For children, seeing a dump truck is exciting.. Watching these big behemoths of the truck world haul heavy loads down highways and around job sites, just to dump them in another location, is one of the most thrilling experiences a kid can have.
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However, most people don&#;t buy a dump truck to achieve fame and glory. They buy a dump truck for one simple reason &#; to make money. In order to do that, you don&#;t want to waste money on features or extra performance that you don&#;t need. However, you also don&#;t want to skimp on the important details that allow you to work effectively and efficiently for your required operations.
Whether you are planning to purchase a brand new dump truck or you are looking for a suitable used model, here are some important things to consider before making your investment. These ideas will help ensure that you don&#;t end up with more or less truck than you actually need. That way you can optimize your investment and get down to business.
You&#;ll want to tap into the expertise of your utility vehicle or dump truck dealer. Talk to your local dealer, explain your usage needs, and ask lots of questions. A good dealer not only has knowledge about dump truck specs and performance, but also knows the needs and legal regulations of your local area.Make sure to describe what you&#;ll be hauling, on and off-road usage, how many highway miles you&#;ll be traveling, and how long you plan to use the truck. With this information, your dealer can help determine the correct gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), appropriate suspension, and most useful tire treads to fit your needs. They can also select the relevant type and capacity of the dump box.
It is true that a dealer is in business to make money and their ultimate goal is to sell you a dump truck. However, customer satisfaction is an important part of business, and ultimately a dealer&#;s success hinges on their ability to match their customers with the best dump truck to fit their needs.
Since the ultimate goal of purchasing a dump truck is to make money, you certainly don&#;t want to waste any. An easy way to do just that is to purchase more horsepower than you actually need.Power output from typical dump truck engines can range from 300 to 600 horsepower. If you will be hauling lighter loads or operating mostly on flat terrain, a smaller engine with less horsepower is enough to get the job done. However, heavy loads over hilly terrain may require a larger and more powerful engine in order to keep speed on steep grades.
Engine size and power may be the most important consideration when choosing a dump truck. You never want to be under powered, but using a large powerful engine for frequent light hauling will create an unnecessarily high operating expense.
A dump truck&#;s gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR, is the maximum operating weight specified by the truck&#;s manufacturer. This weight includes more than just the weight of the cargo. The weight of the chassis, body, engine, fuel, and driver also must be factored in.
Federal law limits the gross weight of dump trucks based on the number of axles in the truck&#;s construction. These laws are in place to protect highways and bridges from excessive damage. The fewer axles a dump truck has, the lower the weight that truck can legally carry on public roads. Make sure to check the local and federal laws regulating weight and axle numbers with the Department of Transportation for laws before making your final purchase.
There are several types of transmissions to choose from, each with its own set of advantages.
A manual transmission is the most popular choice when it comes to dump trucks, mostly because of performance and the wide range of gear options available. The more gear choices the truck&#;s transmission has to offer, the easier it will be to match the truck&#;s engine speed to any individual task. For example, a low gear will help increase the dump truck&#;s maneuverability on soft mud or sand, while a multi-speed reverse will prove useful for jobs that require backing up over long distances. A manual transmission is also a smart choice if you will be operating over steep terrain.
An automatic transmission with a flexible torque converter may be more expensive than the typical manual transmission, but it has its own advantages. Because a truck with an automatic transmission doesn&#;t require gear shifting, it can be more accommodating for new or inexperienced drivers. Also, since there is no clutch to press or gears to shift, there is generally less driver fatigue. This can be an important consideration for tiring all-day operations, especially for older drivers.
Another lesser known type of transmission is the automated manual transmission. This type of transmission integrates the best qualities of a manual and an automatic transmission. Electronic sensors and actuators do the shifting for you in place of the clutch and hand gear shifting. This type of transmission is gaining popularity because of its lighter weight and energy efficiency, as well as its ease of use.
A lot of contractors are moving to dump trucks with lightweight aluminum bodies in order to reduce the dump truck&#;s overall weight. This can be a great option for hauling finer materials such as sand or fill dirt. However, be aware that harsher materials such as asphalt, gravel, and concrete can be overly abusive to a softer aluminum dump body. When dealing with stone, rock and other heavy or abrasive load materials, you may need to consider the harder impact-resistance of steel.
Budget is a major factor when it comes to deciding whether to purchase a new or used dump truck. While a brand new dump truck is obviously the most reliable choice, it is also the most expensive. Looking for a used dump truck can offer purchase options with a wider range of prices.
Pricing of used dump trucks is dependent on their condition and previous usage. You&#;ll need to look at more than just mileage when deciding on a used dump truck, however. A dump truck that has seen tough usage over rough terrain may have experienced rougher treatment and more wear than a truck that has seen lots of easier highway miles.
The best part about owning a dump truck is that there is always a need to move big heavy loads, so there is always money-making potential. However, make sure the dump truck you purchase fits the jobs you&#;ll be doing, otherwise, you may end up spending more money than you&#;ll actually make.
There are many reasons to consider purchasing a pre-owned dump truck, but first and foremost, it must make business sense. Before beginning your search for buying a used dump truck, have you explored all your options? Like purchasing new.
While it&#;s unusual to start an article about purchasing a used dump truck by asking whether you have thought about purchasing a new one, it is an important topic to address.
Commercial dump truck service companies use dump trucks with specific hard-to-find specifications. While a low-maintenance dump truck doesn&#;t exist, whether you purchase new or used, there are many advantages to purchasing new.
Pros
Cons
There are many excellent reasons for buying a pre-owned dump truck.
Pros
There is no FET Tax on used vehicles (FET is an extra 12% of the purchase price for new trucks)
Cons
Once you&#;ve determined that a pre-owned dump truck is the best choice, it&#;s time to decide what type of dump truck works best for your business. Dump truck sizes differ depending on your application.
Light duty (>10,000 pounds) &#; This is basically a pickup truck or small flatbed truck with an electric dump. Smaller dump trucks are good for landscaping and other lightweight materials.
Medium duty Trucks (10,001 to 26,000 pounds) &#; While heavier than a pickup truck, a medium duty dump is usually a single-axle truck that can carry more weight. The medium duty truck can be found in both gas and diesel engines. The medium duty dump truck is excellent for tight spaces, and construction job sites, and can be driven by anyone with a Class A license.
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Heavy Duty Truck (>26,000 pounds) &#; Severe duty dump trucks require a Class 8 driver&#;s license and can be used for heavy duty construction both off-road and on-road. You can find heavy duty single axle, tandem axle, as well as tri-axle dump trucks. Many will also include a lift axle configuration if they need to carry extra weight.
While choosing the right class of truck is important, equally as important are the specifications you choose.
A truck&#;s dump box is as important as any spec you will need to know. Choosing the wrong type of dump box could prove to be costly.
Before choosing a dump bed, you must first know what you are hauling. A versatile vocational dump truck that hauls a variety of materials, i.e., dirt, debris, sand, and rocks, is going to have a much different body than one that only hauls bark or lightweight materials.
Knowing what you are hauling will not only determine your truck body but it will help you determine:
Note &#; Choosing a dump body with a chassis that has no factory service dealership nearby can be problematic and expensive. Obviously, if you have your own shop or a good mechanic close by that can get parts, you have more options available. There are hundreds of excellent body manufacturers throughout the country but make sure service and parts are readily available.
What is the best dump truck to buy? While this is a personal choice and may be determined by your location, it is important to note if you love an iconic trucking brand, you have plenty of options. Here are major manufacturers of Heavy Duty Chassis that work well for dumps.
Peterbilt &#; Peterbilt is a popular brand for good reason. Peterbilt makes a great commercial truck that is known for its reliability and styling.
Kenworth &#; Kenworth dump truck models are popular for a reason. The Kenworth brand is known for toughness and reliability.
Mack &#; Mack trucks are synonymous with construction. The Mack granite dump truck today is powerful and durable.
International &#; International brand commercial trucks, once known as the International Harvester company makes medium, heavy duty, and severe duty trucks.
Freightliner &#; Freightliner dump trucks are known for being versatile and are America&#;s most popular selling semi-truck.
Volvo &#; Volvo is one of the leading heavy truck builders worldwide. While not as popular for use as a dump truck in the states, Volvo makes a broad line of Class 8 trucks to choose from.
Heavy and Medium Duty Dump Trucks
Medium and Light Duty Brands
Here are excellent places to find used dump trucks for sale.
Print Magazines
Printed magazines still exist. You can find Truck Paper Magazine at truck stops or have it mailed to you weekly.
Online
Most people today find private party trucks for sale online, where they can see 1,000s of vehicles across the state, across the country, and across the world.
Top online Sites
While you can find thousands of used trucks for sale on the internet, there are a few big players who dominate the used semi trucks space.
Truckpaper.com is not going to win any awards for design and layout. But, if you are searching for private party trucks, TruckPaper.com is the leader.
Other popular sites for finding and buying private party include: Craigslist, Commercial Truck Trader, Facebook Market Place, and Iron Planet.
Once held in muddy fields, reserved for wholesalers and large companies, auctions have become mainstream and are a viable place to buy trucks. With the help of Ritchie Bros., in-person and online auctions have become fashionable. You can even buy a new truck at an auction.
With that said, if you are new to the trucking business, we strongly recommend that you think twice about buying from an auction. Buying used dump trucks at an auction offers too much risk compared to the reward.
A reputable used truck dealership is an excellent option for anyone, but especially for a first-time buyer.
A smart used truck salesperson doesn&#;t want to sell you one used truck, they want a customer for a lifetime.
We always recommend getting a 3rd party inspection once you have chosen the truck you are interested in. To help you decide whether a truck is worthy of a third-party inspection, we recommend you inspect the engine, transmission, brakes, tires, and truck history if possible. But for a pre-purchase inspection of a dump truck, we recommend you pay close attention to the cab visibility, dump axles, the frame rails, and most importantly the dump body.
Cab Visibility&#; Often overlooked, make sure the cab offers amazing visibility. A safer experience for the driver is going to translate into better safety, more driver confidence, and lower insurance costs.
Check the Axles &#; Dump truck rear axles are under a lot of pressure so they need to be checked with extra care. For an initial inspection to determine whether to proceed with a purchase, check the differential axle housing (pumpkin) for leaks and cracks. If the truck has a locking differential, test it to make sure it operates properly.
Frame Rails &#; Pay close attention to the rails for sagging, cracks, rust, and bowing. After you&#;ve completed the inspection of the body, make sure to look at the frame rails. Bowing upwards can mean that the dump truck was driven with the box loaded and upright on a constant basis. Sagging frame rails is a sign of overloading. Both these fixes are safety issues and expensive. If you see either of these conditions walk away.
Hydraulic Cylinder &#; Inspect the hydraulic cylinder rod to see if it is worn, scored, or bowing. Check for leaks and seal damage, and look at fluid filters for debris or clogs. Make sure hydraulic lines are not leaking, and that there are no cracks or ballooning. If you see any of these signs, call hydraulic cylinder repair mechanic to have it checked.
Controls &#; Make sure all inside and outside controls are working properly. If there are remote controls, make sure they are in working order.
Body Inspection &#; While it&#;s the last item on our list for an initial inspection, it may be where you want to start. Examine the dump box for rust, thin spots, or corrosion near the headboard. Make sure all mechanics and hinges are working properly. Lack of maintenance or abuse of the box will tell you plenty about the rest of the truck.
Buying used really works well in this application. Dump trucks spend a lot of time waiting to get loaded or unloaded. They usually do short hauls so the miles don&#;t add up as fast as other applications. So it makes a lot of sense to spend less on a used dump truck than it does to buy a new one and have to pay more money, along with a 12% FET Tax.
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