So I've started looking at mechanic specials, 80s era dumps.  Single axle and Tandem axles.  My dad suggested a dump trailer.  Not many used trailers like that around.  I was looking at a new 16' gooseneck dump trailer for around $10k.  

You guys have any thoughts or experience you'll share?  Appreciate it.

On the quarry I asked to have it spread, but they just said they're drivers may or may not spread.  They're just required to dump.  Now their are guys around that do specialize in that.  They charge a little more.  I think I paid $280 for 13 or 15 tons last year (can't remember what those tandems haul).  That was like $80 in rock and $200 delivery.  This is off the top of my head...

I did check on insurance and my insurance guy quoted me $50/mo for liability.  In OK we can tag farm and pay not very much, plus no CDL req'd for farm tag.

I am liking a single axle, but also I was thinking going tandem to haul more as quarry is a 2 hour round trip.  

Holy shnitsky  $200 to haul a 15Ton of rock,  I must need to move to OK.  I will drive 10-15 miles and charge $5 a ton.    If you get a dump truck it does take a little practice to get good at spreading.   Watch for POWER LINES! 

After a few barley pops, one night, I was spreadin a load of RC6 on the farm road, bed went up, but I fergot to open the gate, load shifted, then the lil spring clip that holds the clutch fork in, broke, truck did a wheelie, drive shaft twisted up, fell off, man what a ride!

I've had a single axle around for years. 1978 Chevy and now 1991 Ford Super duty. I bought a dump because the big boys could not dump and spread under low power lines at some properties. I can't say that it's cheaper to own your own truck. I just had mine towed 40 miles and a clutch put in for $1200.

Plates are $90, liability around $400, they all love the gas loaded or not.

I use mine for firewood hauling, trips to the landfill for heavy dense material and put an extension ladder in the bed to reach some street lights I couldn't reach otherwise.

My complaint is that while I can spread failrly well I don't have much luck dumping a parttial load. Can't get the bed down quick enough to keep stone on it for a second dump.

Noticed a sign at one quarry I go to that there is a $20 extra charge for any load under 2 ton, I could haul 5 or more but always haul 4 or so to hopefully not break something.

tomNE wrote: In my area of NE, I don't call the quarry, I call different rock delivery trucking companies to ask what they offer.   If they promise 1 thing and don't deliver, then short the check, when u pay the bill.    You can even tell this to them up front.  If it costs a little extra to get it the way you want it, then pay the piper!

Same here in central IL.  I have never called the quarry.  Gotta find a good delivery driver, best through or with a reference.  Last dump I had in was through an excavating company.

OK, how about asking local excavating companies, house builders, ?? that NEED a place to dump 'fill' ? You've got a looooong driveway and I assume access is good. I know someone who did this and got his driveway widened and higher doing this.

Jay

I used to tailgate gravel with a KW--w-900 and 28' dump trailer all the time, ---No problem doing it either.  Just gotta watch what you are doing, tree limbs, power lines, etc. will need to be checked before you go in.

I had air-tailgate and had the valve switch in the cab to trip when I started the run, chains set on trailer and drove the right speed. Never had to have a grader after I spread, so it can be done.

If you have that long drive to make to the pit, then you will be money ahead to hire it hauled instead of your own unit. Time and gas are expensive, so factor that in.

If your drive is clear of BIG tree limbs and power lines, ANY guy with a semi can haul/spread with no problem. --- 25 tons per load.---I ran 25 to 30 tons and had no problem doing it, so check your local trucking companies!

course now I'm wondering just how MANY loads it'd take to gravel the half mile ( 2500 feet ) driveway, of say 3/4 minus or 3/4 crusherrun or whatever you call 'driveway making' gravel.

As pointed out it could be the 'time vs money' problem. 2hrs per load,say 3hrs cause you have to unload,pee, and doit all again and again and again...

You might be able to work amd make money to pay (or help pay) for a trucker to do the runs.

Jay

Here's one in OK that seems reasonable.

https://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucbystate/?sl=31QSCI19184026" rel="nofollow - https://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucbystate/?sl=31QSCI19184026

I heard a mention on this post about 50.00 a month for insurance being expensive. Thats 600 for a year and that is DIRT CHEAP here in Michigan. I dont own a dump truck so I dont know for sure, but going off what I do know, I doubt 50.00 would buy a week of Michigan No Fault insurance on a commercially plated dump truck

Great Lakes, Great times.............

https://youtu.be/3Y20L1xCMNE" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/3Y20L1xCMNE

I have a 14K Suretrac 14' x 7' dump trailer. It's a very handy trailer to have. I've used it around the yard, to haul one tractor, wood and many other things. When I built my garage in 2011, my intention was to haul all the fill I needed with the dump trailer. After I hauled a few loads of #2 stone, one of the guys I was working with suggested that I look into having a local trucker haul the rest. The guy brought me two loads (about 60 tons +/-) for $500. I couldn't come close to hauling it for that.

The dealer I bought the trailer from had a sign up in his yard that said "NEED MORE FRIENDS - BUY A TRAILER". Truer words were never spoken!!!

The question is wether to buy a truck, or a trailer...

But for your circumstance, the best answer is NEITHER... 

Because you said "quarry is a 2 hour round trip"

The cost of the material you're hauling, is low, in comparison to transport.

Let's say you wanted to match that 24T haul with anything smaller... you might be able to go with a 5-6t tandem axle 5th wheel, or with a class 6 farm truck, the former being a little faster on the road, the latter being substantially more expensive to own and operate.

The big truck haulers can carry a significant amount (especially a semi with long-dump material bed) in the same time or less, under their insurance, and burn about the same amount of fuel, but transport more material in less time.

In that case, the only issue is dumping, and depending on circumstances, I can see why some will, and some won't spread with the tailgate.  Same around here... the county trucks WILL (and they have a little belly blade they use to spread it when they do), and many owner-ops will tailgate, but COMPANY drivers won't, because companies don't submit to the risks.

A box-blade to spread is the better scenario, and just invest the quality time.  Yeah, it takes alot.  Got a grandkid that can operate the skid-steer?  A half mile drive will take a while, but bein' able to bucket it part-way will speed it up lots.

Aside from that, I own a light tandem dump trailer.  I haul firewood, trash, gravel, sand, dirt, and scrap metal with it.  The truck has maneuvering advantages, but the trailer defeats those with versatility.  I can park the trailer in one spot, hand-load it full of scrap, dirt, or whatever... then pull it with the D17 to driveway, hitch it up, and head down the road.  I can pick up a load of compost, pull it home, unhitch, pull it to the back with the D17, park and tarp it, and when weekend comes around and she wants to spread compost, I hook it with the D17, pull it alongside the gardens, and we hand-unload.

It WILL tailgate.  Yes, balance CAN become an issue, but not with it locked to the D17.  If I need to unload PART, I just swing the gate open,  drive the Kubota up to it, and knife out a bit onto the ground, pull forward, do it again.  I can drive the Kubota up INTO the trailer to unload or load it.  Can't do that with a dumptruck, it's too tall.

Registration is something like $25/yr here...