Choosing a Dump Trailer

Start with the material

A dump trailer is a steel box on a frame with a hydraulic hoist, a rear gate and a battery-powered pump. The right one depends less on brand than on what fills the bed. Mulch, leaves and brush are bulky and light, so you want volume. Gravel, dirt, concrete and demolition are dense, so you run out of GVWR long before the bed is full.

A rough planning figure: dry topsoil runs around 2,000 lb per cubic yard, gravel about 2,800 lb, wet sand and broken concrete more. A 7x14 bed with 24 in. sides holds roughly 7 cubic yards struck level. Filled with gravel that is close to 20,000 lb, far past the 14,000 lb GVWR that size usually carries. In practice you load dense material to the weight limit, not the rim.

Sizes and axle packages

Tandem 7,000 lb axles with electric brakes on both are the standard on 14,000 lb units. Heavier goosenecks use 8,000 lb to 12,000 lb axles. Single-axle 7,000 lb dumps exist but are limited in payload once the bed weight is counted. A dump trailer is heavy empty, often 3,500 to 5,000 lb for a 7x14, so compare payload, not just GVWR.

Hoist types

• Scissor hoist. A single cylinder working through a scissor linkage under the center of the bed. It lifts from the middle, so it handles uneven or sticky loads well and has good mechanical advantage through the whole stroke. Most common on 12 ft to 16 ft beds.
• Telescopic hoist. A multi-stage cylinder mounted at the front of the bed. It lifts higher with fewer moving parts and is lighter, but the leverage is lowest at the start of the stroke, exactly when the load is heaviest. Good for longer beds and bulky material.
• Dual straight cylinders. Two cylinders at the front corners. Simple and inexpensive, common on smaller and older trailers. Less lifting power under a heavy, stuck load.

For dense, sticky material a scissor hoist is the safer choice. For long beds and lighter bulk, telescopic works well.

Side height and extensions

Taller sides mean more volume for light material. 24 in. sides suit gravel, dirt and general work. 48 in. sides or removable side extensions suit mulch, leaves, brush, roofing debris and scrap. Tall sides on dense material only tempt overloading.

Gate options

• Barn doors. Two full-height doors that swing open. They spread the load as you drive forward and give a clear opening for a skid steer or wheelbarrow.
• Spreader gate. A top-hinged gate that swings up and can be chained partway open to meter out gravel or stone in a controlled layer as you pull forward. Most common on contractor trailers.
• Combination gate. Works as both barn doors and a spreader gate. Versatile and the usual choice if you will do both.

Ramps, tarps and loading equipment

Many 7x14 and larger dumps carry slide-in ramps under the bed so a compact tractor or skid steer can drive in. Check the ramp rating against your machine. A roll tarp kit is worth having; most states require loose loads to be covered. Stake pockets, D-rings and a front-mounted toolbox for the battery, pump and charger are standard.

Power and controls

The pump runs from a deep-cycle 12 V battery in the tongue box, usually with a 110 V charger and a charge line through the 7-way RV plug. A wired remote on a cord is standard; wireless remotes are a common upgrade. Keep the battery charged; a weak battery is the most frequent cause of a bed that will not lift.

Dumping safely

Only dump on firm, level ground with the trailer still coupled to the truck. Raise the bed slowly, pull forward to shed sticky loads rather than raising higher, and lower the bed before moving off. Watch for overhead lines and check that the gate is unlatched before lifting.

Tow vehicle

Loaded dump trailers routinely weigh 10,000 to 14,000 lb and put 1,000 to 2,000 lb on the hitch. Confirm the tow vehicle's ratings on its door-jamb label and in the owner's manual. A 2-5/16 in. ball and a brake controller are required on 14,000 lb units.

Browse current dump trailers by size and hoist type in /trailers/dump-trailers, or answer a few questions in /find-my-trailer.