What rear setup for dump trailer?

Rig wrench I have super 40's on my truck and I think it has a 46 center section and 40 wheel ends. I asked when my truck was new and had a hard time getting a straight answer also. I read somewhere that they are more expensive to get a center section for also.

 

Im not totaly positive but I think the super 40s have a higher torque input rating for the bigger power engines but has no load carring increase over standard 40s. Im sure the center section dose cost more.

 

it doesn't look like they would fit? could they possibly use 44k canters? most 40's use a removable rear cover, like 44's, but most 46's use a solid rear cover, fixed to the housing, I think. early to late 46's may differ. cant recall real clear

 

Hi Mel:
I see some the guys hauling pulp etc in NY are running four axles on trailer now. They say they can permit to 117K? Some are happy with them, some say they are not? What is your thoughts on the extras?

 

Well I think it depends on how you speck your equiptment if its really worth it. A lot of dump trailers and walking floors ( usually trash haulers ) as well as the logging and even flat beds are going to the 117,000 permit.
One company hear in NY specs their trailers so heavy duty that they weigh 10,000LBS more then mine so they carry the same 36 tons I do at 107,000LBS. Why burn up 2 $600 super singles ( thats whats on the 4th axle. They are steerable lift axles ) and two more sets of breaks if you dont need to. Not to mension the extra fuel burned because of the 10,000 LBS extrs when empty. Take my trailer add the extra axle ( about 2500 lbs) and you get 3.5 more tones. Now its probibly worth it. You could actually spec a truck and trailer quiet a bit lighter than mine and get the 117,000 permit and haul 40+ ton so I think its worth having a permit that heavy. Most at 117,000 haul 37.5 to 39.5 ton with a dump trailer. Trash haulers, chip trucks, log trailers benifit also. Ive seen flat beds with lumber at 117,000 also. Thats a hell of a load of lumber. One thing about the 117,000 permit over the 107,000 is the axle raitings of the tractor. At 107,000 you need a tri axle trailer or a tradem trailer with a lift axle on the tractor, but you only need a 12k front and 38k rears. Its awfull hard to bridge the load with out being over axled but it can be done. At 117,000 the tractor needs a minimum of a 13,200 front and 44k rears (most run 46k) and the 4th axle need to be 80% weight raiting of the other trailer axles and a steerable lift. ( This might be changing to a regular lift axle ). If you have a 12k front and all the others are heavy enough you get 116,500 LBS.
I stay at 107k because I go out of state some in the summer and at 80,000 im already to heavy. If I had the 4th axle on the trailer I could only carry 19.75 ton. If I didnt leave the state than I think the exters for the 117k permit is worth it. Buy the way I think Mass. and VT. have the same permits.

 

My trailer is a Mac 36 foot 96" wide 66" side sheet and post ( not a flat side ). It has three 25k axles. The front is a lift axle. It has a full plastic floor liner, a side to side roll tarp and a two way gate. Its a full frame trailer but all aluminum. It weighs just a hair over 16,000 LBS. Its heavy but very well made. Its a 53.5 yard trailer and that includes the dog house. At 80k I can haul 22.25 ton, 107k 35.75 or maby even 36 ton when low on fuel. If you are only hauling heavy materials like stone, sand, gravel, and even salt you dont need 66" sides. 60s or even 54s would be fine and lighten up the trailer. With grain, mulch, wood chips, or auto fluff you will need the higher yardage trailer. I know you said you wanted a 26 footer. Why? Seems short. For construction materials it would work fine but if you want to give your self more options like grain or coal you wont get a very heavy payload. What do you plan on hauling? Are you staying local or running a several state region? This will all make a difference on the type of trailer you need. Not all dump trailers are created equal. The different designs are for different types of hauling and materials.

 

Well thats all heavy materials so the volume of the trailer dont need to be as high. Salt is lighter per yard than sand or stone but not a huge amount. If you go with a 26 foot tri axle you will most likely get 30+ ton at 97k. I would try to get 60" sides because of the salts higher volume. I know 2 guys with 30 footers. 1 with 60" sides and get 37 ton on but its ready to spill over the sides. The other had 54" sides and can carry 34.5 tones. He added 6" side boards to help keep it from spilling over. If it were just aggregate products than the 54s would be fine. If you get steel wheels ( hub piloted or bud ) watch them like a hawk! with a trailer that short their is a lot of twisting on the wheels and they are going to crack over time. Aluminun are definetly better. If your third axle is a lift axle it help the wheel breaking issue a lot. Most of the stress on the wheels will be slow manuvering and cornering where you can lift the 3rd and the trailer will pivot on two instead of draging three side ways.
I use to pull a 26' tandem. I could put that trailer any place a 10 wheeler could go. Use to call it my 10 wheeler conversion kit.
Like I said in an earlier post you might run in to problems bridging the weight with the 40k rears. With the aggregate products you might be able to load rear heavy and be ok but with salt you will fill the trailer front to rear. I think thats where you will run in to over axle problems on your drives. I not saying dont do it. Just be carefull with DOT. Good luck.