “real” world. Aaaaand now I do physics every day! Yes, pass the crow please.

 

[Joeybagodonuts]

Thanks @Joeybagodonuts ! First, love the screen name! Yep I agree with buying bigger than I think I will need. I hear you and that is what I want do. But as you said I gotta start somewhere and it looks like my somewhere will be the tundra, a smallish d-trailer and some very careful math and planning. I feel kinda screwed already even putting the word “math” in a sentence as I am fairly certain I gave my high school math teachers lip about needing the higher maths in the “real” world. Aaaaand now I do physics every day! Yes, pass the crow please.

Haha.. Math teachers.. yup..
Do you plan on dumping the Tundra for something bigger? If you don't see that happening, then no need to go bigger.. My rule of thumb kinda only applies to someone who wants to end up full time in the trade. But on the other hand, even just doing a toe in the water kinda requires the big boy toys to be efficient & not wear yourself & equipment out with smaller loads, but then a million dump runs a day.

Also, something to think about is...
Let's say you do buy the small dump & rationalize it by thinking you can just build it sky high with sides & possibly get similar capacity as a bigger one.. I'm with you on the thinking, however, you still have to be able to Stop that load with a vehicle designed for 6000-6500lbs Max tow.. Nothing worse than having your load drive the truck instead of you.. especially when it's wet out.

Side note - are you sure that's all that truck can pull? Maybe I'm getting my toyo's generations confused.. I had always thought toyo's Tundra was marketed as something with a much higher towing capacity.. like at least 10k. Maybe it was newer models.. i just remember way back when there was some debut where all the hype was over the axels & it's ability to tow with the 3/4 Ton's.

 

[Reach]

Timbrens are another brand of spring helpers you could chech out.

Timbrens are great! I put front and rears on my 05 GMC 2500HD, to better handle the 9.5’ plow and two yard salter it carries in the winter. I get half an inch of suspension drop in the front end when I lift the plow, and about 2” total drop in the rear, and no rolling or handling problems anymore, and the truck weighs 11,500 when it’s loaded at the beginning of a storm.

 

[B_Strange]

Haha.. Math teachers.. yup..
Do you plan on dumping the Tundra for something bigger? If you don't see that happening, then no need to go bigger.. My rule of thumb kinda only applies to someone who wants to end up full time in the trade. But on the other hand, even just doing a toe in the water kinda requires the big boy toys to be efficient & not wear yourself & equipment out with smaller loads, but then a million dump runs a day.

Also, something to think about is...
Let's say you do buy the small dump & rationalize it by thinking you can just build it sky high with sides & possibly get similar capacity as a bigger one.. I'm with you on the thinking, however, you still have to be able to Stop that load with a vehicle designed for 6000-6500lbs Max tow.. Nothing worse than having your load drive the truck instead of you.. especially when it's wet out.

Side note - are you sure that's all that truck can pull? Maybe I'm getting my toyo's generations confused.. I had always thought toyo's Tundra was marketed as something with a much higher towing capacity.. like at least 10k. Maybe it was newer models.. i just remember way back when there was some debut where all the hype was over the axels & it's ability to tow with the 3/4 Ton's.

Thanks! Yep I do this full time and boy howdy do I ever miss the toys from my old job. I miss the people to don’t get me wrong.

The Tundra will be upgraded as soon as I can get the scratch to do so. That has to happen. But hey, bright side, I will no longer be using a 2WD Ranger! You want to visit the 7th circle of hell, do tree work out of a Ranger. I spent 4.5 hours once hauling brush. It was at that point I started to question all those life decisions. . .

Back in topic-not gonna overload the trailer. Seen that story end badly but man my inner redneck farmer ( I am one) REALLY wants to see how I could finagle sides and all on that trailer, when I get it.

Efficiency is key. I agree 100%. Working on that daily. I think I am legit but know there is more to learn and tools to buy but I have to climb up out my hole first. It’s gonna be a slog though. Thanks again! Any other thoughts shoot em to me. I appreciate it!

 

[B_Strange]

Timbrens are great! I put front and rears on my 05 GMC 2500HD, to better handle the 9.5’ plow and two yard salter it carries in the winter. I get half an inch of suspension drop in the front end when I lift the plow, and about 2” total drop in the rear, and no rolling or handling problems anymore, and the truck weighs 11,500 when it’s loaded at the beginning of a storm.

Side note - are you sure that's all that truck can pull? Maybe I'm getting my toyo's generations confused.. I had always thought toyo's Tundra was marketed as something with a much higher towing capacity.. like at least 10k. Maybe it was newer models.. i just remember way back when there was some debut where all the hype was over the axels & it's ability to tow with the 3/4 Ton's.

Sorry Tundra can tow 7100 max. Thanks!

 

[TimberJack]

Alot of states require an A class commercial drivers license for trailers over 10,000lbs gross weight.

 

[B_Strange]

Alot of states require an A class commercial drivers license for trailers over 10,000lbs gross weight.

Hmmm. Good thought. I’ll need to check into that. Thanks!

 

[TCtreeswinger]

Id seriously consider a 10k 6x12. You can load all the brush you want and just be smart about logs. Itll be big enough to load a machine or 2 down the road. A 16' flatbed with sides will haul alot of brush and small logs on top use rope on bottom and tie off to a trunk piece at the dump to offload. I agree you should be thinking long term. Lots of folks build log arches on flatbeds for loading/offloading bigger logs. You dont HAVE to have a dump trailer in my area but yours likely is different.

 

[Birdyman88]

You're always gonna want somethimg bigger. Just remember if you build up the sides, you have to lift everything over. My 6x12 lo pro with 2 ft sides are already 4 ft above ground. Brush is fine, but lifting logs can get tough. If I build walls up by 2 ft, I won't be able to get the logs over without a machine, and you don't want to put all that weight at the rear through the gate. Just something to think about.

 

[Joeybagodonuts]

Hmmm. Good thought. I’ll need to check into that. Thanks!

Ok ok.. i gotchya.. so your not fresh to the industry & probably know what your dealing with as far as needs if your missing the toys of your last employer..

With that said, i don't think your gonna be happy with a little 6x10... 6x12.. For this industry & the duties you'll be asking of it, i seriously think you'll be in that "ranger hell"..lol.. Good Lord, i can't imagine even trying to fit behind the steering wheel one of those things.. never mind do tree work!! Ive got an 8x14 & boy does it fill fast.. It's a constant uneeded compacting exercise to compress & reload with tons & tons of extra cutting..

Honestly though.. since you just said your going to upgrade your truck (when u can).. i don't think there's much of an argument to be made cuz the second you upgrade the truck side, your going to be kicking yourself in the ass about the d-trailer.. How many compromises do you realistically want to make..? Right? The Dump trailer is already a compromise over a chipper, right..? & a big one at that.. (which I've always thought of a chipper as the first real hurdle of becoming legitimately operational).. I personally don't count the truck as one because I've always had 1 tons I could build a chip box into & or pull whatever's need.. but in your case you've got two.. So that goes right back to my thinking "go as big as possible" & compromise on trailer "loading" until your able finance/purchase a pull truck..

It don't have to be pretty.. right? Shit... I wouldn't be surprised if you could dump the Toyo & get into a bigger truck with very minimal cost.. I mean look a Jehinten's setup.. hes operational because he's got a rig too pull all that with.. It may be best to try & find a way to do both purchases at once by selling the Toyota now & making a lateral ($$) move with the truck side..
Just speaking out loud here throwing ideas around..

 

[B_Strange]

Ok ok.. i gotchya.. so your not fresh to the industry & probably know what your dealing with as far as needs if your missing the toys of your last employer..

With that said, i don't think your gonna be happy with a little 6x10... 6x12.. For this industry & the duties you'll be asking of it, i seriously think you'll be in that "ranger hell"..lol.. Good Lord, i can't imagine even trying to fit behind the steering wheel one of those things.. never mind do tree work!! Ive got an 8x14 & boy does it fill fast.. It's a constant uneeded compacting exercise to compress & reload with tons & tons of extra cutting..

Honestly though.. since you just said your going to upgrade your truck (when u can).. i don't think there's much of an argument to be made cuz the second you upgrade the truck side, your going to be kicking yourself in the ass about the d-trailer.. How many compromises do you realistically want to make..? Right? The Dump trailer is already a compromise over a chipper, right..? & a big one at that.. (which I've always thought of a chipper as the first real hurdle of becoming legitimately operational).. I personally don't count the truck as one because I've always had 1 tons I could build a chip box into & or pull whatever's need.. but in your case you've got two.. So that goes right back to my thinking "go as big as possible" & compromise on trailer "loading" until your able finance/purchase a pull truck..

It don't have to be pretty.. right? Shit... I wouldn't be surprised if you could dump the Toyo & get into a bigger truck with very minimal cost.. I mean look a Jehinten's setup.. hes operational because he's got a rig too pull all that with.. It may be best to try & find a way to do both purchases at once by selling the Toyota now & making a lateral ($$) move with the truck side..
Just speaking out loud here throwing ideas around..

Yep. Thanks for the thoughts. You and Birdyman have been super helpful. I may be able to upgrade the truck first and if I land a big enough job get a trailer. I rented a 6x10 Felling today and man did I love it. Waaaaay easier than unloading by hand. I had to borrow my dad’s truck to haul with as the baby Ford looked at it, wimpered and hid on the back 40. Tundra’s receiver is rust welded to the ball mount. Guy i got the truck from never moved it. So it can only haul something with a 2” ball.

Thanks again!

 

[Reach]

Yep. Thanks for the thoughts. You and Birdyman have been super helpful. I may be able to upgrade the truck first and if I land a big enough job get a trailer. I rented a 6x10 Felling today and man did I love it. Waaaaay easier than unloading by hand. I had to borrow my dad’s truck to haul with as the baby Ford looked at it, wimpered and hid on the back 40. Tundra’s receiver is rust welded to the ball mount. Guy i got the truck from never moved it. So it can only haul something with a 2” ball.

Thanks again!

Suggestion for removing the rusted-in hitch that I have used with good results - heat up the receiver tube good and hot with a torch, tap around the outside with a hammer to loosen it, and pour cold water on the hitch itself, to cool and contract it inside the heated tube. Not a guaranteed fix, but it has worked well for us a few times.

 

[ATH]

....

Efficiency is key. I agree 100%. Working on that daily. I think I am legit but know there is more to learn and tools to buy but I have to climb up out my hole first. It’s gonna be a slog though. Thanks again! Any other thoughts shoot em to me. I appreciate it!

NEVER let anybody tell you that equipment or tools define "legitimacy"! Don't even go for what percentage of your time you spend doing it. Your WORK defines that - nothing else. There are plenty of long-standing well-equipped companies who do terrible work. I'd take a part-timer working out of a minivan but doing great work over a hack 8 days a week.

 

[B_Strange]

NEVER let anybody tell you that equipment or tools define "legitimacy"! Don't even go for what percentage of your time you spend doing it. Your WORK defines that - nothing else. There are plenty of long-standing well-equipped companies who do terrible work. I'd take a part-timer working out of a minivan but doing great work over a hack 8 days a week.

Thanks! I don’t think I explained myself well. I don’t think the tools define my legitimacy but showing up equipped to do quality work does. I think what I was getting it is that if I bid a job I need to be able to complete it, soup to nuts, with excellence. Today that means renting a dump trailer but maybe soon owning one. I want to offer my clients better prices and I can do that as I get efficient. I am working daily on climbing skills and work position and can see where owning a tool such as a dump trailer or chipper and chip truck would help being more efficient.

That being said I really don’t want to go heavy into debt to do the above. I can’t really. So slow and steady and getting advice. I really appreciate your input, Joey B’s and Birdyman and well everyone who has chimed in. I desperately don’t want to be a hack. I want to be the best arborist possible and give my girls a legacy they can build on. So I *think* I am not a hack and am trying to stay on the straight and narrow! I am jealous of those minivan guys though. . . (See above post regarding tree work and Ford Rangers. . . I swear I saw Dante peeping around this huge brush pile and grinning)

 

[ATH]

Don't forget to invest in education as well...whether that is Extension events, Department of Forestry, ISA, TCIA, etc.

That can be a tough check to write when you are pinching pennies to buy equipment, but never stop learning if you want to get better!

 

[Crimsonking]

B is being modest. He’s a great, conscientious man who puts his heart and soul into the work of his hands. He also takes development seriously. I admire his commitment, personal flexibility, resolve, and steady execution. If you get the chance to hang out with this guy, take it. I miss him!

 

[Joeybagodonuts]

NEVER let anybody tell you that equipment or tools define "legitimacy"! Don't even go for what percentage of your time you spend doing it. Your WORK defines that - nothing else. There are plenty of long-standing well-equipped companies who do terrible work. I'd take a part-timer working out of a minivan but doing great work over a hack 8 days a week.

Woah now there ATH!! You know that's not what i was implying...

The whole legitimacy reference was what i personally would consider as being "legitimately operational"... I shouldn't even need to explain that.. However.. Rolling up in a mini van doesn't exactly get the job done for the customer does it?? Not unless your advertising/representing yourself as some sort of Climb only deal... Right? You following me?

If Bstrange is trying to be a legit effective full service, not only is it hard to present yourself as that if your pulling up with the good ole Cart & Pony show, but your working twice as hard as you have to without a chipper.. hence my reference to a "legitimately operational".. He could be the best arborist on the face of the Earth.. but if he ain't got the tools to do the job, your not exactly legitimately operational..

Some guys I've worked for don't like log trucks.. they think it's just one more piece of equipment to manage & find drivers for.. they use a skid instead, cut everything small & painstakingly fumble around loading a chip box thats 5ft off the ground.. with that aside. I've never come across that same thinking towards a chipper.. when most companies chippers go down, everything come to a halt.. you can't do your work, extra bodies get sent home, the list is exhaustive.... For that time being, they are not "legitimately operational"..

I think you know what I'm saying ATH. Yeah..? No..?

 

[B_Strange]

Woah now there ATH!! You know that's not what i was implying...

The whole legitimacy reference was what i personally would consider as being "legitimately operational"... I shouldn't even need to explain that.. However.. Rolling up in a mini van doesn't exactly get the job done for the customer does it?? Not unless your advertising/representing yourself as some sort of Climb only deal... Right? You following me?

If Bstrange is trying to be a legit effective full service, not only is it hard to present yourself as that if your pulling up with the good ole Cart & Pony show, but your working twice as hard as you have to without a chipper.. hence my reference to a "legitimately operational".. He could be the best arborist on the face of the Earth.. but if he ain't got the tools to do the job, your not exactly legitimately operational..

Some guys I've worked for don't like log trucks.. they think it's just one more piece of equipment to manage & find drivers for.. they use a skid instead, cut everything small & painstakingly fumble around loading a chip box thats 5ft off the ground.. with that aside. I've never come across that same thinking towards a chipper.. when most companies chippers go down, everything come to a halt.. you can't do your work, extra bodies get sent home, the list is exhaustive.... For that time being, they are not "legitimately operational"..

I think you know what I'm saying ATH. Yeah..? No..?

I hear you Joey and I think that is where my dilemma is. I want to get the job done safely, excellently, and efficiently( to quote my old boss and also the guy who trained me) and that means, to me, using the proper tools for the job. That also means renting some of those tools and checking my ego at the truck when I bid. I waved off two jobs this month that I really needed but they where not in my wheelhouse. One was a silver maple lead,60+’, over a house. The homeowner said the last guy used a crane. No access for a rented lift, technical rigging, oh and there was a rotten hole at the base of the lead. Pass this time. The other was a ginormous white oak. Same deal super spreading out three trunk codom 70’ tall, with a deck, brick wall, fence and goats to miss. I I had a GRCS and a ground hand I could have done it but it would have taken me waaaay to long. Guy was willing to pay the money but needed it done fast.

Kinda off topic - this whole communicating over the inter webs is new for me and I don’t want to inadvertently ruffle feathers due to my not navigating the forums well. It would be great to kinda hang out in a bar and talk about this over a beer or other tasty adult beverage but until the Expo we can’t. I am enjoying the back and forth though.

I didn’t finish hauling g brush yesterday but good news is that I am not using the Ranger! I am using a 1/2 ton I borrowed from my dad. You hear that? That’s angels singing hallelujah.