Not sure where to post this, so moderators move it if necessary. Here’s my delema. I own a 22ft tilt deck trailer for transporting my tracked skid steer. But recently I had a couple jobs where I had to tear out and dispose of concrete slabs. I loaded the rubble on the trailer and took it to the riprap pile at work. Was able to use the company forklift to unload the big pieces but had to do the rest by hand. A couple weeks ago I bought a wood chipper and need something to blow chips into. Also, a bucket truck is hopefully coming in the near future. So will need something for hauling wood and logs away from jobs. I stopped by a trailer dealer and looked at his dump units. Explained that I might be interested but don’t need 2 trailers and might want to trade mine in. Dealer called yesterday and said he was going to be coming through the area and wanted to look at mine. Sounds like I could probably get more for it than I paid in 2018. Just guessing, but if he gave me around $7k for mine that leaves $5-6k difference that I would need to come up with. Seems like I should be able to find a used 1 ton dump truck in the $5-7k range. And it would be a lot handier in tight areas ( back yards, alleys, etc). Which way would you go?
I like the dump truck Less storage, ready to go when you need it, and no time wasted hooking up and unhooking a trailer. Just my 2c worth.
Several things factor into such a decision! If you get the dump trailer, what would be your primary vehicle for towing it? For an appropriate size trailer to haul your skid steer, we’re talking some significant weight between the two, and I’d want at least a 3/4 ton. I know a guy who lived across the street when I was growing up who did tree work using a dump trailer and a chipper. Sometimes he would tow the two separate, but he had a hitch on the back of his dump trailer that he could tow his chipper as well! He still swears by the dump trailer/truck combo, because he likes to unhitch from the trailer and then he has a truck he can do whatever with including going to the store. Not sure how excited is be about towing a dump trailer and chipper at the same time but I understand his point. For tree work, I like being able to tow the chipper with the dump truck. Doesn’t leave me with anything if the dump truck is ever down, but definitely my personal preference. Any dump truck is defined by the condition of the dump box, and in the current market, I’d be concerned what you could get for the price point you stated, but if you can, it sounds like a great deal! If the bucket truck you are talking about is the one you spoke about in a different thread, it doesn’t have a chip box, so that wouldn’t help you, but you could always pull the dump trailer or chipper with that and use your truck to pull the other. I totally understand you’re dilemma and in no way claim to have the answer for you, let alone myself Just talking through some of it. Easier decision for me, because I don’t have a truck that would pull a dump trailer let alone one loaded with a skid steer, so I would’ve been shopping for both at the same time, which would have been out of my price point for what I would have wanted.
Another thing to consider, which I am sure you have already done; check is the width of your track loader against the inside dimensions of the dump trailer. My brothers track loader won’t fit inside his dump trailer. The dump trailers are heavy pigs but are very handy for a multitude of things. If you go with the dump truck route you may want to change to a pintle hitch instead of the 2-5/8” ball but then you are SOL on your pickup unless you swap that hitch also. I see the advantages of both & can use both. But prefer the dump truck/grain truck route. Another option if you are wanting a dump box is look for older (late 70’s - 80’s ) grain trucks. Usually those can be had for around $3-$4k in good condition at farm auctions. You could easily set up one of those to pull your chipper.
Something like these : https://www.auctiontime.com/listing...63.222309493.1663423636-1249986561.1663423630 https://www.truckpaper.com/listings/trucks/for-sale/215859905/1974-ford-f500 https://www.truckpaper.com/listings/trucks/for-sale/216774713/1974-ford-f750
I was in the same boat several years ago, called a friend who had a small dump truck possibly for sale.. He enlightened me pretty quickly as to what to buy.. It was dump trailer all the way.. Main reason was future/annual expense.. My trailer costs me 6 bucks a year for registration, plus a small inspection fee,, that’s it…. Just think of the yearly expense for a dump truck, registration, insurance, fuel, maint. Are the main expenses.. Then throw in the obvious repairs that’ll come up eventually.. For me it was a no-brainer decision.. BTW, that friend, Charles Sommers just passed 2 weeks ago, RIP Charlie..
I’ve considered an old grain truck because they can be had for pretty reasonable prices. And they would be great for just a chipper truck. But I need something with much shorter sides to load with my skid steer. (Dirt, gravel, busted concrete, logs, etc)
We haul everything you listed in our old grain trucks, the 77 has 4’ sides; We don’t have any problem clearing the sides with the bucket/grapple. You can find those older trucks with 3’ box sides or you can trim them down.
I like 1ton dumps for maneuverability and versatility. Put a removable cap on it for chip truck duty.
That’ll do! In your situation, I think I’d go for the trailer. Dump truck doesn’t really help you with transporting the loader, but the trailer does. Sounds like you have a mix of things you like to do between tree work, firewooding, and some skid steer work. If you were focusing on tree work, I may feel otherwise, but either way, I can’t wait to see what you end up with
Let make a clarification on my earlier statement about my brothers track loader not fitting in his dump trailer. The inside width of his dump trailer is 82”, the width of his track loader is 80” so it will fit BUT the grapple & bucket are both over 84” so transporting with those attachments is problematic with the dump trailer, making an open sided flatbed a better option.
I owned a dump trailer before . it worked good on hard pavement but if you went off road when wet and a heavy load on it you'd set there and spin even in 4 wheel drive.it was like a big ole boat anchor . I'd go with a truck if the insurance cost isn't an issue.
I’m a fan of dump trailers. With a little fabrication they can load logs themselves with no need for other equipment. That being said even the low models like I have are not great for hauling around a skid steer if that’s what you had in mind. Higher bed is harder to get into but more importantly higher center of gravity on the road. It can be done but you give up some safety.
After some thought I came up with the answer to your dilemma. BUY BOTH so you're covered. That's the Nebraska way you know.
I have a 2023 F150 heavy duty payload package. Think “heavy half” or “camper special” with a 2550 lb payload. I can’t justify a full 1-ton class and even if I could, I’d get a 450/4500 class vehicle anyway. I ordered the pickup for the camper more than anything last august ’22. my skidsteer is a bobcat 773 and weighs just under 6000 lbs. so there’s 9,000 pounds in back making my Gross weight around 15,000 lbs. it’s got a vertical lift arm instead of radius lift The dump trailer is a Midsota 7’x14’ tandem dump. Rated at 12,000 lbs, but has 7,000 lb axles. 2’ walls with 2’ wood extensions. inside width is 82”. My grapple I use is 78”. The snow bucket is 72”. it is extremely easy and I have plenty of lift still to load the trailer with the 773. I don’t think it would be an issue loading a full size tandem axle 10 yard dump truck. I can make a log arch for loading the trailer without having the skid steer. Otherwise there’s an extra trip to haul the skidsteer to the job site and then retrieving it when done. there’s no way I could use it with a chipper and that’s where a dump bed on the pickup would be beneficial. Then you can tow the chipper with the truck with a dump bed. the point I’m making is there is no perfect setup for what I’m seeing you need. You need a dump bed for the chipper but the flat for the logs and skid steer. But you don’t want the dump bed for running around. you’re going to have to settle or double up on your power units with them being specific duties. I don’t see either dump body being appropriate for hauling asphalt or concrete demolition unless you buy them specifically with 3/8” ar400 floors.
