Can my truck tow it?
A loaded trailer is heavy, and the numbers that matter aren't always obvious. Here's how to check your truck, hitch, and wiring in about ten minutes, before you book.
The short answer
What each trailer needs
6.5' × 12' dump trailer
We ask for a tow rating that covers the trailer's full 9,990 lb GVWR, even if you don't plan to fill it, because a dump trailer loaded with soil, gravel, or wet debris gets heavy fast.
Check your setup
Five checks, in order
Find your tow rating
Look it up in your owner's manual or the manufacturer's towing guide for your exact year, cab, engine, axle ratio, and tow package. Two trucks with the same name can be rated thousands of pounds apart. Some trucks also have a trailering label on the driver's door jamb that lists the max trailer weight. For the dump trailer, the number needs to be at least 9,990 lb.
Check your payload
About 10–15% of a loaded trailer's weight presses down on your hitch. That's called tongue weight. A fully loaded 9,990 lb trailer puts roughly 1,000–1,500 lb on your truck, and that counts against your payload along with passengers and anything in the bed. Your payload is on the yellow Tire and Loading Information sticker in the driver's door jamb ("the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed…"). Half-ton pickups often run out of payload before they run out of tow rating.
Check your hitch
Your receiver, ball mount, and ball each have a weight rating stamped or printed on them, and the lowest one is your limit. For a 9,990 lb trailer that usually means a Class 4 or Class 5 receiver; many Class 3 hitches are rated well below 10,000 lb. The ball must be 2 5/16" — a 2" ball can look like it fits and still come off. The trailer should sit roughly level when hitched, so you may need a drop or rise ball mount.
Check your plug
Look at the connector near your hitch. You need a round 7-way plug (often called an RV-style plug). A flat 4-pin plug only runs the lights and can't send a brake signal, and a 4-pin-to-7-way adapter won't make the brakes work.
Check your brake controller
The dump trailer has electric brakes on both axles, and they only work if your truck has a brake controller. Many newer trucks have one built in: look for a trailer brake gain control on the dash. Otherwise it's an add-on unit mounted under the dash and wired to the 7-way plug. No brake controller means no trailer brakes, so don't tow without one.
Rules of thumb
Which trucks usually qualify for the dump trailer
These are general patterns, not a guarantee either way. Your truck's own rating is the only number that counts.
Usually yes
- 3/4-ton and 1-ton pickups, such as the F-250 and F-350, Silverado and Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD, and Ram 2500 and 3500
- Many full-size half-ton pickups (F-150, Silverado and Sierra 1500, Ram 1500, Tundra) when they have the right engine and tow package. Ratings vary a lot by configuration, so check yours, and check your payload too.
Usually no
- Midsize pickups, such as the Tacoma, Ranger, Colorado, Canyon, and Frontier
- Most SUVs, including most full-size SUVs
- Crossovers, minivans, and cars
Common questions
Towing questions we hear a lot
Can a half-ton pickup tow the dump trailer?
Sometimes. Some half-ton pickups are rated well over 10,000 lb and some are rated far under it, depending on engine, axle ratio, cab, and tow package. Check your exact rating and your payload, since a loaded trailer puts 1,000 lb or more on the hitch.
Do I really need a brake controller?
Yes. The dump trailer has electric brakes on both axles, and they don't work without a brake controller in your truck. Without one, your truck alone is trying to stop up to 9,990 lb of trailer.
Can I use a 2" ball?
No. The dump trailer's coupler needs a 2 5/16" ball rated for at least 10,000 lb. A 2" ball can seem to fit and then pop off on the road.
What if my truck doesn't qualify?
Call or text us at (864) 971-5565 and we'll help you check. You can also rent with delivery, but without a qualifying tow vehicle the trailer can't be moved and the dump bed can't be raised. See the FAQ for how delivery works.
Before every trip
Hookup checklist
- Coupler latched, locked, and pinned to the ball
- Safety chains crossed under the tongue and attached to the truck
- Breakaway cable attached to the truck's frame, not to the hitch or the safety chains
- 7-way plug connected; running lights, brake lights, and turn signals working
- Brake controller engaging the trailer brakes (test at low speed)
- Tires inflated to their rated pressure and lug nuts tight
- Tongue jack fully raised; gate, ramps, and doors secured
- Dump bed fully lowered and battery charged
- Load covered with the tarp or tied down
This is the same checklist we go through with you at pickup. After you leave, you're responsible for the hitch connection and safe towing.