Dump insert or Dump truck

[Smitty58]

Which is a better all around setup. I would like to have a dump ,but I also need a truck that I can drive everyday and pull a camper. So for those of you who have either a pickup with a insert or those who have a 1 ton dump ,which do you feel would be the best setup for me.

[olderthandirt]

Hey smitty
Dump insert unless your planning on being on the rd constantly. If you can't haul it in an insert have it delievered and pass the cost along.

Mac

[Smitty58]

Mac, do you have an insert? I only have a 1/2 ton currently, will an insert work in a 1/2 ton? I read somewhere about some leaf spring helpers. Do you think that would help enough to put an insert in my F-150. I don't need to haul a lot of weight ,but I do have a tendency to over do things a bit. Basically all I want to haul is mulch and maybe use it for some cleanups.

[olderthandirt]

yes I have an insert in my 1 ton but you can put them in a 1/2 ton air shocks work and there cheap. If you put boards on the sides you can carry around 3 yds of mulch without hurting the truck but you will need shocks or bags add a leaf something to carry the weight. The inserts are around 1,000 pds unless you get aluminum. Nice hitch hauler by the way.

Mac

[Avery]

Neither....dump trailer. You can carry more than a dump insert and you don't have the added insurance/tags/maintenance expense of a dump truck.

[olderthandirt]

Originally posted by Avery
Neither....dump trailer. You can carry more than a dump insert and you don't have the added insurance/tags/maintenance expense of a dump truck.

But then you can't haul another trailor , I gotta get the tracs and equipment to site and I prefer only 1 trip and I have not seen a 22 ft dump trailor designed to be pulled by a pick up.

Mac

[Avery]

If you have enough truck I believe they make a fifth wheel version in that length.

[Smitty58]

Thanks Mac, I'm adding a couple of things to the hitch hauler but I couldn't wait to post it. It sounds like an insert would be the ticket. I used to have a dump trailer. It was nice but as you say then you can't pull your equipment trailer. I don't suppose the ins. would change much with an insert.

[badranman]

I'm having the same dilema, dump bed (insert) or dump trailer. I'm not really a "lawn guy" per se but own a Bobcat and would like something to haul some gravel, dirt, mulch etc. What's best for a 1/2 ton?

[Smitty58]

badranman - That bobcat has got to be pretty heavy. I'm not sure if a 1/2 ton would be real good for an insert and pulling a heavy trailer. Other than that I think the ideal setup for a bobcat would be the insert (unless you can afford a small dump truck). There is some heavy duty low profile dump trailers that are perfect for hauling a bobcat ,but once you fill the thing with dirt or whatever you would have to leave the bobcat to go dump. I don't think I would like that. Foster makes a real nice dump trailer for that if you are interested.

[badranman]

Sorry, I should have explained better. I have a 2500HD and 12 000 pound flatbed to haul the Bobcat with. What I need is something to haul gravel, dirt etc. I have 2 other 1/2 tons and would like to either put the insert in them or have a dump trailer that they or the 3/4 ton could haul. I don't have to haul the Bobcat at the same time.

[Smitty58]

badranman- depends on what you mean by "some" mulch or gravel. My dump trailer I had was a 7000 gvw, 6' x 10' box. I put boards on the sides to build it up a little. The most I ever hauled in it was 4 tons of pea gravel. The trailer was very tough but my needs changed so I sold it. Now I wish I had it back. I think the trailer would hold more weight than an insert ,but it does have it's down side. It isn't as easy to get into tight spots as a pickup would be ,and of course you have to tag it and carry insurance on it. So what do we do? There are some benefits to a trailer though. There is a local guy that has several of them ,he rents them out for cleanup jobs, roof tearoffs, etc. That could be a pretty good money maker. He just brings the trailer to you ,and when your done he comes and gets it. If you go that route I would suggest getting a big one ,homeowners have a tendency to overload it since there not paying for it.

[xcopterdoc]

I dont think I would put a dump isert into a 1/2 ton truck. I think it woul dbe best suited in a 3/4 or 1 ton. Even with air shocks, overload springs and such, its still alot of weight on the drive train. Transmission, rearend and axle bearings arent what they used to be on half ton trucks. Also with a full load, your braking distance will suffer drastically. Instead of an insert you may try a kit that converts the pick up bed to a dump. Rhino line the bed, install the kit and bingo you have a dump. That would save on the tare weight of the empty dump insert that is eating up gross weight with nothing in it.

[Smitty58]

xcopterdoc- any idea whats involved and how much that would cost?

[badranman]

I thought about that but I always kinda figured they wouldn't hold up to abuse. I don't need something for everyday use, just like to have it when I do need it. Would you tow a dump trailer with the 1/2 ton?

[Smitty58]

badranman - depending on which one you buy ,I tow a 30' travel trailer with my F-150 5.4 Triton. We have no problem with that. I'd check out your towing capacity of your 1/2 ton ,but I really don't think you would have a big problem towing a 7-10K GVW trailer. They make single axle dump trailers also if you just want something for small jobs. Then you wouldn't have to worry about over doing your towing capacity. I saw a 5000 GVW single axle that I would consider ,and they sell new for around $2600.

[xcopterdoc]

I dont have an exact amount Smitty, but I have the lit at work and would be glad to get it and fwd any info to you tomorrow evening.

[gogetter]

Originally posted by Smitty58
xcopterdoc- any idea whats involved and how much that would cost?

Smitty, you can find these at Northerntool.com. They run around $850 if I remember correctly.
And although I have NO personal experience with them, I have read here on several occasions that the pick up bed doesn't hold up. I think I read that they warp and twist.

I'm sure someone here has more personal experience to share.

Good luck.

[badranman]

Quote-"I have read here on several occasions that the pick up bed doesn't hold up. I think I read that they warp and twist."



That's what I heard too! Another POS.

[Gravel Rat]

If you are not into hauling material on a regular basis get a insert if you want a P/U truck. I would use minimum 3/4 ton a 1/2 isn't designed to carry heavy loads you start putting more than 1000lbs into a 1/2 ton your overloading it.

A dump trailer can be a pain in the azz you can't always get it into places your limited where you can go.

[xcopterdoc]

Yup.. looks like the one I had lit on is the same setup sold by Northern. I dont have any personal experience with these either.

[xcopterdoc]

Avery or anyone else... what type of dump trailer are you using? I've heard from some of the guys, that work for the county and city, that the ones they have wont lift with a "full" load on them.

[Avery]

BriMar twin cylinder. It will dump 4+ tons with ease. They could be having a problem with the electrics....if the battery is weak lift is reduced. We hard wire ours to the vehicle electric system.

[xcopterdoc]

Thanks Avery.

[pjslawncare/landscap]

Option #1 dump insert on 1/2 ton = limited weight capacity
Option #2 dump truck isnt real practical for other stuff like pulling camper, but real good for work.
Option #3 dump trailer will handle work well. I know two guys that carry their tractor and bobcat in them to get to site then get materials. It works well for them

[POWERSTROKEDS]

smitty I think you should check out a slicklift or slickhauler they have some awesome set ups that makes your pickup or cab and chassis multi function 4 cu.yd dump box that you can change out to a flatbed or sprayer or anything you want in 40 seconds.check out their site www.slicklift.com look at the hook n haul and the slickhauler its pretty cool.

[landscapingpoolguy]

OK u guys are gonna love this i have a 95 dodge ram 1500 with a 318 v 8 and auto/ overdrive and ez dump insert and air ride air springs. pulls a 6.5x10 trailer with 2 ztrs every day. i love the truck obviously i need a larger truck but for 2 years i have put this thing through alot and its still chugging along no problems

Chuck
Perfect Property Services Inc.

PS. this truck is for sale email me at Pool973@aol.com if interested or for more details.

landscapingpoolguy has attached this image:

[Avery]

Originally posted by xcopterdoc
Avery or anyone else... what type of dump trailer are you using? I've heard from some of the guys, that work for the county and city, that the ones they have wont lift with a "full" load on them.

Here is a pic. xcopterdoc.

[xcopterdoc]

That looks like a good setup. Our guys could sure use something like that. Thanks again Avery.

[Avery]

It is getting old as you can tell from the pic. I added the expanded metal sideboards. Increases the amount of bulk material you can carry like mulch. We are on the coast so there is quite a bit of rust on it. Salt air does metal no favors.

[bayfish]

A dump trailer is the way to go IMO...I have a Hawke 6x12 10K and carry a MF compact tractor with bucket in it. The most I've dumped is 3 tons of stone and it lifted it fine. The nice thing is I can use either truck to pull it, put mowers in it, use for cleanups, I want to put a leaf loader on this year. It gives me a lot of flexibility

[landscapingpoolguy]

here is my half ton dump

[GTLC]

We use a dump trailer at my summer job for hauling firewood, it holds up ok except the dump is battery powered and the battery dies alot, also we use an F-150 to pull it and we have also had many times when we would get stuck and need a tow truck to get us out.

[Gravel Rat]

How do you guys make any money with a insert in the back of a P/U truck ?

I know the customers in this area wouldn't pay for a P/U truck to haul them a yard of material you can't carry much more than a yard of gravel or the truck is overloaded.

Say a customer asks for 2 yards of 1/1/2 drain rock 2 yards would weigh around 5800lbs way too much for a P/U truck to handle what do you guys charge per hour for your truck with a slip in.

To make it like one of the sites I have to deliver to you can't get a trailer into just enough room to turn around the truck.

So what would you charge say it is only a 1 hour round trip from the site to the gravel pit where you pick up the material ?

For me to pick up 2 yards of drain rock on my truck it would cost the customer 40 dollars for the trucking plus material.

I'am just curious how you guys charge your customers ?

Around here if you don't have a truck with a minimum 8x10 flatdeck myself I run a 8x12 so you have enough deck room to haul a large amount of material. A truck has to carry minimum 4000lbs hauling away stuff in a P/U truck isn't going to net you anymore than 20 dollars per hour.

[landscapingpoolguy]

I can haul 4yards of mulch, and 2 yards of stone, 3 yards of topsoil. The truck is mainly used for grass. Bought the dump insert to get me through season without having to buy truck. Now i have enuff business and money to purchase a single axle.

Chuck
Perfect Property Services Inc.;)

[olderthandirt]

I can carry 3 ton stone or dirt with my insert, its in a 1 ton truck.
If I need more materials I have it delievered, I don't make my money hauling materials its a waste of time. I just pass the cost of deleivery along with a % markup for making the call. Worked well for the last 20 yrs so I don't think I will be changing soon.

Mac

[Gravel Rat]

The customers I work for wouldn't go for marking up the price for hiring a tandem axle dump truck to deliver material to the job you are doing for them.

I make money with my truck hauling material I get hired because I can haul them upto 3 tons or 2 yards of gravel 3 yards of dry topsoil. A customer can have a tandem axle dump haul them 2 yards but it will cost them 65 dollars. A tandem axle has troubles getting into these places so they refuse to go there without a backhoe to pull them back out.

For the whole area of 30,000 people there is only 4 single axle 5 ton dump trucks because there is no demand for them its cheaper to hire a tandem. Now for tandem axle dump trucks that service the area I couldn't keep track of them all.

You need small amount of material hauled the small 1 ton truck guys like me get called a customer gets charged 40 dollars per hour. I have togo to a 4x4 truck because the places I deliver to require it some people have terrible driveways.

[cantoo]

Gravel Rat, for most of us the inserts are just a bonus, the real money is in installing the mulch, picking up leaves or whatever. It's tough to make money just hauling small amounts of gravel or materials only.

[Gravel Rat]

No money raking leaves or cutting grass you are lucky to make 20 dollars per hour mowing lawns etc. I used to do it but I just got tired of pizzing and moaning people always ******** about prices.

Most people don't want to pay you anymore than 12 dollars per hour todo gardening labour if people don't want to pay my 15 per hour labour charge I'am not working for them. If I supply power tools like trimmer or chainsaw its 20 per hour then the customer starts squeeling.

I stick with the trucking hauling and doing rubbish removal and construction clean ups if the customer starts to complain I tell them to find somebody else. Usually they find out they can't find anybody cheaper my rule of thumb is if the customer complains once I don't work for them again.

A slip in dump box would save you back but you couldn't make any money with it. I don't know how you guys get 2 yards in a 8' box I put 2 yards on a 12x8 flatdeck with 10" sideboads with the material heaped up in the center. Either I'am getting more than a yard or you guys are getting ripped off getting charged for not a full yard.

I consider a 590 Case backhoe bucket heaped a yard when the 966 loads me 1/2 a bucket full is 1 1/4 yards.

Material here is sold by the metric tonne the average per ton for a range of materials is 16 dollars. My minimum loads range 2-3 tons if I get a heavy yard it is 4000lbs of material.

Topsoil is sold by the yard because its weight varies so much from moisture content.

[olderthandirt]

Stone is sold by the ton here also, and I have never had any trouble putting 2 or 3 tons on a 1 ton dually with a 10,000# insert. If I need 3-4 yds of mulch I'll pick it up if I have time if not I have it delievered. I charge $75 $ per yd. So if I'm working on a job I would rather let you haul it for $40 an hr or just pay the $25 delievery fee, rather than stop what I'm doing and go waste time picking up materials. We are not in the trucking business.

Mac

[mrusk]

I think its fact that a dump trailer can haul more then a mason dump. My question is, what kind of truck are you going to need to tow one of those dump trailers filled to its legal limit? Is a one ton pickup going to be enough? Can a 1 ton legal tow 4tons or stoen plus the weight of the trailer. Or will you need a f550? It seems like alot of people who have mason dumps have f550s. With that 550 you might not be able to put as much material in the back as you can a dump trailer but you can tow a hell of alot more then a f350 could.

I don't know if what i typed made much sense, but i think you guys see where i am going with this.

matt

[Avery]

What you can legally tow depends on what you are tagged for in NC. My 3/4 ton chevy is tagged for 22,000 lbs.

[GLS]

What you can legally tow depends upon GCWR (gross combination weight rating).

Total weight of truck, trailer, and cargo must not exceed GCWR.

To calculate, subtract vehicle weight from GCWR. This is how much you can legally tow, including trailer weight.

[olderthandirt]

Avery its more than just what your tagged at, your truck is rated at a certain gcvw that is the weight of the trailor and truck combined and it in the manuals and stamped on the door or some place. The reason for it is a 3/4 ton does not have the braking power and alot of other things to be towing 22000# legally and it does not matter if the trailor has brakes or not. You might want to check it out.

Mac

[Avery]

Originally posted by olderthandirt
Avery its more than just what your tagged at, your truck is rated at a certain gcvw that is the weight of the trailor and truck combined and it in the manuals and stamped on the door or some place. The reason for it is a 3/4 ton does not have the braking power and alot of other things to be towing 22000# legally and it does not matter if the trailor has brakes or not. You might want to check it out.

Mac

Not in NC man. I have been around heavy equipment all my life. I know what gvwr is, believe me. The D.O.T. man does not care about gvwr here. Only what you are tagged at. Besides, with the Allison tranny and brakes on both axles I can stop way more than the trailer can carry. I do not put myself or the public in danger for a few extra pounds.

[Gravel Rat]

A F-550 with a 11' dump box will be legal for a easy 7000lbs I bet you could legally carry 8000lbs (3.5 yards of gravel). A F-550 can carry upto 9000lbs not legally but the truck can do it I put 9000lbs on one truck handled it fine.

You have to keep in mind a dump trailer is completely useless if you can't get it into the site your delivering too. The place I was hauling from this morning you wouldn't even dream of taking a trailer into 1 you can't turn around 2 the trailer wouldn't make the corners 3 you would probably bust the hitch off the trailer from it twisting.

You are better off with a straight truck atleast you know it will go anywhere you don't have to worry about trying to turn around.

If a trailer has a gross weight of 12,000lbs you subtract 3500 lbs for the trailers tare weight you are left with 8500lbs of payload a F-450 or F-550 can carry that easy.

The driveways in this area you would need a 4wheeldrive to pull a loaded or M/T trailer thats if your trailer hitch holds up.

If your truck is a pavement queen that only sees paved roads and flat and short concrete driveways a trailer might be fine. If you have driveways like we do here where they can be 30' long to .5 mile long some with steep grades. Some driveways I have powered out on where the truck doesn't have enough power to climb the hill in first gear with a loaded truck.

[olderthandirt]

Originally posted by Avery
Not in NC man. I have been around heavy equipment all my life. I know what gvwr is, believe me. The D.O.T. man does not care about gvwr here. Only what you are tagged at. Besides, with the Allison tranny and brakes on both axles I can stop way more than the trailer can carry. I do not put myself or the public in danger for a few extra pounds.

Don't get caught in Ohio doing that. You will leave the truck right there. Don't understand how it can be legal there either heck tag em at 80,000 and you would not need semi tractors.

Mac

[Avery]

Originally posted by olderthandirt
Don't get caught in Ohio doing that. You will leave the truck right there. Don't understand how it can be legal there either heck tag em at 80,000 and you would not need semi tractors.

Mac

They only care about the tag here. That is where they make their money. If ya tag over 26,000 you need a different class license or I am sure everyone would be tagging higher. :D

Plus it is expensive. 22k cost me close to 300/ year for the tag.

[Gravel Rat]

It is the same here if your trailer is over 12,000lb gvw the DOT has their eye on you if you get caught without the proper class license your trailer stays on the side of the road. They may give you a warning for the first offence but the second one you will recieve fines.

Once you register your truck for a gvw over 12,125lbs in this area you are a commercial truck you can't travel on certain roads legally you need the GVW posted on the door.

I could register a F-350 to have a gvw of 15,000lbs but why would I want to the DOT can put you through the ringer you have to follow the same rules the OTR guys do.

If you have a F-450 F-550 truck your legally supposed to stop at the scales if you pass a scale with DOT men that are having a bad day they will send a car after you.

[WINGNUT]

I saw an air powered dump on TV the other day. I t has a big bellows that mounts to your frame and underside of your bed. There are two hinges that you install along with a switch in the cab. The whole thing runs off an air compressor. It looked pretty cool and didn't change the lines of the truck. Now I can't remember the name of the website!

[landscapingpoolguy]

what happens if you overload the bed and the air pockets blow out? soundsliek a crappy design to me

[mrusk]

I really have been thinking about this dumptrailer vs dump truck debate. After reading the arguments on each side i have come to the conclusion that their is no right anwser. In different sistuations one is better than the other. I honestly belive the idea setup would be to have a f550 and a dump trailer in the fleet.

matt

[landscapingpoolguy]

Id go bigger than a 550 possibly a Single axle dump at 26,000 gvw with a dump trailer big enuff to tow a small backhoe or decent sized skid steer.

[gogetter]

It's called the Load Hog. But it still uses your bed, just the units from NorthernTool. So the question is, will your bed hold up and not twist or warp from heavy loads?.

http://www.loadhog.com/



Originally posted by WINGNUT
I saw an air powered dump on TV the other day. I t has a big bellows that mounts to your frame and underside of your bed. There are two hinges that you install along with a switch in the cab. The whole thing runs off an air compressor. It looked pretty cool and didn't change the lines of the truck. Now I can't remember the name of the website!

[mrusk]

Only thing with a single axle is your going to look kinda funny pulling the 16 foot landscape trailer, and its would proably be a pita.
A f550 is good becuase it can be used for mowing everyday.

matt

[landscapingpoolguy]

LOOKS? I dont care about looks. All I care about is the bottom line. Here an example say a paver job. Pull up job site with single axle and dump trailer back hoe inside trailer. Unload backhoe and excavate site puting dirt into dump trailer. hook up and dump out dirt and load up with yur base material in truck and stone dust or qp in dump trailer. Go back to site dump out gravel and start prepping base, once yur done with that you already have your second material on site and can work outta truck, or dump out and work from grnd level. Meantime while crew is working you can go load up on paver stones and whatever sweeping material yur gonan use. I could do a decent sized patio in 2 days with the right truck, trailer, backhoe combo and a 2 man crew. If your concerned about hieght of the truck they make lo pro models of single axles also. I feel more comfortable with a larger truck and towing heavy materials. The light stuff like mulch is a no brainer but it seems that the heavier the product moved the more net cost it can yeild. Well just my 2 cents on the whole subject and that will be how i set up my next rig too.

Chuck

[Gravel Rat]

A trailer can be a pita that is why the local contractors don't use them the only trailer they pull is a tag equipment trailer the material is hauled in the truck. A single axle is rarely used if your need more than 6 yards of material it is just as cheap to hire a tandem.

Its one of the reasons why I never bought a 5 ton single axle you would go broke there is no in between people either want 1-2 yards which can be hauled on a 1 or 1.5 ton. You want more than pay a guy like me more trips or get a tandem down into the driveway.

I charge 40 dollars per hour to haul 2 yards at a time a tandem charges 65 per hour to charge 10-12 yards at a time we are both minimum 1 hr.

[landscapingpoolguy]

again not talking about the trucking business. Talking about getting materials to a job site.

[mrusk]

landscapingpoolguy- i see what your saying. If the truck is a install only truck it makes perfect sense to go for a single axle.
However, if you do alot of residential plowing during the winter you may not be able to use it for plowing.

I am going to be 18 in the spring and i am just getting started in this industry. I bought a 2500hd ext can short bed that i plan to lease to my company. I figure in 2-3 years i will be established enough where i will need a 2nd truck that dumps. I have though long and hard about i think a f550 with an 11ft dump body would suit my needs best in this application. For a 3rd truck i could defintly see myself buying a single axle.

A dump insert could be a good idea for a mowing crew. If your running a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup and the mowing crew bags the grass and needs to remove it and dump insert would save some time. You wouldnt have to shovel the clippings out of the bed. There is no reason to buy a mason dump if the truck is just going to pull a mowing trailer. In this instants a dump insert is the way to go.

matt

[Gravel Rat]

The landscape contractors in this area hire tandems to deliver their materials if it is more than 1-2 yards or more than a 1 ton truck can handle.

The home owners won't pay for a person to be pizzing around with a trailer they want the material on the site and getting used.
If you can fit a trailer into the jobsite a tandem axle dump truck will go and do the delivery or removal all in one shot.

The landscape contractors I know doing a paving stone job will bring in one of the local excavation contractors rubber tired (590 Case 4x4) backhoes to scrape the area and throw it into the tandem. Most of the time a Mini excavator (15-18,000lb unit) works just as quick to clean up a area get the grade prepped for the landscape work.

The one excavation contractor I know has work for his Kubota 161 all the time because it can get into the tight areas get the jobs done and back out. The people in this area don't want to pay for a landscaper to be fooling around days on end trying todo excavating with undersized equipment.

When you are doing jobs around here everything has to be justified so it has to be justifyable that your using a 1 ton truck to haul material to the site. The customer asks why are you hauling me 12 yards of material at 2 yards at a time or if you prepping a area and the material has to be hauled away.

You guys that work with small scale equipment must work for people where cost doesn't matter.

Sorry for rambling on but the way some of you landscapers work wouldn't cut the mustard here too much labour work involved.

[WINGNUT]

No Gravelrat, we just can't afford the bigger equipment, yet. I'm new to this stuff and all I have is a GMC K1500, 8 ft. utility trailer, and a couple of push mowers and a weedeater. For now, I'll have to make do with what I have. My first job so far is 24 yards of mulch delivered and spread at one house. The guy didn't want a dumptruck load of mulch in his driveway, so I'm doing the best I can with what I have. I forgot, I have a wheelbarrow, too.:D I don't have investors or big commercial contracts, but this first customer is a start and since he's a "hairdresser", he has a pile of people that need this same stuff done. He's already given me three more people's names and phone numbers who want me to do their yards, too. Notice I said DO their yards, NOT estimate what it will cost. So for now I'll hike up my pants and do it the hard way, 'cause it's the only way I have.

[WINGNUT]

From what I saw the bellows are made out of the same rubber used in Navy Seals rafts, and I think it's pretty thick. Someone else posted a website and it's called a load hog. They listed a weight limit on there, think. I was sceptical at first, but when I saw the one that the guys on"TRUCKS" installed I was pretty intrigued by it.

[olderthandirt]

Originally posted by Gravel Rat
The landscape contractors in this area hire tandems to deliver their materials if it is more than 1-2 yards or more than a 1 ton truck can handle.

The home owners won't pay for a person to be pizzing around with a trailer they want the material on the site and getting used.
If you can fit a trailer into the jobsite a tandem axle dump truck will go and do the delivery or removal all in one shot.

The landscape contractors I know doing a paving stone job will bring in one of the local excavation contractors rubber tired (590 Case 4x4) backhoes to scrape the area and throw it into the tandem. Most of the time a Mini excavator (15-18,000lb unit) works just as quick to clean up a area get the grade prepped for the landscape work.

The one excavation contractor I know has work for his Kubota 161 all the time because it can get into the tight areas get the jobs done and back out. The people in this area don't want to pay for a landscaper to be fooling around days on end trying todo excavating with undersized equipment.

When you are doing jobs around here everything has to be justified so it has to be justifyable that your using a 1 ton truck to haul material to the site. The customer asks why are you hauling me 12 yards of material at 2 yards at a time or if you prepping a area and the material has to be hauled away.

You guys that work with small scale equipment must work for people where cost doesn't matter.

Sorry for rambling on but the way some of you landscapers work wouldn't cut the mustard here too much labour work involved.


You keep talking about tandems and large equipment this is called lawn site its for landscapers not excavating co. and as for your above post I charge by the job so if I want to haul the materials in my pants pocket its none of the customers business as long as the job gets done.

[Gravel Rat]

Those are the tools we use for landscaping if you need material delivered it is usually 1-2 yards or 12 yards. I work with landscapers all the time I do some landscaping but I try leave the plant work to guys with green thumbs.

When you are doing hardscape on projects around here it requires a 10,000lb plus machine we work with boulders and rockwalls.

My neighbours place took 3 tandem axle loads of rocks, 10 yards of pit run, 20 yards of topsoil,30 yards of mulch just to landscape the front of their yard. A excavator did all the hard work and a landscape friend of mine did all the rest by hand they spread the topsoil by hand same with the mulch.

[landscapingpoolguy]

Imnot even gonan make anymor comments on ths thread its dead

[Mark Lawncare]

Work with what you have.

[patriottruck]

Guys. I'm an equipment company here in Connecticut and we face this question all the time. The half ton will work with an insert fine but you need to keep in mind that it's more than springs the truck lacks. Generally 1/2 ton trucks lack the brakes, axles, and cooling capabilies(tranny, engine oil, power steering) that a 3/4 or 1 ton truck have. If you are an owner operator you can adjust your driving accordingly. If you have guys using the truck that are not as concerned with the longevity of your equipment they'll destroy it. Inserts are pretty heavy unless you go for Aluminum at about 4g's. Another option that we've had great results with are mounting hoists underneath the bed. If i'ts done properly it can give you years of service for the price of an insert without the extra weight. Plus you still have a pickup when youre not hauling loads. There are hoists available that don't change the height of the bed more than 1/2" making it almost impossible to tell it's there. The only drawback is having to dump the bed a bit to put fuel in. Hope that helps. Oh, one more thing. Put a set of Timbren load boosters in the rear. They're better suited for commercial applications than airbags.