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Dump Trucks

Jun

13

Dump Trucks

Dump trucks are class of trucks that are used for transporting various loose materials. These materials can include anything from dirt, rocks, construction materials, ores, sand and gravel. These trucks are used for all kinds of different purposes ranging anywhere from construction to waste dumping. They can be used by large companies and contractors or even small business owners and private individuals.

Dump trucks are better at transporting materials than other trucks because their design makes them very efficient. The materials can be easily loaded and offloaded much quicker than other type of truck. Their secure enclosure also makes them safer for transporting a large quantity of different materials without worrying about any loss of payload.

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Types of Dump Trucks

There are different kinds of dump trucks meant for different purposes. You can typically find that one truck will be more specialized for a certain type of job than others. Some trucks will include certain design and construction features that will make them more suitable for specific purposes. This is why its handy to know all the different kinds of dump trucks so that you can easily familiarize yourself with all their intended jobs. Here are the most common types of dump trucks.

Standard Dump Trucks

These types of dump trucks are very common and can be seen throughout all kinds of jobsites. Standard dump trucks consist of a truck that has a dumping container on its back. The dumping container is connected to a hydraulic lifting assembly. This helps lift the dumping container to load and unload materials and drop it back on to the truck when it’s time for transporting.

Since these trucks are made with generalized specifications in mind, they can be used for all kinds of different jobs. This makes them a very versatile type of dump truck and you can see them being used in sites like construction, waste dumps, mining areas, woodworking factories, and other services. Standard dump trucks can be modified to fit a specific purpose and serve as a great blank canvas for your particular needs.

The side loading and dumping capabilities are also preferred for jobs such as building pavements as the material spreads out more evenly instead of being focused in one spot. They are typically found in constructions sites, roadside construction, and landfill sites. The sideways tilt of the side dump trucks makes them a primary choice for dumping material in a landfill.

Side Dump Trucks

Transfer dump trucks are similar to standard dump trucks but with an additional feature. Transfer dump trucks will have secondary dump trailers attached to the main truck. These dump trailers enable the dump truck to carry more material than is possible with a standard truck. The trailers are hitched to the truck and are completely movable in any direction.

The best thing about transfer dump trucks is that you can have different shaped trailers for different purposes. Standard bucket or straight trailers can all be attached to the truck for a variety of different materials. You can fine tune exactly which trailer you want to use for which material. This makes the hauling process much more streamlined. Transfer dump trucks are suitable for job sites that need to move a large quantity of varied materials. The trailers help keep the materials separate as opposed to using a larger dump truck with a single bucket like side dump trucks.

Articulated Dump Trucks

Articulated dump trucks aren’t all that different from standard dump trucks. They have a single dumping container on the back of the truck controlled by a hydraulic shaft. The difference in articulated dump trucks comes in their driving performance. This dump truck is more suited for heavy off road environments where standard dump trucks can’t normally get to.

These trucks are built specifically to traverse difficult and challenging terrain such as mud, marshy areas, dirt roads, small inclines, and sand and gravel roads. To accomplish this feat, the articulated dump trucks come with specialized equipment such as grip tires, all wheel drive, and an engine that produces more torque. Articulated dump trucks are suited well for job sites that require getting through terrain that is uneven and hard to manage.

Belly Dump Trucks

Belly dump trucks are often referred to as bottom dump trucks. This is because they can dump their payload directly downwards. Physically, they heavily resemble standard dump trucks. The difference lies in the dumping container which enclosed from all sides. Inside the dumping container, there is a slope that allows the payload to efficiently slide down when the door is released.

The door for the dumping container retracts from the bottom up, allowing the materials to be dumped towards the ground. This makes it easy to control the rate at which the materials are being dumped. By slowing or speeding up the retraction of the door, you can control the flow rate.

These types of dump trucks are more widely used for road construction. The property of allowing material to steadily exit the container makes them ideal for laying down gravel for roads. It can also be handy for dumping the payload in a more even spread so that it doesn’t all get piled into one small area.

High Skip Dumpers

High skip dumpers are usually much smaller than other types of dump trucks. Typically, they can only carry a certain limit of payload which cannot be exceeded. They have a dumping container on the front of the truck that can be lifted up and used to drop the payload from a height. This allows the payload to be dropped from a height of up to 2 meters depending on the model.

The small size and weight of high skip dumpers makes them extremely maneuverable. They aren’t suited for big job sites or contract work but will fare perfectly for smaller jobs and personal projects. The ability to drop payload from a height makes them a good choice for dropping materials onto the beds of trucks and other machinery such as cement mixers.

What to Look for When Financing Used Dump Trucks

When done right, construction can end up make a pretty penny for anyone looking to finance a used dump truck. However, with so much misinformation and half truths floating around it can be hard to tell fact from fiction. Thankfully, this guide will help point you in the right direction and make sure that you can turn a profit for all your hard earned money.

Credit Score

When trying to finance a used dump truck, the first question you will be asked is your credit score. Typically, a credit score of 600 and above. This will ensure that you get financing immediately with no hassle whatsoever.

Credit scores around 500 or below can still get you financing, but it will be much harder to come by. You may have to resort to collateral based lending or a private seller who might be willing to settle terms with you for buying used trucks.

Condition of the Truck

Before you go spending thousands of dollars on a used belly dump, you need to be sure that it is in proper state. This can be as simple as checking the body for any scratches, scrapes, dents, bumps, and cracks. Make sure to check every inch of the vehicle before you make that purchase. Making a note of all these minor damages will give you a better idea of how it was used for dump truck hauling and you may be even be able to knock a few hundred bucks off the price.

Operating State

You need to be sure that the dump truck actually functions without fault before you go on buying it. The last thing you want is to spend your livelihood on a used super dump only to find that it doesn’t work.

The best way to check the truck is to inspect all the working parts. Make sure the tires are in good condition along with proper axles. The hydraulics should be functional and should be able to make the dumping container move around. Last but not least, the engine should be in optimal condition. There should be no signs of oil leaking or bad spark plugs. If you’re not as mechanically experienced, you should bring along a mechanic to inspect the truck for you.

Start up the truck and check for any anomalies such as thuds and knocks. Drive the truck around and try to check the transmission by seeing how well it shifts. While you’re there, it will be a good idea to check any electronics such as the headlights, indicators, horns, hazard lights, reverse lights, air conditioner, etc. Makes sure the hydraulics are in working condition by lifting the dumping container all the way up and then down to see anything out of the ordinary.

Specifications of the Truck

Whether you’re buying a small belly dump or a large 18ft dump, you should know the requirements of the job and whether the dump truck fits the bill. This can start by making sure the engine is powerful enough to haul heavy construction materials throughout the job site. For standard dump truck, a range of 400-600 hp is typically preferred for most jobs. Other jobs may need specialized trucks such as a belly dump or a high skip dumper.

If you’re unsure about which truck will be ideal, look around your local area to see what kinds of jobsites are common. This will make sure that you have a dump truck that is always in demand and will net you a decent profit in the long term.

Number of Axles

To make sure that your dump truck can pull of the job, you will need to make sure that you have the proper amount of axles. Standard dump trucks require at least more than two for basic tasks. You will also need to calculate the ratio of number of axles to your load capacity in order to comply with your local state laws.

Generally, three and four axle vehicles are much more common for dump trucks. Quad-axle dumps consist of four axles in total, two of which are normally powered and two which are not. Quad-axle dumps can carry much larger and heavier payload but will be limited severely ion their maneuverability and handling.

Likewise, a tri-axle dump contains three axles and can sometimes also include a fourth lift axle. Tri-axle dumps are usually more lightweight and extremely easy to handle than quad=axle dumps. They also have lower running costs which can save a significant amount of money in the long run. However, tri-axle dumps have a lesser load carrying capacity than quad axle dumps which only makes them suitable for small to medium sized jobs. In addition, some state laws don’t count the lift axle as an axle which can drastically reduce your legal carrying capacity limit.

Load Capacity

This one is obvious but it is often missed or forgotten about. The load capacity of your dump truck will influence the kind of work it gets. Smaller trucks will only be good for general construction and will only fulfill a quarter of the requirement for any major job site. Whereas a dump truck with a bigger load capacity will be much more flexible and will be able to work in a variety of jobsites without fail. A bigger load capacity also means you can move more material in one go, saving fuel and ultimately operating costs.