Choosing the right Dump Truck!

Below is the most relevant information you will need if you’re looking to buy a dump truck that will best suit your budget and performance needs!

Source: www.customtruck.com

BODY STYLES
There are 3 kinds of body styles on the market: traditional rectangle, half-round, and semi-elliptical.

A dump box that is in the shape of a traditional rectangle will offer the most room on the floor of the bed, which means more spread. This shape is very popular for the strength and agility it offers with a low center of gravity when carrying a heavy load.

The half-round style can handle impact better than the rectangular version, because the steel is shaped into a semi-circle. As it does not require cross-members for support, it offers a lighter total weight and greater payload capacity. The shape also makes it more difficult for material to stick to the floor, allowing for a cleaner dump cycle. However, the half round has limitations when it comes to hauling equipment or pallets in the bed, because it’s not flat.

The semi-elliptical style – also called bathtub or tub style – is looked upon as a kind of hybrid between the traditional rectangle and the half-round. For example, this body style has floors like the traditional rectangle body style but has a haul shape like the half-round body style.

BODY METAL
As all metals don’t have the same tensile strength, choosing the right one depends on the nature of the task the dump truck will be used for. There are two main options: steel and aluminum.

Steel is ideal for carrying materials that are more abrasive (such as asphalt, gravel, and concrete) as it offers more protection than aluminum against potential damage. There are numerous types of steel that are used, and they come in many grades, ranging from A-36 all the way up to AR-450 or AR-500 depending on the application.

Aluminum is a great choice when carrying non-abrasive materials because of its lighter weight. It offers a greater payload capacity, as well as more protection from corrosion. On the flip side, aluminum is more expensive and its repair costs are greater than steel.

ENGINE
Power output from dump truck engines typically ranges between 300 and 600 horsepower. A word of caution: do not overestimate your requirements and buy too much more horsepower than you actually need. This will cost you when you put the truck in operation. Consider the weight of the load you intend to carry and match an engine accordingly. You don’t want to be under-powered, but you don’t want to be over-powered either.

TRANSMISSION
Manual transmission offers a wide range of gear options in dump trucks. This allows operators to get more maneuverability, as well as match engine speed with the task at hand. An automatic transmission does not offer this advantage, but without multiple gears and clutch, they cause less operator fatigue during long haul jobs. A third option is an integrated automated manual transmission. This is becoming popular with dump truck buyers, because they offer both efficient energy expenditure and a comfortable operating experience at the same time.

AXLE REQUIREMENTS
Gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR, is the maximum operating weight specified for a dump truck and includes the sum total weight of everything. This means chassis, body, engine, fuel, operator, and the cargo load.

Federal laws are in place to protect highways and bridges from excessive damage caused by vehicle weight. These limits are based on the number of axles on a truck. The fewer axles a dump truck has, the lower the weight that truck can legally carry on public roads.

This is precisely the reason why Super Dumps rule the heavy end of the market. A Super Dump has four to seven total axles and is capable of legal payloads ranging from 19-26 tons. Super Dumps carry payloads equal to trailers and transfers, while maintaining the maneuverability and quick turnaround time of a standard tandem dump truck. The unique combination of huge payload and speed is what makes the Super Dump the most productive and profitable dump truck on the road.

Learn more about the different kind of Vehicle Classes —>

Learn more about the different types of Dump Trucks—>

Learn more about state and federal tarping regulations for your truck or trailer –>