DISCLAIMER: I am making several posts that all start out the same and LOOK like they might be cross-posts but are actually different questions. I did check with management to make sure I wasn't breaking any rules. BACKGROUND INFORMATION : I do gravel driveways, mainly repair/reclamation. Not asphalt, not concrete, just gravel. But I've had to turn away work for not having the capability to do certain things "in-house". Stuff like putting in culverts or stripping away significant amounts of grass and topsoil to install a brand So I decided that during the off-season I would buy some equipment. I am also going to pick up my CDL because I need a more versatile license, but that's only for background. Also, I already have a Kubota 3031 with FEL, but it's dedicated to a specific task and putting a backhoe on the 3-point hitch is not really a good option. The list of equipment I figure I need is as follows: An Excavator : Something in the 70hp range, give or take. Culvert installation and similar work would be typical A Skid Steer : Not sure what power range is smartest. A Trailer : Ideally should be able to carry a payload of about 18,000-20,000lbs. Must be Bumper-Pull, not 5th Wheel/Gooseneck because I would intend to pull it with the dump truck. A Dump Truck : Something in the 5-ton load range. I give that information so that anyone answering my question can see the context of the question FORUM RELEVANT QUESTION(S) : I need to buy a dump truck, for several reasons. I do NOT want to buy a full-on 10-ton plus truck since I get material delivered and don't move enough to make getting it myself worthwhile. What I do want it for is the ability to bring a small amount of specific material to a job site; say a few tons of rip-rap or #2's. Also, for hauling away stuff I can't get rid of on site. Sod/Topsoil/Plant material, etc. And of course, for pulling a heavy trailer. One of the items I am looking at buying is 15,000 pound tractor and ALL of the possibilities if I don't get THAT particular one are in the same general weight class. Using Ford as an example, I think am looking for something in the F-350 to F-750 range, but I'm not sure precisely what size. I would like it to have a dump bed with a load capacity of about 5 tons, but I wonder if that wouldn't force me into a much larger vehicle than I want. Maybe a 3-Ton load capacity is wiser. Also, if I have to tow a piece of heavy equipment I pretty much have to assume that I need a towing capacity in the 20-25K pound area. (That's 15-20k for the equipment and 5-7k for the trailer. Naturally, I don't HAVE to tow and carry stone at the same time, but it would be convenient if I could. Finally, I don't generally think buying new is the best value. It's not that I won't do it if I see the logic, but generally I find used equipment to be the better financial option. So the two questions are.... 1) What would be a good truck brand, model and size to look for? 2) Is it worthwhile to just buy a new or recent model dump bead and then shop for a truck to put it on? ( Chassis-Cab or existing flatbed, etc .)
As far as brand, get whatever is well supported in your area. Orphans, like GMC, and etc. can come back to bite you when they need parts. For what you do, I would get about an F750 size, 28-33k gvwr. You will need a class A to pull it with an F350, so why limit yourself. Also, no matter what the pickup enthusiasts say, 27k behind an F750 is much safer than 27k behind a pickup. On trailers, get a dual tandem, not a triaxle. Even a multi-max (4 short axles) beats the heck out of a triaxle.
I was wondering about that... I noticed that equipment trailers in the 20-25k GVWR class that tandem-duals and tri-axles were different options on what otherwise seemed to be the same trailer. Even odder, at least to me, was that the tri-axle trailers seemed top be cheaper, when I would have thought that it would be the other way around. So what's the deal on this? Why is one good and one bad?
Like mitch said get a bigger truck. 20K on a bumper pull i wouldnt do it. Plus you wont be so far over your gcw.
I am resigned to the fact that I'll need to get my Class A CDL for the winter. There is actually a loophole in the Federal and State law here... If I have a 26,000 truck and a 10,000 trailer I don't need a CDL at all, because both are under the weight break. A home-built trailer under 4,000 pounds doesn't need to be certified to a particular weight or tagged on the license plate, so it technically can't be overweight. So all I need to do is develop a magic metal that is so strong and light that I can build a 3,999lb trailer that can carry a 20,000lb load and I can tow it right through the "Big Damn Loophole" Joking aside though... When I was talking about bumper pull I was talking about a pintle hook set-up on at LEAST an F-350 size Dually. Reading the responses in this thread so far, it seems that I I would need to step up to as much as an F-750 Class truck. Maybe, depending on the setup I could go 550 or 650, but probably not a 450 or less. My basic problem is that I am a 1-man operation, at least for now. So I have to think not only about how I will do the work, but how I will get the equipment back and forth from the job site. AND whatever I bring that day will likely be it. See, I had been wondering if maybe an excavator was a better idea than a tractor-backhoe-FEL, but then I realized... If I have an excavator on site for the day then I do NOT have an FEL and I may well need one. Running back and forth myself is not practical because it eats too much time. Plus, either way I am dealing with a 15-20k pound piece of equipment. My only other option is to hire a low-boy whenever I want to move the big stuff. I also need a Skid-Steer, but I can put that on a smaller equipment trailer and pull it with my Silverado 2500HD. (12,000 towing capacity) To sum up, it seems there are no good answers, just different levels of suck. I simply want to choose the option with the least amount of suck. Hence my desire to tap into the group knowledge and experience here.
Don't beat around the bush, just get an old f750 or similar, get your cdl, best thing I ever got. I don't know what rental companies are like around you but I use them a lot, have them deliver the equipment.
When i was at the rental company my service truck was an 06 f450. GVW on truck was 16K GCW was 26K. Truck netted 14,500. When i put a trailer on it that put my net weight around 16,500. So i could only haul 9500 lbs.legally. Which would be a bobcat or mini excavator.
On a helium filled, zero pound empty trailer
Many of s130 bobcats and tb125s mini ex hauled. But the point is the same you cant haul much.
I work by myself as well and have been doing it that way for more than 20 years. I do grading, lawn installations, septic and drainage work, and some site work as well. I started out with an 18000lb rated cab over and pulled a 10 ton electric bake tandem axel trailer with a 17000 lb excavator or a small backhoe....it pulled it fine, IF the trailer brakes were in perfect condition it would stop well too but really was minimal at best. I moved on to an F650 with air brakes and a 20 ton trailer with air brakes as well, no worries about towing then. Now I have a 10 wheeler, same 20 ton trailer, a 33k excavator, a 12k excavator and a track skid steer. The mini and track skid steer get used most and can both be put on the trailer at the same time, saving a trip and allowing me to get a ton of work done. I do have an F550 flatbed dump with a small 16 k trailer that I use to get into smaller jobs too. It sounds like if you are getting your CDL you would do well with an F650-750 size truck with air brakes, a 20 ton trailer, (it may seem like overkill but it doesn't limit your towing capabilities as much) a mini excavator and a skid steer.
I am coming to realize that unless I want to hire someone to move my equipment for me whenever I want to use it that I really need to do as you and the others suggest and get into the 650/750 class. Having said that, one of my concerns with an F650-750 size truck is that once I put a dump bed on it that it will be so close in size to the typical 10-ton single axle that I would STILL need to go and buy an F-350 class dump truck. Part of the issue here is that I am not closely familiar with truck sizes in the 550/650/750 class, so I'll need to go look at a bunch of them to try to develop that instinctive awareness of size.
No doubt, I was just poking fun at your math. I have to keep it up if I want to stay HEF's most prolific smarta$$
correct me IF im wrong.... don't Ohio have some "odd" weight/bridge laws on the books? I live in Indiana tho so im not sure on the trailer weight from a tri axle to a dual tandem!!! but check into it before buying a trailer/truck