Transfer Dumps

[Brotherman]

Whats the pro's and con's on them? I'm trying to see how if I can benefit from running one in MD, DE, PA and maybe other surrounding states.

Can I get atleast a 25.5 payload from one?

[Mackman]

East coast dont use transfers. Transfers are a F-ed up west coast thing. I think you mean tri axle or dump trailers. I know you can get around a 24ton pay load in PA with a tri axle and a alum body.

[Brotherman]

I do mean a transfer, I live in Pa! If I can get atleast a 25.5 payload out of MD and go to the same places that can triaxles go.. everywhere isn't dump trailer friendly, why wouldn't it work in the northeast?

Now I do understand I would have to get the same amount of loads as a triaxle for any extra profit. I'm just thinking outside of the box.

[Kranky]

By the time you're done screwing around with all that "transferring", a triaxle will be dumped off and halfway back to the pit for another load.

On an average haul, you'd probably end up with at least one less load per day due to the extra transfer time.

Not to mention the extra initial cost and increased maintenance costs of the transfer setup.

[marylandkw]

Brotherman I also thought outside the box a few years ago and looked into a Transfer dump. I decided against it because of the extra expense of another axle over a tri axle not to mention another registration. Another thought I had was the pain in getting your axles bridged out(around these parts we are all gross not axle on tri-axle dump trucks) and if the transfer box is too heavy at the pit, you are shoveling or dumping both loads trying to get it right. Whole lot of extra pain in the rear for a ton.

[Brotherman]

I'm playing devil's advocate here. If I ran a dump trailer I would have to register the trailer with another axle over a tri. I understand your point on getting the axle weight right, but I'm still not convinced that its not a good do-able idea.

I'm thinking long-term on this idea, not short term. If I were to buy one next march, I will probably lose money just working for a quarry for the 1st year or so until I get a system down.. But as time goes on and these contractors catch wind that I can carry more than a triaxle and still get into tight spots where they can , it might work out!

Is there ton of "risk" involved, absolutely! But I'm willing to take that risk.

I could also go buy a used single frame OTR tractor with light rears, and a detroit and put a tag axle on it with an aluminum body to gross 25-26 ton but I'm not down with that.

[marylandkw]

But as time goes on and these contractors catch wind that I can carry more than a triaxle and still get into tight spots where they can , it might work out!

I agree, yet I am not ready to take that chance.

Is there ton of "risk" involved, absolutely! But I'm willing to take that risk.

And that is business.

I could also go buy a used single frame OTR tractor with light rears, and a detroit and put a tag axle on it with an aluminum body to gross 25-26 ton but I'm not down with that.

Good boy. Don't be foolishly risky, be smart risky! I think you should do it and let me know how it works out. (that's the really smart way for me to risk my money...lol)

[Brotherman]

I hear ya mdkw..lol.. I'm still making phone calls and trying to get work lined up for 2009.. you know how that goes.. 8)

[floored]

worst idea ever. I ran a transfer for a year and I will never go through that hell again. My truck hauled 26tons for what that's worth.

[Brotherman]

Why do you say that?

worst idea ever. I ran a transfer for a year and I will never go through that hell again. My truck hauled 26tons for what that's worth.

[floored]

Why do you say that?

worst idea ever. I ran a transfer for a year and I will never go through that hell again. My truck hauled 26tons for what that's worth.

pain in the arse to deal with. Had the rear box jump the rails on me numerous times even on perfectly flat surfaces, had the rear box battery die in the middle of a transfer, had the lift gate crap out during a load.. And I had a fairly new set of boxes! Transferring safely takes time too so plan to lose time on your loads.

[Brotherman]

Floored, thanks for the info.. How do you get the box back on the rails after it jumps off?

[floored]

Floored, thanks for the info.. How do you get the box back on the rails after it jumps off?

my truck on one of the rail jumps..





I was lucky because it jumped while still somewhat in the other box.. some guys are not so lucky and actually drop the box, not sure how they get those back on the rails but I assume its about the same as in pic #2..

Oh another fun way to dump your box is the rear pin breaks or you forget to set it, lift your box to dump and the rear one fall right out. All that keeps the #2 box in teh front one is a small pin.

[NotSteve]

That's a stupid freaking avatar. Put back the old one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are not a black stallion.

You are headless chick with the boobs.

Geezus

[floored]

That's a stupid freaking avatar. Put back the old one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are not a black stallion.

You are headless chick with the boobs.

Geezus

lol but I like being a black stallion

[Mackman]

If you want to do dump truckin in the states you name tri axle dumps are the way to go. Think about what your doing. If your idea was so great about the transfers i think people would be useing them right now on the east cost.

[Kranky]

I rest my case.

Now you've heard it from the "horse's" mouth.

A transfer hauls 26 ton payload vs 23 or 24 tons on a triaxle.

For approximately every 8 to 12 rounds you'd gain the equivalent tonnage of one extra load.

BUT, the lost time, increased expenses, and hassles hardly seem justified in relation to the small increase in payload.

[Mackman]

There is a body maker called alum. tech that says with the right specd. mack grantie and thier body you can get a 26 ton payload.

Whatever you do never make a OTR truck into a dump truck. They will never hold up

[Colin]

I'm not sure Mackman understands the need for a transfer truck.

12 miles up a single track, switchback logging road. Try backing up for 12 miles. Quickly.
Delivering 20 yards of asphalt into a location where your tri-axle trailer could not do so. Think someone's new 10 foot wide driveway from the street to their house. No room for off tracking of a trailer.

Anywhere a 10 wheel dump truck can go, you can take a transfer and deliver twice as much material.

[Kranky]

I'm not sure Mackman understands the need for a transfer truck.

12 miles up a single track, switchback logging road. Try backing up for 12 miles. Quickly.
Delivering 20 yards of asphalt into a location where your tri-axle trailer could not do so. Think someone's new 10 foot wide driveway from the street to their house. No room for off tracking of a trailer.

Anywhere a 10 wheel dump truck can go, you can take a transfer and deliver twice as much material.

Mackman was referring to a triaxle straight dump truck.