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Buying Guide to Dump Trailers

Jun. 10 2020 Buying Guide By ___

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If you want to carry heavy payloads of loose materials from one place to another, then you should look into getting yourself a dump trailer. These convenient trailers are designed to easily haul materials and deposit them wherever you need them to be.

Mountain West Trailers is proud to be your premier dump trailer dealer in Heber City, Utah, and we don’t want you to pick just any model. That’s why we have provided some suggestions on what you should take into consideration when choosing the right dump trailer for your various projects.

Size

First and foremost, make sure your dump trailer can handle the size of your project. For instance, if you work for a materials company, you’ll probably want a dump trailer that’s a little bigger to handle all the work you’ll be doing. However, if you work somewhere a little less labor-intensive but that still requires the occasional dump trailer use, like a privately owned farm, you won’t need a larger payload.

Keep in mind that the weight and size of your dump trailer will depend on the towing capacity of your tow vehicle. If you purchase a bigger size than your vehicle can tow, you’ll end up damaging the trailer and the vehicle. Dump trailers come in sizes ranging from 8 to 30 feet, but the most common size is 14 feet because it has a decent load capacity and is easy to maneuver. 

Choosing Between End and Side Dump

There are two major designs for dump trailers: end dumps and side dumps. End dumps unload materials from the back by pushing the front part of the trailer into the air. They only have a back gate, so you have to push the cargo towards the back after loading it and then push it to the front to unload. Newer models often come with a conveyor belt that moves the material out of the bed without raising the trailer. There are some dump trailers with tension belts or live beds that help with larger materials.

With a side dump trailer, loading and unloading become easier, and it is even easier to use the tie-downs. These models are designed to tilt sideways and unload the material next to the trailer. This can make laying lines of material much easier as you don’t have to dump it all at once and then redistribute it. Ramps can be stored underneath the bed, at the side of the box, or built right into the tailgate.

Side dumps are ideal for road work, general construction, and oil fields where you’ll probably have a little more room to move around. Before buying a dump trailer, survey the area you’ll be working on. Think about all the reasons you’ll need your dump trailer and whether or not it would be better to use an end dump or a side dump.

Lift Style

Dump trailers are equipped with the following types of lifting mechanisms:

  • Dual-piston style: The trailer is pushed up by two pistons.
  • Telescopic-style hydraulic lift: One cylinder is used to push up the trailer.
  • Scissor lift: This also uses one cylinder, but it distributes the footprint evenly so the box and frame aren’t damaged even if the load is uneven.

When you check out the mechanism for lowering the trailer, choose the gravity down option instead of power down, as it helps prolong your battery life.

Number of Axles

Many people prefer large axles, but these need heavy-duty wheels, more wheel studs, and bigger brakes. If you overload your dump trailer too much, the torsion axles can bend. When that happens, you’ll have the costly repair of replacing the entire axle. If you’re going to be hauling heavy loads, choose leaf-spring axles. These can be repaired by replacing the leaf springs and work much better on rugged terrain.

While there might be other ways to narrow down your options, there comes a point where you’ll want to start looking at some quality dump trailers for sale, so visit Mountain West Trailers in Heber City, UT. Our friendly staff will be happy to show you what we have available right now. We welcome all our patrons from Salt Lake City (SLC).