Dump trailers are useful because one trailer can handle many cleanup and landscaping jobs, but different materials create very different weight, loading and disposal challenges.
Common loads
Household junk and garage cleanouts
Yard debris, branches and brush
Remodel and construction debris
Roofing tear-off material
Dirt, gravel and landscaping rock
Sod and soil
Concrete and masonry when weight is carefully controlled
Furniture and property cleanout material
Weight is often the real limit
Bulky household items may consume space before weight becomes a concern. Dirt, gravel, concrete, wet sod and similar material can do the opposite. For heavy material, tell us the approximate quantity before you load.
Plan disposal before loading
Not every disposal facility accepts every material, and mixed loads can be treated differently from clean material. Confirm where the load is going, what the site accepts and any disposal rules that apply to your project.
Ask before loading unusual material
If you are unsure whether something belongs in the trailer, text us first. That is especially important for hazardous, liquid, unusually dense or difficult-to-dispose material.
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Couches, appliances, mattresses, old electronics, broken equipment, boxes of debris from a cleanout. Household junk is typically light and bulky, which means it fills the trailer by volume before it gets close to the weight limit. A 5×10 at $50/day handles most single-room or garage cleanouts. A 6×12 at $75/day is the right move for a full house cleanout or when you want to do it in one trip instead of two.
Yard debris and green waste
Tree trimmings, branches, shrubs, weeds, old sod, leaves, and garden waste. Green waste is light unless it is fresh sod or wet wood. A yard full of trimmed branches usually stays well within weight limits even in a 5×10. Wet sod is heavier than it looks—account for 2,000 to 2,700 lb per cubic yard if you are loading significant amounts.
Remodel and construction debris
Drywall scraps, trim, carpet, flooring, broken tile, insulation, wood framing, cabinets. Remodel debris is mixed density. Drywall and insulation are light; tile and cabinet boxes are heavy. The safest approach is to load heavy pieces at the bottom and estimate conservatively on how full to fill the trailer. For a large remodel, a 7×14 at $85/day gives you the most room to work with.
Roofing shingles and underlayment
Asphalt shingles are dense—a single square (100 sq ft) of three-tab shingles weighs 200 to 350 lb. A typical 1,500 sq ft roof generates 15 to 20 squares of tear-off, which can weigh 3,000 to 7,000 lb or more depending on how many layers are coming off. Roofing is one of the most weight-intensive loads and is a case where the 7×14 rated to 10,000 lb is usually the right choice. Do not load multiple layers of old shingles into a 5×10 and expect to stay under the weight limit.
Dirt, topsoil, and sod
Landscaping digs generate a lot of material fast. Topsoil weighs roughly 2,000 to 2,600 lb per cubic yard when dry and more when wet. A 5×10 filled to the top with dirt can exceed the load limit before the trailer looks full. Fill only to about half depth for dirt and dense soil. The 6×12 and 7×14 handle larger landscaping projects—just watch the fill level and consider delivery so you are not responsible for the tow vehicle setup.
Gravel and rock
Crushed gravel weighs 2,700 to 3,000 lb per cubic yard. A small amount fills the weight budget of a 5×10 quickly. Gravel removal is better suited for the 6×12 or 7×14, and even then should be loaded conservatively. If you are hauling gravel in, rather than out, that is a delivery situation—most gravel suppliers deliver loose material directly and it does not require a rental trailer at all.
Concrete and asphalt
Concrete weighs approximately 4,000 lb per cubic yard. This is the heaviest common material and will exceed the weight limit of any trailer if loaded more than partially full. A small concrete demo (a single step, a section of sidewalk) may be feasible in the 7×14 with a shallow fill. For significant concrete removal, a roll-off dumpster is often the better option since they are rated for far heavier loads. Ask before loading large amounts of concrete.
What we need to know before you load
Text us at (801) 895-3928 if you are loading material you are not sure about. The things we need to know: what it is, roughly how much, and where you are taking it. Some materials (concrete, tires, appliances with refrigerant, electronics) have restrictions at certain disposal facilities and you may need to call ahead to confirm they are accepted.
Know your disposal site before you load
Where you are taking the load matters as much as what is in it. The Sanitary Landfill in Salt Lake and the Spanish Fork Transfer Station accept most household and construction waste but have restrictions and per-ton fees. Some materials require a separate drop-off location. Knowing this before you load means you are not driving around with a full trailer looking for a facility that will take what you have.>
