Hauling Boulders in Material Box Dump truck

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by OldRed98, Oct 11, 2021.

  1. OldRed98

    OldRed98 Light Load Member

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    I have a tandem dump truck with a material box. I have a couple of projects that I need some 2 foot boulders/rip rap for but I don’t want to tear up my box.

    Does anyone have any tricks to protect your box bed? I was thinking about sticking a couple of sheets of plywood in the bottom. OR maybe a layer of dirt in the bottom. We haul dirt all the time with huge chunks of clay and sandstone. I've just never hauled boulders.
     
    Bean Jr. Thanks this.
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  3. Daycabinit

    Daycabinit Light Load Member

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    The person loading them can make a big difference. Don’t let them just dump them in like it’s gravel.
     
  4. ErieMcDreary

    ErieMcDreary Medium Load Member

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    Sand or clay in the bottom, and plywood on the sides. Plus load them carefully, stay below the tailgate, unless you have a side hinge. They can stack up against the top when dumping.
     
  5. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

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    If you have a tailgate that lifts up hydraulically, make darn sure the boulders will fit between it and the end of the body - and go up very slowly when you dump, stopping as soon as they start rolling/sliding.

    Trust me, you do NOT want to see your tailgate laying on the ground under a pile of boulders.
     
  6. Don379

    Don379 Heavy Load Member

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    I haul stuff as big as that in my triaxle. its not the floor or sides that get a beating. ITs the tail gate while coming out if you dont have a barn door or lift gate. You arent supposed to load that with a wheel loader or track loader. It is to be loaded with an excavator and can be gently placed in there. Not sure what you mean by a "material box". I mean arent they all? Sounds like you already know what to do in your first post. Put layer of dirt down if your worried buddy.
     
  7. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    Steel or aluminum body?
     
  8. REO6205

    REO6205 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    We haul a lot of boulders, shot rock, and rip-rap. Our trailers are steel and a hi-grade steel at that. They still get dinged up occasionally.
    I doubt if aluminum would hold up.
     
    beastr123 and motocross25 Thank this.
  9. motocross25

    motocross25 Road Train Member

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    23F31203-C244-4BDA-B186-6F5141649E02.jpeg DBF176C8-9C2C-4F0A-A2C8-C30953E79DA6.jpeg CDE62FF4-5963-494A-B4C8-2A9D4FB484A9.jpeg
    I’ve hauled some pretty big rocks in an aluminum but i don’t know if you necessarily would call them “boulders”. They weren’t impressed when I showed up with an aluminum trailer. It’s a double wall spread axle Ravens, and they loaded it with an excavator setting the bigger ones in carefully and placing them where I thought best as far as my gauges. As stated if you can barn door the end gate do it. Go up slow and once you hear them slide stop. It sounds like all hell breaking loose when they let go. Try to plop some out and pull up to avoid them breaking or one stabbing the ground and coming back on a brake chamber. Slow and steady is key.
     
    kylefitzy and REO6205 Thank this.
  10. REO6205

    REO6205 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Has your trailer had any dings in it from the boulders? How about gouges or scratches?
     
    motocross25 Thanks this.
  11. motocross25

    motocross25 Road Train Member

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    No I got pretty lucky and got mine dumped without incident. About every 3 months we get a load of these out of Wisconsin comin back to either Kansas City or Lake of the Ozarks. A coworker of mine did one the other week and a rock came tumbling down and popped his step off on this inside of his trailer. He found it and the shop just welded it back on.
     
    REO6205 Thanks this.
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