Pulling End Dumps OTR

I like to use used motor oil to keep loads from sticking in the bed when it's cold. That's with coal though, the limestone I also haul can't have oil in it because it screws up the scrubbers at the power plant. With those loads I just throw a bunch of rock salt on the floor and hope for the best.

 

I haul a tri-axle tub dump trailer at my work on and off.... I usually have 34-35 ton of material in the box... We haul organic material in it (food waste) mostly and we also haul glass and compost in them as well....

What I would say about the tarp system is watch out what kind of tarp system you have.... When I first started on our dump trailers I figured the tarp was exactly like the one on my walking floor trailer where I can run with the tarp closed.. WRONG... This tarp is the same type of system an automatic tarp system but with the dump trailers they have another aluminum bar going down the middle of the trailer inside of the tarp (I dunno why) anyhow you can drive with the tarp closed when you unloaded because the bar bounces and can be bent if the tarp is run closed and no load inside.... Kind of stupid if you ask me but thats the way it is.. So make sure you know about your tarp system...

Like other said.. Make sure that you check your pivot points cause well lets face it those pivot points are the only thing actually holding the trailer to the frame if they break well watch out... Same with the cylinders make sure they work properly and that you have enough hydraulic oil... Make sure the trailer is always clean when you leave the unloading point.. If you haul the food waste like I do make sure your that you door deal is 100% cause the ministry of environment will not like the nasty liquid juice seeping out... Make sure your level, although it's pretty amazing when you see a guy not perfectly level and everything is fine but me personally I would never chance it... The thing with out tub-dumps is they are top heavy since they are thinner at the bottom of the trailer then the job.. I have in the past have the bottom half of my load come off and the top half not come down pretty crappy when that happens... If the trailer were to flip it wouldn't be good cause the food waste gets dump inside a building in a pretty tight area (not a lot of room left to right.. not a lot of room to drive forward and not a lot of height so you really gotta watch the lift)...

Another thing to watch for that hasn't been mentioned.... Try to make sure your on SOLID ground if possible.... A few guys have flipped our trailers because of this.. This doesn't come down to stupidity but just not checking things out enough... One guy for instants was on some asphalt and when trailer got up to top the asphalt gave out trailer sunk into one side and over it went.... So make sure to the best of your knowledge that the surface your on is stable... Don't wanna get onto some dirt and then have box lifted up and then start to sink into the sand...

I seen a trailer system on u-tube where if the trailer became unlevelled while lifting that the it would stop lifting.. It was a pretty cool idea I hope it takes off.... I do see a lot more live-bottom (conveyor belt) on sites now and days.. They can dump pretty much anywhere on site, quicker and have flow control for transfers of say asphalt to a spreader...

This happened to one of our guys a while back... He was dumping a load of compost and I guess when he tried to drive forward he was stuck... So he asked the loaded operator to pull him out they hooked a chain up and off they go.. Well just one problem the guy didn't drop the box while this was going on and well you guess it... Pulling a stuck truck out with the tires in buried and a box high in the air does not make for a good result... So you guess it over she went and he had enough time to jump out... They ended up fixing the truck and the trailer I figured they should have written it off..

Anyhow here are some pictures. First 2 are the tub dump that I haul around (night time phone pic sorry) ... The 2nd is the damaged truck and box dump that flipped.... No pictures of the damage on the dump tho...

Good Luck, Be Safe and Remember your the one in control of that trailer and the safe unloading of material... If someone wants you to dump in a unsafe spot refuse to unload... Don't be afraid to check out the site and where you dumping..Don't let your pride get in the way thinking you can just dump anywhere and nothing will happen

 

This was me pulling a dump back in 2009 and they get way up their. Sitting on that back axle while dumping and have a low tire, flat or blow one and you are coming over. They run virgins on the back axle and sometimes recaps on the front axle.

 

Good advice from a bunch of tubbers. Sometimes a load will shift or hang during dumping.....not cool.

 

There are only two types of end dumps. one that have gone over and ones that will! Use a slip sheet in the front!

 

Buy a spread axle dump unless you like messing with scales.

 

Hate to repeat info but........LEVEL, LEVEL, LEVEL. If its not level dont dump. Your gonna piss people off because you cant dump where they want you to. That comes with the territory. When I'm dumping a load of rock or sand and its not level I'm pulling up and/or moving over until it is level. If a dozer operator is crying because I'm not dumping where he wants I'm likely to look at him with a sly grin and ask him if his dozer blade is broke. I recommend a solid vinyl roll tarp. You have alot less worry about the wind blowing material off when your running down the road. Don't know what its like up there but down in Louisiana you can make a decent living hauling local. We haul sand to an asphalt plant and work with two rockyards. If I hustle and make my time count my truck can make a thousand bucks a day but thats runnin nonstop all day. Bring your lunch and squirt the dirt when you're loading or dumpin. That 10 or 15 minute stop at the store might not seem like it'll hurt anything but it may cost you a load at the end of the day. Like the guy said earlier its long hours. Yes I'm home every night but I'm up at 3am and rollin at 4 and don't stop until the sun goes down. But for a guy with young kids at home it beats being out on the road for 3, 4, or more weeks at a time.

 

I'd advocate a great roll-up tarp program that will work with your truck and have a lot of alternative bows. Many claims of course involve all a lot to be "covered". When lifting stones, make sure after fill load and put there is no reduce stones relaxing on the truck factors or raise of the truck.

 

Years ago, my second day on the job, I forgot to flip the switch to unlock the gate and raised the box fully with a load of sand on a soft bottom (sand box at a concrete plant) and needless to say it scared the ####x out of me. Never made that mistake again but could have turned out very very bad. Someone was watching out for me.