The weight distribution has a huge effect on how the trailer pulls and stops. Weight distribution is also important when choosing a trailer.
In addition, if the equipment is full of mud, that will add weight, as well. This will allow a safety margin if you ever want to throw another bucket or attachments on the trailer. You may want to consider a trailer that has a capacity 10% to 20% above the actual equipment weight. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) minus the trailer’s empty weight gives you the trailer’s payload (weight) capacity. You need to consider both the size and weight capacity for the equipment you will haul. It is important for the customer to understand legal axle loads in that area and whether the towing will happen while the truck body is loaded or only empty.”Ĭhoosing the right size trailer for the job is one of the potential pitfalls. Any towing weight is part of your gross combination weight (GCWR), and rear axles must be properly sized to handle the additional weight. “Whether you are hauling a pup or a small equipment trailer, the rear axle plays an important role in determining towing capacity. “There are many types of trailers used in construction,” says Nigro. Make sure the rear axle is up to the task. This is a fairly inexpensive item at time of order, but very inconvenient and costly when you have to retrofit the truck.” “A very important thing to remember when ordering your new dump truck is to order air and electrical connections at the end of the frame. “You should consider suspensions with limited side sway and lower centers of gravity,” says Mary Aufdemberg, director of product marketing, Freightliner Trucks. Suspensions should provide the necessary stability.
Other truck components must be evaluated for towing to ensure they are capable of handling the load, including the transmissions, prop shafts, cooling system, etc.” “The gross trailer weight and tongue weight are common factors that are limited by crossmember design and the dump truck frame rail thickness. “Rear axle capacity is not usually a limit to trailer choice,” says Russoli. There are differences between spec’ing dump trucks and light-duty trucks for towing applications. This is usually done by specifying any height requirements that you might have at the time of order, and is spec’d as minimum unladen height.”
Ensure the trailer you are hauling mates up to the coupling on the truck at the proper height. “It’s important to consider the vertical height of the towing equipment.
“Often the body builder installing the dump body will install the towing equipment because they are modifying the rear crossmember to fit the dump pivot,” says Anthony Nigro, application engineering manager. Western Star emphasizes the importance of communicating with the body upfitter. Ideally, the dump pivot design should be integrated into the rear crossmember design for a pintle hook type of rear crossmember.” This design structure should not be modified by a dump body builder to accommodate the dump pivot structure. “When spec’ing a truck, the gross trailer weight to be towed and the trailer tongue height should be taken into account for a robust rear crossmember design. “Towing impacts virtually all aspects of the dump truck and components,” says Russoli. “In addition, brakes, axles, the transmission and other components must be evaluated to ensure they are rated for the weight being towed. “The entire vehicle/trailer combination must be considered before towing, including gross combined weight, trailer weight and the towing capacity of the pintle hook and supporting crossmember,” says Stu Russoli, vocational market manager, Mack Trucks. Dump trucks have unique towing considerations.