October 19, 2022
Trucking
The Mechanism Behind Dump Trucks
What to Look for When Buying a Dump Truck
What You Can Haul with a Dump Truck
Learn How Twisted Nail Can Help Find You a Dump Truck in Texas
The label ‘Dump Truck’ encompasses a wide range of equipment that can be defined as a semi-truck with a dump bed attached to the truck frame. Dump trucks are known by several different names: dump truck, tandem, tri-axle, quad-axle, and super dump. The names stand for the number of axles that the truck has; the number of axles helps to determine the carrying capacity of a specific unit. Dump trucks are utilized on jobsites that have limited space or that are located on roads that cannot accommodate a full truck and trailer combination. Dump trucks can be used in a wide variety of ways including material and aggregate hauling as well as demolition.
Dump trucks are the most basic kind of truck used to haul materials such as stone, sand, and gravel. Like many other types of trucks, dump trucks come with a hydraulic lift that automatically raises the dump box to unload materials. The most popular types of lifts include telescopic, dual-piston, and scissor lifts.
1. Telescopic lifts involve a single cylinder which lifts the dump bed as far as it can go, nearly at a 90 degree angle. These types of lifts are usually located in the center of the dump box’s front end.
2. Dual-piston lifts simply use two pistons—instead of a single one—to lift the dump box.
3. Scissor lifts are the most popular kind of lift for dump trucks. This system is easy to use and helpful with uneven loads. Using one cylinder that functions like a pair of scissors allows for maximum leverage while also allowing enough space and power to balance uneven loads.
All hydraulic lifts come with a battery that needs to be replaced every so often. However, some lifts don’t use battery when using the “gravity down” option, and others can save battery by only using it when lowering the dump box.
For owner-operators and construction businesses that frequently haul aggregate in bulk, buying a dump truck could open their operations to contracts that traditional equipment will be unable to service. Here are some factors you should be aware of when buying a dump truck.
Before using a dump truck, it’s important to verify that all your materials will fit in the dump box and meet the weight requirements (most dump trucks of average size can carry up to 10-25 tons).
When purchasing, considering the businesses average use is important; while there are Super Dump dump trucks that can carry 25 tons of material, the trucks can be prohibitively expensive and may be overkill for a landscaping company. By contrast, if a business is frequently stockpiling, then the extra investment required for a higher capacity truck will make each mile driven significantly more profitable.
Many dump trucks these days come with aluminum boxes. Aluminum is more lightweight and rust-resistant than steel, which helps them last longer, but they are not as durable as steel dump boxes and cannot handle as many rough materials. An aluminum dump bed is excellent for stockpiling but cannot be used on demolition projects or to haul material larger than your fist. A steel dump bed is heavier, and therefore has a lower carrying capacity, but is able to be used on a much wider range of jobs.
Most often, your average dump truck comes with 2x2 or 2x3 side wall tubing. While there is nothing wrong with either of these types, 2x3 is recommended for heavier loads because it is more durable.
Trucks that have a wider dump box canhold more materials, but this may not mean they can carry heavier loads. The larger the dump box, the heavier it is, which will count against the truck’s legal payload limit. Conversely, a dump truck with a smaller dump box may be lighter but may not have the capacity to carry up to the trucks legal maximum weight. Wider boxes are perfect for bulk loads that need to travel over long distances.
Dump trucks can transport any kind of loose material, such as gravel, rocks, sand, or demolition waste. Their open-box beds powered by hydraulic lifts make the loading, hauling, and unloading process quick and seamless.
Dump trucks are equipped to handle most loads And are more versatile than tractor-trailer combinations. Weight limits for dump trucks range from 10 to 25 tons; anything heavier is better suited for a tractor-trailer. There are many different types of dump trucks which provide a wide range of options for aggregate haulers.
Small-sized standard dump trucks are good for hauling lighter loadswith a maximum load weight of 10-15 tons. On the other hand, larger or full-sized dump trucks can handle up to 25 tons. Transfer dump trucks, which use a standard-size transportable cargo box, can generally haul up to 15-18 tons.
While dump trucks are perfect for industrial and residential construction projects, as well as general aggregate hauling, they are not good for heavier projects. Compared to trailers which can handle heavier loads, dump trucks have a shorter wheelbase, which limits how much and how heavy they can carry. A good alternative in these cases is an aluminum or steel end dump trailer.
However, if your project doesn’t require any major lifting or specifications, a dump truck is a cost-effective choice.
Whether for commercial or residential use, dump trucks are an essential part of any construction or hauling project. They make moving tons of material quick, easy, and cost-effective. With a variety of types and sizes available to buy, you can rest assured that there’s a dump truck suited to your needs.
An end dumps carry weight depends heavily on the specific road regulations, the power unit weight, and the composition of the trailer. A steel trailer, typically referred to as a Round Bottom, will be heavier and will have a payload of approximately 21 to 23 tons. By contrast, an aluminum end dump is much lighter and can carry anywhere from 23-28 tons, with some set-ups being able to approach 30-ton payloads.
End dumps are typically loaded by heavy machinery, such as a front-end loader or excavator, or by a series of conveyor belts. End dumps are top load trailers. An owner-operator with an end dump trailer will uncover the trailer via an electric tarp switch in the cab. With the trailer uncovered, the heavy machinery is free to load from the top of the trailer, being careful to evenly distribute the material. Once loaded, the owner-operator flips the tarp switch, covers the load, and continues their run.
There are several different types of hydraulic lifts that are usually part of dump trailers. These include telescopic, dual-piston, and scissor lifts, among others. Most dump trailers use hydraulics to automatically lift the dump box and unload the materials in a quick, seamless action.
An end dump is an excellent investment for owner operators or construction companies that transport bulk aggregate on a frequent basis. Depending on your needs, a steel or aluminum end dump will ensure that you are able to reliable keep your customers jobsites and stockpiles full.
Depending on market timing, a typical aluminum end dump will range between $15,000 to $70,000+, with steel round bottoms priced around $10,000-$50,000+. These trailers are also offered for rent or lease, with trailers available for around $850-$2,000 per month. When renting or leasing, it is typical for all repairs to be the responsibility of the renting owner operator.
Flex base can be an excellent choice for a driveway but is not often used as a primary input in TXDOT construction. Flex base is best suited for farm roads, driveways, RV pads, and for other foundations that will not receive heavy traffic. Flex base is cheaper than most alternative options, such as asphalt or base that meets TXDOT specifications. Additionally, once set and compacted, a flex base road or driveway is cheaper and easier to maintain.
Yes, road base and flex base are the same material family. That said, the differentiating factor is typically the testing results of each material. When shopping for material, it is important to identify exactly what type of material you are buying. Retailers will categorize Base as a broad category and can leave identification to consumers, which is challenging and confusing. In general, if a retailer is selling a Road Base it can be assumed that the material is of higher construction quality than flex base, meaning it will have a wider range of approved uses. However, some vendors will sell Flex Base as a Road Base; this makes it important to understand if the material you are purchasing is a true Flex Base, is ‘Spec 247’, or is TXDOT approved. With each increase in quality comes an increase in cost, so it is important to identify which material will best suit the needs of your project.
Flex Base is a mixture of loose aggregate and coarse aggregate, can be a wide range of color based on source location, and is composed of materials ranging from dirt to rock that are 1”-3” in size. Most Flex Base, particularly around Central Texas, will range from tan to brown, will consist of a dirt material and rocks that range from 1” to 2” in diameter. There are specialty materials that will include rocks up to 3” in size, but these are typically reserved for heavy construction projects.
Any driveway’s depth should be at least 5” to ensure structural integrity and better load capacity. For road base in particular, experts recommend a thickness of 6-8”.
Twisted Nail is here to help. If you need something hauled in central Texas, we can get your job done, safely, timely, and reliably.
