Will Your Dump Truck Body Fit the Job?

Heavy-duty commercial equipment is the second largest expense that many industrial companies typically face, the highest expense cost usually taken up by employee salaries. Considering that some of the equipment that must be purchased to produce a product or service can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, getting equipment that is able to handle the work that is usually done is essential in order to prevent premature wear and costly breakdowns.

Selecting the correctly outfitted equipment even applies to something as simple as a dump truck, primarily because of the many different types of material that can be carried in the bed of the vehicle. Selecting the right bed in terms of size, capacity and construction is important to keep dump trucks in good working condition while performing efficiently and productively. Evaluate the following specifications that must be considered when selecting the right truck for the jobs that will be handled.

Primary Usage - There are many questions to be asked and answered here. There are a number of different types of dump beds, including conventional versions with solid welded bodies, flatbed ones with dumping as an option, a cross between conventional and flatbed with sides that can fold down when that is needed; and a version that expands on the solid side by adding a metal-like mesh to the top of the sides to handle different types of larger material. Depending on what will be carried, one of these versions will definitely be more efficient than the other, especially if the truck can be used for other things than hauling and dumping.
Weight Usage - Having a good estimate of the weight of materials that will typically be carried is vital in order to select the right chassis to hold the dump body. Regularly carrying material that is heavier than what is the capacity of the selected chassis is both inefficient and hazardous. The style of the bed and the chassis must both be able to safely handle any load carried. Knowing this information can also help estimate what size and what bed capacity should be chosen to be most efficient.
Dump Bed Metal - Knowing the above two usages will help determine the correct material for the bed as it will need to be as durable as possible for the work that will be done. Bed construction also affects fuel efficiency and initial cost of the truck. Steel beds are the most common, most durable, and least expensive; however, weight is more with this metal and it can corrode over time. Aluminum models are less durable and more expensive; however, they are lighter weight and usually remain free from corrosion. Stainless steel beds are also somewhat more expensive than regular steel beds but are more durable than aluminum and will not corrode.
Hoist Usage - There are two types of hoists used on dump truck beds, electric or PTO. Electric hoists run off the vehicle's battery, allowing for it to be turned off even while dumping. Although easier to use, they have a lower lift capacity and should only be used on lighter duty trucks. The power-take-off hoist operates from the vehicle's engine, has much more power, and can dump heavier loads from heavier trucks although the engine must keep running. The disadvantage of an electric hoist is that it will drain the battery over time; the disadvantage of the PTO hoist is greater fuel usage and more exhaust is expelled.
Although there are other options to examine, these listed above are the primary ones to be considered in order to properly estimate the amount a truck can carry and how large and durable the bed must be to handle all material transferring jobs. Being sure that dump trucks are properly equipped ensures that reliable service can be provided for years to come without abnormal wear or strain that could cause damage to the dump truck, repair costs to handle the damage, and higher overall operating expenses. Good truck selection based on knowing the correct answers to the above questions will make sure that the right dump body for the job will be chosen!
Heavy-duty commercial equipment is the second largest expense that many industrial companies typically face, the highest expense cost usually taken up by employee salaries. Considering that some of the equipment that must be purchased to produce a product or service can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, getting equipment that is able to handle the work that is usually done is essential in order to prevent premature wear and costly breakdowns.

Selecting the correctly outfitted equipment even applies to something as simple as a dump truck, primarily because of the many different types of material that can be carried in the bed of the vehicle. Selecting the right bed in terms of size, capacity and construction is important to keep dump trucks in good working condition while performing efficiently and productively. Evaluate the following specifications that must be considered when selecting the right truck for the jobs that will be handled.

Primary Usage - There are many questions to be asked and answered here. There are a number of different types of dump beds, including conventional versions with solid welded bodies, flatbed ones with dumping as an option, a cross between conventional and flatbed with sides that can fold down when that is needed; and a version that expands on the solid side by adding a metal-like mesh to the top of the sides to handle different types of larger material. Depending on what will be carried, one of these versions will definitely be more efficient than the other, especially if the truck can be used for other things than hauling and dumping.
Weight Usage - Having a good estimate of the weight of materials that will typically be carried is vital in order to select the right chassis to hold the dump body. Regularly carrying material that is heavier than what is the capacity of the selected chassis is both inefficient and hazardous. The style of the bed and the chassis must both be able to safely handle any load carried. Knowing this information can also help estimate what size and what bed capacity should be chosen to be most efficient.
Dump Bed Metal - Knowing the above two usages will help determine the correct material for the bed as it will need to be as durable as possible for the work that will be done. Bed construction also affects fuel efficiency and initial cost of the truck. Steel beds are the most common, most durable, and least expensive; however, weight is more with this metal and it can corrode over time. Aluminum models are less durable and more expensive; however, they are lighter weight and usually remain free from corrosion. Stainless steel beds are also somewhat more expensive than regular steel beds but are more durable than aluminum and will not corrode.
Hoist Usage - There are two types of hoists used on dump truck beds, electric or PTO. Electric hoists run off the vehicle's battery, allowing for it to be turned off even while dumping. Although easier to use, they have a lower lift capacity and should only be used on lighter duty trucks. The power-take-off hoist operates from the vehicle's engine, has much more power, and can dump heavier loads from heavier trucks although the engine must keep running. The disadvantage of an electric hoist is that it will drain the battery over time; the disadvantage of the PTO hoist is greater fuel usage and more exhaust is expelled.
Although there are other options to examine, these listed above are the primary ones to be considered in order to properly estimate the amount a truck can carry and how large and durable the bed must be to handle all material transferring jobs. Being sure that dump trucks are properly equipped ensures that reliable service can be provided for years to come without abnormal wear or strain that could cause damage to the dump truck, repair costs to handle the damage, and higher overall operating expenses. Good truck selection based on knowing the correct answers to the above questions will make sure that the right dump body for the job will be chosen!