A Small Dump Trailer With Serious Capacity

A capable dump trailer does not have to be large or tandem axle.  For many jobs, a compact single-axle design is easier to maneuver and requires less tow vehicle than a full-size dumper.  If you have been looking for a dump trailer to build – perhaps one that may work with a properly equipped half-ton pickup or suitable SUV – these small dump trailer plans are designed for that purpose.

At 5×10 bed and 7000 lbs total trailer capacity, our compact dumper fills the gap between a light tilt-top utility trailer and a larger tandem-axle dumper.

A small dump trailer is especially useful for homeowners and acreage owners who fetch landscaping materials, haul yard waste, or make trips to the dump. Instead of unloading bulk material by hand, raise the bed and let gravity do most of the work.

The single axle makes this small dump trailer easier to maneuver, with less tire scrub on grass or other surfaces when navigating in tight places.

Let’s dive deeper into the features, the value, and where this trailer hits the sweet spot.  It is not for everyone or for every purpose, but it certainly shines in the areas where it fits.

Why Build A Smaller Dump Trailer?

Building is a great option if you have the desire, skill, and available time, as discussed in our article about When to Build a Trailer and When to Buy.  Here, however, the important question is:  Why small?

Many people love the ease of dumping (instead of manually unloading), but not everyone wants (or can) tow a big dumper.  That is where “Smaller” comes in.  A small dump trailer makes many hauling jobs easier, without the size and demands of a full-size commercial dumper.

The Mechanical Elements 5×10 dump trailer is a single-axle, hydraulically operated DIY trailer design with 7000 lbs total trailer capacity.  That is not a small capacity, but it does have a smaller footprint than most dump trailers.  Actually, for the size, the load capacity is still impressive.

Core Advantages of a Small Dump Trailer

• At 5×10, our small dump trailer has a significantly smaller footprint than the 7×14.  The total capacity is also about half, at 7000 lbs., which is perfect for people who love the idea of a dumper, but do not need or want a full-size dumper.
• Total capacity is 7000 lbs.  Empty weight will depend on options, but plan for 2300 to 2600 lbs.  That leaves an estimated payload capacity of approximately 2-1/4 tons!  (4400 to 4700 lbs)  That is a lot for a small trailer.  (Actual payload depends on the trailer build.)
• A 7000 lb trailer still requires a properly rated tow vehicle, hitch, and braking system.  However, the size and weight make it more accessible for towing with more pickups and SUVs – than a full-size dumper.
• The single axle turns without the tire scrub of tandem axles.  When maneuvering tightly, tandem tires slide a bit because both axles cannot follow the same turning radius.  A single axle pivots more naturally, which is valuable on grass, gravel, finished driveways, and surfaces you do not want to disturb.
• A smaller trailer is easier to maneuver in confined areas.  A 5×10 trailer can reach work areas where a 7×14 is difficult.  The narrower access of a 5-foot bed is useful around homes, especially on small properties, around landscaping, gates, and tight job sites.
• A compact trailer requires less storage space – less shop, yard, or driveway space when the work is finished.
• There is less to maintain.  One axle (tires, hubs, spring bushings, etc.), rather than a tandem axle system.
• Finally, it is a smaller overall fabrication project than the 14K dumper.  It is still a serious hydraulic trailer build, but there is less trailer to construct.

Now we understand some of the cool advantages, how does this compact dump trailer compare to other options?

Where Does This Compact Dump Trailer Fit?

The 5×10 – 7K dump trailer sits between a 3500 lb tilt-top utility trailer and a full-size 14,000 lb tandem-axle dumper.  To understand that position, it helps to compare the trailers by three characteristics:  Size, Total Capacity, and Dumping Function.  Here is how several of our trailers compare.

Comparing to the 7K small dump trailer, the 5×10 utility trailer can have the gravity-tilt conversion, but it is half the capacity.  The 6×10 has a little larger footprint with the option for the same 7000 lb total capacity, but it does not tilt.  Those two are the most apt comparisons, making the small dumper fit in a space of its own.

Tilt-Top Versus Hydraulic Dump

A tilt trailer and a dump trailer are conceptually similar, but they solve different problems:

• A tilt-top is excellent for loading wheeled equipment and for unloading with gravity assist.  A tilt conversion works when the load is manageable without full control, which usually means a smaller total load.
• Hydraulic dump trailers use power to lift the bed under a load, even heavy loads.  Then, hydraulics allow the operator to start, stop, lower, or continue raising the bed, making heavier loads easier to manage.
• Tilt-top trailers do give a reasonable deck angle, but they are limited when the end of the tilt deck touches to the ground.  With hydraulics and the different structure, dump trailers can tilt much more, like to 50 degrees lift.  That makes it much easier for bulk loads to completely slide off.

For lighter applications and wheeled equipment, a tilt-top is often a great way to go.  When the loads get heavier, or when powered control is needed, the hydraulic dump function shines.  Neither design is inferior; they simply perform different jobs.

Our small dump trailer is engineered around the hydraulics for powered control of the dump function.

When To Choose Large, and When To Choose Small

The 5×10-7K and the 7×14-14K dump trailer plans are similar in many ways, but they are in different working categories.  Choosing between them depends mostly on the size, weight, and volume of the loads you will carry.

Choose the 5×10, 7000 lb capacity when:

• Access and maneuverability matter.
• Loads are heavy but not especially bulky.
• You want to avoid tandem-axle tire scrub.
• Trailer storage space has limits.
• The tow vehicle is appropriate for 7000 lbs, but not enough for a 14,000 lb trailer.
• Most jobs occur around homes, acreages, landscaping, maintenance, or smaller work sites.

Choose the 7×14, 14,000 lb capacity when:

• High load capacity is a driving factor.  Depending on the trailer build and selected options, the 14K dump trailer can hold up to 9000 lbs of payload.
• Large load volume is an important function.
• Commercial production or repeated heavy hauling justifies the larger trailer.
• Larger equipment or bulky debris must fit inside.
• The tow vehicle and operating space suit a large tandem-axle dumper.

The 14K design is a 7×14 tandem-axle hydraulic dump trailer, so it naturally serves a much larger load-volume and tow-vehicle category.

Serious Hydraulic Power In A Compact Trailer

One great feature of this small dump trailer is the hydraulic scissor hoist.  We use the Premium Supply PH416, which is almost comically large for the trailer – and that is intentional.

The hydraulic scissor-hoist approach for dump trailers is well proven.  For our small 5×10 dump trailer, the PH416 is not a marginal lifting mechanism.  It supplies substantial lifting capability, and it fits within the geometry of the compact dump body.  The frame, dump bed, hinge, hoist mounts, and load paths are engineered together.

For your build, the PH416 comes in a kit with the hydraulic power unit, hoist frame and cylinder, hoses, fittings, load control, safety arm, hinge, cables, and related hardware.  This makes it easier to make sure you have all the right parts that all come together.

The Dexter PH416.  It is available through Johnson Trailer Parts, either on its own, or as part of the 5×10-7k dump trailer parts kit designed for this specific small dump trailer.

When You Are Ready To Build

A small dump trailer like this 5×10, even with the excellent 7000 lb. total capacity, is not for everyone.  It certainly fits a niche that larger trailers will not.  And the plans are great for DIYers who are up for the build.

This small dump trailer is for the builder who wants:

• More working payload than a 3500 lb, tilt-top utility trailer.
• True hydraulic dumping control rather than gravity tilt.
• A smaller size and reduced towing demand than a full-size tandem dumper.
• Single-axle maneuverability.
• A fully engineered design with a matched parts-kit option.

If this describes your situation, we have the plans.  Visit our 5×10 Single Axle 7000 Lb. Dump Trailer Plans page.  This is a great DIY project.

It is not the smallest or lightest dump trailer, but it is wonderfully capable, robust, and compact – a great fit for jobs where serious payload capacity and easy maneuvering belong together.