As you start looking for a dump trailer for sale, you need to consider whether it has the capacity to handle the loads you need to haul. Dump trailers come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and designs, so you should be able to find one that meets your needs. However, you need to determine what your needs are so you can find the right trailer. To help you choose a dump trailer with the capacity to handle your cargo, here are some important questions you need to ask yourself.

1. How Much Does Your Cargo Weigh?

Every dump trailer comes with a specified maximum load weight, which is the most it can carry. If your cargo is less than the maximum specified, the trailer has adequate capacity to haul the materials that you need to transport. 

However, if you try to transport a load that exceeds the maximum capacity, you could damage your trailer.

Therefore, it is a good idea to have an idea of what your cargo weighs before looking for a dump trailer for sale so you can narrow down the right size. There are guides published online that provide the weights of common construction materials, so you can consult these. Another relatively simple way to determine the weight of your cargo is to measure one cubic foot. Calculating this against the maximum weight capacity tells you how many cubic feet you can safely load onto your new trailer. If you haul several different types of materials, calculate the one that is the heaviest.

2. What Will You Be Hauling in the Trailer Most Often, and Is the Space Sufficient?

Depending on the nature of your business, you may use your dump trailer to handle many different types of materials:

• Sand
• Equipment
• Fill Dirt
• Refuse
• Stone slabs

Of course, you need to determine whether your cargo is under the maximum load capacity, but that is only one consideration. You also have to make sure that the size is sufficient to handle your loads. For example, equipment may be oddly shaped and take up a bigger footprint within the trailer.

Dump trailers also come with options that, depending on what you intend to haul, can help to make your job easier. For example, a ramp can help you load and unload equipment, while a gravel spreader can help save you some manual labour.

It may be that you use the same trailer to haul different types of material, and that’s fine. However, you should choose your trailer based on the type of load you will handle most often.

3. Will the Loads You Haul Be Wet or Dry?

Excess water means that a wet load weighs more than a dry one. If you usually haul wet loads, you have probably already taken this into consideration when determining how much the material weighs. However, if you usually haul dry loads and then have to handle a wet one, it is easy to overload the trailer, which could damage it and pose a safety hazard when it comes time to dump it. It is even easier to make this mistake if you usually handle dry materials and then haul a load of the same material but wet. If hauling a wet material for the first time, make the effort to calculate the weight of a cubic foot to calculate how much material the trailer can handle. When in doubt, it is better to load less material to be sure it does not exceed the capacity than to overload the trailer.

Find a Dump Trailer for Sale From Millroad Manufacturing

We manufacture trailers and sell them primarily through a network of dealers around Ontario. However, we also design our products, which means that we can work with you to create a customized dump trailer to meet your needs. Find out more about our custom dump trailer solutions.