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16ft dump trailer behind a 1 ton?

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HPSInc

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I tow a 12 ft dump trailer no problem behind all my trucks. I dont want to sell the 12 foot but would like another dump trailer and I'm tired of running out of room on occasion so if I can get something like a 16 ft I would like to. I'd prefer a bumper pull since all my trucks could hook up to it then.

I found a 16ft dump trailer rated for 15k. I read and read and read but still don't know if legally I can tow the thing.

Can any of my trucks tow this thing legally? Sometimes i get the impression I can't even hook it up empty due to its rating and my trucks rating. Not sure and if someone could clarify that would be great.

08 3500 chevy dually dump gasser
04 3500 ram CC dually dump diesel
09 f350 srw v10 gasser
15 2500 ram srw diesel
 
#2 ·
Depends on the tow package that you have (class 5 hitch would be needed I would guess, with the right drop/rise for the hitch and a ball with the right shank and rating, as well as transmission cooler, possibly air bags etc.), weight of the trailer (what is the GVWR for it and can your truck handle that?). I tow quite a bit with my '03 F350 Dually Diesel but it would probably struggle with a 16' dump trailer full to weight capacity because of the stress on the tranny/cooling system (a notorius problem for that model year of Ford). Newer models should be better. You're always going to be better with a gooseneck though...
 
#4 ·
By bumper pull do you mean tow hitch
Or do you mean a ball drilled into you're actual bumper?

Nothing like that is made to do anything except pull the bumper off.

A 2500 can pull 15k in most cases

In some states you need a CDL to pull a trailer over 10k if you're truck is also rated for say 16k gvw
Putting your combo over 26k

So for example an f450 with a 10k trailer is a combined 27.5 k and is CDL land
 
#5 ·
Good point about the CDL. Why not split the difference and get a 14 footer? Your trucks should all be set up to pull that and you could get by w/o having to have a CDL for you and/or your employees.

What are you using it for? Brush and topsoil? Or removing concrete, etc.?

Very different needs if you are doing the latter
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
I would use the trailer for brush, soil, mulch and the occasional junk hauling. I could just use my other trailer for hauling any stone or concrete. I really want this one for the overall space factor and hauling more mulch. I put 10 yards in my 12 foot dump trailer but it would be awesome to be able to put, I don't know, maybe 20 in the 16ft trailer alone. Just wondering if that's legal or not?

I guess my main question is, can I legally hook that trailer up to any one of my trucks even if both the truck and trailer are empty, or do ratings in this case (the combined max rating of my truck and this trailer) therefore make it CDL land even if it's not even loaded down. Or does me not being legal only come in to play when I have material in the trailer?

That's really what I'd like to know. I do not have a CDL , and all my trucks have the hitches they came with and every truck has a curt adjustable hitch on it. Nothing is drilled into a bumper.

I'm asking about a 16ft because one popped up online for sale for $5000 and seems like a good price for a big ole dump trailer
 
#12 ·
EcoSpaces said:
tranny/cooling system (a notorius problem for that model year of Ford).
Click to expand...
'09s had tranny cooling problems?

You sure about that?

The Torqshift didn't have any cooling problems that I've ever heard about.

I'll bet $100 every diesel and V10 have a tranny cooler to start with. Pretty standard on anything over a half ton nowadays.
 
#13 ·
Length has nothing to do with it. A 15k trailer? Never heard of it. Most likely a14k trailer with 2x 7k axels. You just need to check your max towing rates for your truck. Along with the correct ball/shank to shouldn't have a problem. I have a 2016 350 diesel and got a 16' 14k dump trailer this year. Hauls awesome, zero problems even when over loaded once or twice. And yes check on to make sure it isn't over 26k combined gvw or you'll need a cdl I belive
 
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#14 ·
Look on the plate on the truck , Gross vehicle weight . Take that number and add it to the plate on the trailer that says Gross vehicle weight . If the two added together exceed 26,001 you are in CDL territory . It doesnt matter what you tag it for ,its capacity . It doesnt follow logic , because you can tow a 15K trailer behind a 1/2 ton truck and be "legal" but not safe . Put the same trailer behind a f 450 and you are safe , but need a cdl
 
#15 ·
Mdirrigation said:
Look on the plate on the truck , Gross vehicle weight . Take that number and add it to the plate on the trailer that says Gross vehicle weight . If the two added together exceed 26,001 you are in CDL territory . It doesnt matter what you tag it for ,its capacity . It doesnt follow logic , because you can tow a 15K trailer behind a 1/2 ton truck and be "legal" but not safe . Put the same trailer behind a f 450 and you are safe , but need a cdl
Click to expand...
I'll echo this response. I bought my 14ft 14k dump and tow it with my F-350 dually. The truck has a GVWR of 12,600lbs and the trailer has a GVWR of 14,000lbs. That's 26,600 combined and CDL territory. I had the trailer manufacturer send me tags replacing the originals for the trailer at 13,200 so now I'm at 25,800 GCWR. So the label on the trailer, not my registration, says GVWR 13,200. I guess I could've done 13,399 for an extra 200lbs of payload. But now, as far as I'm concerned I'm out of CDL within NYS.

In terms of safety with these weights I just like the thoughts of the dually trucks. Can handle more weight and from my experiences handles these fully loaded dumps much better.

Now, the original 2.5" receiver on my truck was good only for 800lbs tongue and 8,000lbs trailer WEIGHT CARRYING. It was higher with weight distribution. But I invested my money in an upgraded hitch. 2000lbs tongue, 18,000lbs trailer WEIGHT CARRYING. Now more goes into this with the truck but this hitch is about double the size and has extra plates mounted to the side of the hitch and side of the truck. Dump trailers with conventional hitches tend to get quite heavy on the tongue. Piece of mind for me.

I don't know about you but I think 20 yards in a trailer like that would be overweight. I had about 12 in mine one time and thought the tires looked like they were going to pop. Thats with a 10,000lb paylaod. Mulch varies in weight so much, especially dyed black mulch. The weakest link in most vehicles and trailers are the tires in my opinion.
 
#16 ·
Mark Oomkes said:
'09s had tranny cooling problems?

You sure about that?

The Torqshift didn't have any cooling problems that I've ever heard about.

I'll bet $100 every diesel and V10 have a tranny cooler to start with. Pretty standard on anything over a half ton nowadays.
Click to expand...
Yep, you'd get that $100.

I've got about 3-5 types of coolers in my 350 dually V10, all stacked on top of each other. Engine, tranny, oil, and others.
 
#17 ·
PLLandscape said:
Now, the original 2.5" receiver on my truck was good only for 800lbs tongue and 8,000lbs trailer WEIGHT CARRYING. It was higher with weight distribution. But I invested my money in an upgraded hitch. 2000lbs tongue, 18,000lbs trailer WEIGHT CARRYING. Now more goes into this with the truck but this hitch is about double the size and has extra plates mounted to the side of the hitch and side of the truck.
Click to expand...
2" or 2.5"?

My 2.5" on my Ram is rated for 15K or 18K.
 
#18 ·
One more quick thing. A friend of mine bought a brand new 16' dump trailer. He says it constantly has problems lifting heavy normal loads. Says his 12' works like a champ compared to it. So it's either a weak pump or not enough leverage.

I know when I was looking at mine they had 3 different types of lifts. Dual cylinder, scissor, and front mount single cylinder. They told me if I was going to be doing a lot of max lifting that the front mounted single cylinder was best due to the leverage. I opted for the scissor which is definitely slow to start but gains leverage as it expands.
 
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