Choosing the right dump truck body for your company is important. Dump truck bodies are utilized in a variety of industries, from lawn care businesses to construction sites. They can serve your business in a variety of ways, from hauling more material to excavating. Whether you’re using a dump truck for snow removal, construction work or landscaping, it’s important to choose the dump body for your needs. DuraMag Truck Bodies offers customers two versions of dump bodies – the HD and Eco. When selecting your next DuraMag dump body, consider the durability, carrying capacity and weight restrictions of each dump truck body.
Types of Dump Trucks
There are several different types of dump truck bodies. Each dump body has a specific set up and operates a certain way. The standard dump truck, transfer dump truck and side dump truck have a particular use and in some cases, specific limitations to what they can do.
- Standard dump trucks have a truck chassis with a dump bed attached and a vertical hydraulic lift at the bulkhead. These trucks have an axle at the front and additional axles at the rear. The maneuverability is generally pretty good, but soft ground should be avoided.
- Transfer dump trucks are standard trucks with separate trailers that haul a container filled with sand, gravel or other substances. This combination increases hauling capacity without affecting the ability to maneuver. It is possible to add multiple containers; however, states may prohibit this based on weight limits. Checking on state regulations before adding cargo containers at a particular job is important.
- Side dump trucks allow dumping to either side using hydraulic rams and have a two-axle semi-trailer with a three-axle tractor. Such trucks have the ability to carry heavy loads and unload quickly. Although this type does not tip over readily, it can if dumping is stopped before it is finished unloading. Maneuverability is limited.
Source: PDH Academy
Dump Bodies for Residential or Commercial Use
DuraMag offers a HD Dump Body as well as an Eco Dump Body to cover the wide spectrum of our customer’s business needs.
The HD Dump Body is for heavier commercial use. The HD Dump Body is the strongest, most durable aluminum dump body on the truck body market– and it may be the strongest dump body in its class.Explore the video below to see the extreme durability of our HD Dump Body:
The Eco Dump Body is a light-duty body that’s an affordable option for residential or light commercial use.
None of our DuraMag dump bodies will rust over time like a steel dump body will. Our aluminum bodies are also proven to withstand heavy loads like steel, too. To determine whether the DuraMag HD Dump Body or the Eco Dump Body is the better fit for your business, talk with your local dealer or the DuraMag factory at (207) 660-4700.
Carrying Capacity and Weight Restrictions
The carrying capacity of a dump truck refers to the weight and volume it can handle. It’s important to only haul the specified amount a dump body is rated for, otherwise your dump truck will experience unnecessary wear and tear. Overfilling a dump body may also cause the truck to deteriorate at a quicker rate over time from the excess weight. According to Onsite Installer, “light duty dump bodies typically have a volume capacity rating ranging from two yards up to four yards, depending upon the body length and side wall height, along with the available payload and hoist rating.”
Dump trucks are prohibited from traveling on specific types of roads, due to weight limits. It’s important to research whether the dump truck your company is considering will be able to haul loads on any access roads and bridges you may need to frequent. To reduce excessive damage to federal roads, federal law limits the “gross weight of trucks based on the number and spacing of axles. The shorter the distance between front and rear axles and the fewer the axles, the lower the weight permitted per axle. The maximum allowable weight is 34,000 pounds for a tandem axle and 20,000 pounds for a single axle.” (www.onsiteinstaller.com)
Summary
A dump truck can serve your business in several ways, making it more efficient. From hauling more materials, to eliminating the wear and tear on other work vehicles, a dump body can be a valuable investment. Choosing the right dump truck body for your company’s needs is an important decision. Research the carrying capacity, durability, and weight restrictions of a dump body before committing to one.