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Trading hopper bottom for an end dump

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by W Bench Farms, Oct 5, 2023.

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  1. Oct 5, 2023 #1
    W Bench Farms

    W Bench Farms Light Load Member

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    Oct 16, 2017
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    I currently have a 40' steel hopper bottom I mainly use for the farm. Haul a few local loads every now and then. Semi is usually hooked to a flatbed. Last year I think I hauled a total of 6 loads with the hopper. I'm thinking of selling the hopper and getting an end dump. I need a trailer to mainly haul my grain to the elevator. But, I thought that an end dump may be a little more versatile, and I may get some more use out of it. Also have an opportunity to fill in hauling fertilizer locally. If I do go this way, I'm not sure on going full frame or frameless, and what length would be my best option. Would be pulled with an FLD 120 with a 220" WB. Want to have enough bridge to gross 80k. My current flatbed setup is a 48' spread, and light weight is 29500. With the hopper I'm 33600 empty, so can put about 800 bu corn on and be legal.
     
    W Bench Farms, Oct 5, 2023
    W Bench Farms, Oct 5, 2023
    #1
    NightWind Thanks this.
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  3. Oct 6, 2023 #3
    SomeCanadian

    SomeCanadian Light Load Member

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    Nov 11, 2021
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    I haven’t pulled a frameless, but I would suggest full frame. Slightly more rugged, and for unloading in the field I would think it should be more stable. The 30ish footer I pulled for a bit was too easy to overload the trailer tandems. I would suggest a triaxle
     
    SomeCanadian, Oct 6, 2023
    SomeCanadian, Oct 6, 2023
    #3
  4. Oct 8, 2023 #3
    SL3406

    SL3406 Medium Load Member

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    Oklahoma
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    If you need to bridge 80k you will need a 39' trailer. I would go with a frameless because a frame type that long will be too heavy.
     
    SL3406, Oct 8, 2023
    SL3406, Oct 8, 2023
    #3
  5. Oct 10, 2023 #4
    abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    May 2, 2010
    ludlow MA
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    Frame trailers suck, 39-40’ frameless is probably what you will want
     
    abyliks, Oct 10, 2023
    abyliks, Oct 10, 2023
    #4
    motocross25, Al. Roper and Last Call Thank this.
  7. Oct 14, 2023 #5
    W Bench Farms

    W Bench Farms Light Load Member

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    Oct 16, 2017
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    Thinking of going with a 39-40' frameless. Trying to go look at a few soon. Just wondering if tandem or spread would be the way to go. I know a spread drags tires more, but can't be worse than my flatbed. How do you guys pick up freight? I'm in northeastern Ohio, and it seems like 40-50% of the trailers on the road around me are end dumps. R&J, D&V, Page, etc all run around here. I have my own authority, and don't want to lease on. What I'd really like to do is just pick up a load or 2 a week here and there. I stay busy on the farm, but when we slow down I get in the truck more.
     
    W Bench Farms, Oct 14, 2023
    W Bench Farms, Oct 14, 2023
    #5
    NightWind, Sons Hero and W923 Thank this.
  8. Oct 14, 2023 #6
    abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    ludlow MA
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    heard good things about page, was actually planning on going there while I was building my truck, funny how things change, start calling them and see if any of them have brokerages too

    I’d do a spread axle trailstar if I was going with a big trailer, actually had a 30’ spec’d out before I bought my MTM but wasn’t doing demo work with aluminum
     
    abyliks, Oct 14, 2023
    abyliks, Oct 14, 2023
    #6
  9. Oct 15, 2023 #7
    Trashtrucker1707

    Trashtrucker1707 Road Train Member

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    US Bulk has a brokerage, I’m sure you could haul for them as you please. Also try Bulk Loads dot com on the old interweb, lots of loads posted there.
     
    Trashtrucker1707, Oct 15, 2023
    Trashtrucker1707, Oct 15, 2023
    #7
    Sons Hero, W923 and motocross25 Thank this.
  10. Oct 17, 2023 #8
    W923

    W923 Road Train Member

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    I would look for 26-30 foot full frame all aluminum trailers and get a good full liner. The frameless is fine for hauling grain but I don’t care for them dumping lime in fields and most construction jobs around here won’t use them. And hauling grain is marginally better than flipping burgers or at least that’s been my experience in west central Illinois.
     
    W923, Oct 17, 2023
    W923, Oct 17, 2023
    #8
    Sons Hero Thanks this.
  11. Oct 18, 2023 #9
    W Bench Farms

    W Bench Farms Light Load Member

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    Oct 16, 2017
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    My truck is 220" wheelbase. What can you gross with the shorter trailers? Does less than 80k cut your rate much?
     
    W Bench Farms, Oct 18, 2023
    W Bench Farms, Oct 18, 2023
    #9
    W923 Thanks this.
  12. Oct 18, 2023 #10
    ducnut

    ducnut Road Train Member

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    All the ag businesses and corporate farms around me (central IL) run what appears to be 39’-40’ length frameless, tandem, and usually MAC brand. I’ve never seen a shorty being used for what you’re wanting to do.

    The OTR end dumps I see, such as Oakley, are usually spread axle. I’d definitely spec a dump valve on the rear axle, if you go that route.
     
    ducnut, Oct 18, 2023
    ducnut, Oct 18, 2023
    #10
    Sons Hero and W923 Thank this.
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