People with medium duty trucks may assume they need to upgrade to a larger truck before adding a dump body. While your medium duty truck can definitely handle a dump body, you need to approach adding the body with care.
1. Know How You Plan to Use the Dump Body
Often, people add dump bodies to their trucks with business plans in mind. If you only need a dump body for occasional work, consider renting a truck or hiring a service instead. If you plan to use the dump body frequently, outline that planned usage and work the numbers to see if the investment makes sense.
Different Types of Dump Bodies
Dump bodies vary and different styles of dump bodies exist. Some dump bodies can handle multiple types of jobs and loads. However, you should aim for the dump body that adheres most to the specific type of work you have planned.
You can narrow down your options by answering questions about the dump body's usage. Questions can include:
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Will the truck carry heavy materials or lighter materials?
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Will the truck carry the same materials or handle different materials as needed?
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Will the truck carry loads frequently or occasionally?
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What kind of weight will the dump body need to hold?
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Will the truck also pull a trailer?
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What kind of roads and weather will the truck face?
As you answer questions, you will also find more questions to ask. Keep going until you have the best definition of the type of service will need from your dump body. The answers to your questions will dictate the body style you need as well as the materials the dump body should consist of.
2. Know What Requirements Your Truck Must Meet
Many dump body options exist for medium duty trucks, but you must choose a body your truck can handle. To figure it out, you will need to find:
You can find GVWR on the driver's side door, in your owner's manual, or on your truck manufacturer's website. The GVWR represents the maximum amount of weight your truck can handle, including the weight of the truck itself, any cargo, full fluids, and passengers.
Curb weight is the weight of your vehicle without cargo or passengers. You can find the curb weight the same way you find the GVWR in most cases. If you can't find the curb weight, you can weigh your truck with just the fluids in it.
If you subtract the curb weight from the GVWR, you'll have your truck's payload capacity. Once you know the payload capacity, you can narrow your dump body down to only those your truck can handle. Keep in mind any extra equipment you will add or carry. The weight of everything matters, not just the eventual weight you will add to the dump body.
3. Know What Happens If You Choose Improper Dump Bodies
Other considerations go into choosing a proper dump body for a medium duty truck. But you can't get anywhere unless you have a plan and know what your truck is capable of.
If you choose the wrong dump body, you can add premature wear and tear to your truck. This can lead to early failure of your vehicle. In some worse case scenarios, an improper dump body can destroy your truck, cause accidents, or contribute to injuries and fatalities.
Don't choose a dump body without research and careful consideration. At Diamond Truck Body Manufacturing, our professional staff can help you design the right dump body for your needs. Contact usto learn how you can outfit your medium duty truck.
