Jim, I try and have fill brought to the site by the place I get it from if it is over 3 yds. I've been looking at the loadhandler and think it would work good for what your are doing with your trailer. If you do use your trailer I wouldn't put more than a yd and a half in at a time as the weight will push that little truck all over I would think. When I have them dump it for me I put out several tarps to dump on so I don't damage any good grass they have next to the curb. THen it's time to get out the wheel barrows .

 

You might try putting a tarp down on the trailer and drape it over the sides. Then dump the dirt, that way you can keep what you pay for and then just use a broom to sweep it up.

 

VERY SIMPLE VERY SIMPLE, have the supply yard you buy it from deliver it right to the job site, have 2 mexicans ready with shovels and wheelbarrows and watch em go, just figure in an extra two hundred bucks to pay the guys for thier work and you won't even break a sweat, I do it all the time and everyone is happy.


....Jim

 

On all of my jobs I'm in the same situation. I always have it loaded on my trailer and unload it and place the dirt where I need it with a dingo. You can rent one for about $150 a day and make the customer pay for it. But personally I am going to buy a dump trailer in the next two weeks hopefully.

Brandon Shaw
Evergreen Landscaping Concepts

 

go to your local rental supply and rent a dump trailer then you can back it to the spot where you want to fill

 

Hauling 5 yards of dirt with a Dodge Dakota? You'd better plan on making a couple of trips if you do that. With a 12 ft dump trailer that would be close to 5 tons in tow. The truck could probably do it, but I wouldn't want to be driving it.

 

a couple trips?

i don't know how old your dakota is, or what the rating of your existing trailer is. but i know what a couple yards feels like in my HD. i don't suggest trying to push your truck beyond its limits

i'd make it at least 4 or 5 trips, depending on if the trailer is rented. and i wouldn't try backing it up, over curbs and on soft ground, with the dakota.

really, first i'd explore getting it delivered, which keeps your truck nice and clean.

course you still have to move the 5 yards. you're definately more man than i

 

Thanks for the tips everyone.

5 yards is just a very rough guess. I do have access to a farm that has fill dirt so the dirt is free for the taking, and thats why I was trying to haul it myself.

I did 20 yards of wood chips a few weeks back so I think I can handle 5 yards of dirt without any problem. I know its heavier but I can handle it.

How about hauling it in the bed of my truck and lining the truck bed with a tarp? Anyone ever try this?

 

after i posted the thought ran thru my mind that you might be loading as well as unloading, ,sine you said "access to dirt"

WOW. that is alot. you could use a tarp,and that would help as you could drag the dirt out once you got some off the bed.

i guy i once worked for had a tarp like product that had a roller attatched to the tailgate. you unrolled the tarp, put the dirt on, then rolled it off once you had unloaded some. surprisingly worked really well.

remember wood chips and dirt are apples and oranges.

could you rent a truck and trailer? would the client accept the higher bid that would result from the extra costs, or have you given the bid already? would just be easier on yourself. and would ensure your truck lasts the season.

i'm guessing your truck is your "baby" . i just put the dirt in, and spray it out after. trucks a mess anyway

 

Originally posted by Jimbo
.............. I know its heavier but I can handle it.

How about hauling it in the bed of my truck and lining the truck bed with a tarp? Anyone ever try this?

Hey, it's a truck! Put dirt in truck, shovel/scrape it out. Sweep, or hose it down after last load. Or blow it clean with your leaf blower.
The tarp thing I would only use with a load light enough to unload by pulling the tarp.
I can see trying to keep the outside of a truck looking good, but the bed is made to be beaten.
If you are worried about scratching it, get another truck, for "trucking" stuff.
Crawdad

 

A yard of dirt is going to way close to a ton. Kepp that in mind. I would only put 2 yards in a single axle trailer. Maybe 3 if you want to push it but it is going to take at least 2 trips.

 

Ooops, just noticed you had a six foot bed on your truck. Most six foot bed trucks I see are in real good shape. Why? Because you cant get anything in them. Probably good for hauling a trailer, but I wouldn't own one.
You need to buy a beater 8 foot bed truck.
Back to problem at hand, do you know anyone with a dump, that'll haul it for you?
Crawdad

 

I had a load Handler, and for what your doing I think it will work very well. If the lawn is firm enough you can drive your truck to a spot you want to fill, get your tailgate over the hole , roll off just the amount you need and move off to the next location. You may have to make more trips with the truck but you won't have to do any wheel barrowing. Also you said you were quesstimating soil amount. If you bring in 5 yds. and only use 2, you will be shoveling it back on your truck and hawling it in the other direction. The Load Handler only costs about 100 bucks and you will use it alot after you have it. One note, don't overload the bed, keep most of the load between the wheel wells and it will roll off much easier.

 

DO NOT attempt to put more than 1 yard of soil on a load Handler and think it is going to just roll right along ... it won't!
Before I got my dump body insert, I had tried this concept. It works very well for grass, leaves, and mulch, but for gravel and dirt you will be spinning your wheels trying to put any appreciable amount in your truck.

 

Let's think about this a moment. First, what are you using fill dirt? Or topsoil? Fill dirt isn't going to be exactly the best thing for your application, but it's up to you, I guess. Secondly, even if you DO hav access to free fill, by the time you go there, shovel it all in there, drive it to your site, and UNload it, as opposed to just having some delivered, what are you really saving. It all depends on what your time is worth, I guess. You'll come out about the same, for aLOT less work and time if you just had it delivered. That's not to mention you're getting beter material, (more suitable) and better results with happier customers.

 

Originally posted by scott's turf
A yard of dirt is going to weigh close to a ton. Keep that in mind. I would only put 2 yards in a single axle trailer. Maybe 3 if you want to push it but it is going to take at least 2 trips.

2 yards on a single axle is going to be over loaded unless you bought a custom trailer. Even the tandem axle trailers under 20 ft are usually 3500 lb axles. Giving you 7000 lbs of capacity, less the trailer weight, I would haul 2 yrds on a tandem. So if your trailer has one, by the time you add trailer weight to the 2000 lbs of dirt I would only haul one yard at a time on a single trailer.

Hey Jimbo cheap is good, we all like to save money, but every one on this site has also blasted those that are too cheap. The thought came to me, that possibly driving desire to go as cheap as possible is that maybe the bid wasn't high enough to cover every thing, and that now you realize it you are trying to not get screwed any worse on the job? Trust me man, I know the feeling well. :angry:

 

Im really not trying to be cheap I just thought I could do it myself. I really am guessing at how much I need. I know one load will not be enough so maybe I can start with one load and see how it goes.
If I try to order it I will be in worse shape since I dont know exactly how much I need (if I over estimate I will be hauling it away for sure). Not to mention that I had to pay for it, and delivery.

I think I will try the tarp thing. Hate to make a mess in the bed that I cant clean up do to the water restrictions.

Thanks!
Jim

If I can get pictures next week I will post them.

 

If you load by hand fill trash cans (only1/2way). Use handtruck (air tires)to load on trailer and take to dump site. I use for small or hard to get at places.I have 15 cans. When I trim shrubs I put loaded cans on trailer then onload at dump.

 

Thanks for the great tip fastlane!

 

No way will your truck hold five yards of fill dirt. If the bed could be filled you would proably break an axle. A full size truck is 1/2 ton your talking close to 5 ton.

 

20 yards of wood chips would cover your whole truck and trailer. Are you sure it was 20 yds.

 

I did not haul the wood chips they were delivered, and your right it would have taken up that much space.
I was using the pile of wood chips as a reference to determine how much dirt I need. Thats how I came up with 5 yards.

Jim

 

Ive hauled a yard of topsoil using a 6x12ft single axle trailer, i bet i could get 2yards on their without a problem with the axle since the rating on the trailer is 3500 rear and 3500 on front part of axle, now thats what it says on my trailer but i try not to push it to that extreme. You will be surprised on how far a yard of dirt can go in places, so my suggestion is to start out with a yard and go from their, and maybe considering using your trailer, less mess in the truck, use the tarp idea too for the trailer. That may be the best solution besides getting it deliverd or using a dump trailer/truck.
Matt