best tractor for end dump?

Off rd truck...a mack or freightliner is the best for that in my opinion

 

mack,freightliner or paccar. Or western star

 

westernstar isvthe caddilac of trucks. ...u can't put thay beautiful thing in the mud and dirt driver lol

 

If you're going to pull an end-dump it depends where. I have moderate to extensive experience. I say that because I may not have 20-years on one, but like most everything else, common sense ( & some advise ) will keep you out of trouble. Here's my thoughts;

1.) Started on a '04 Mack, E-7/475HP, w/ airbag rear suspension, Super 10-speed..day cab. Don't buy anything with a sleeper if you're NOT going to remove it. You need to see the trailer at all times, & why drag around another 1000# or more you don't need, with a long wheel base you don't need?
The truck was fine. I pulled a long Fruehauf 40' 1/4-frame trailer, did a lot of demo work as well as aggregates. With that long a trailer I always dumped air bags when unloading. Truck could of used more gear ( trans ).

2.) Got on a 00's? Mack w/a sleeper & 38' 1/4-frame trailer. No problems, small HP & 10-speed trans. It had Reyco/Hutch rear spring suspension. Wrong suspension, wrong cab. Usually ran very heavy. Wrong gears (trans & drivers ) for the use. It was easy to get stuck on-site w/uneven road. Could only see the box thru mirrors when dumping (sleeper). Its nice to see what's happening w/back window...but not critical.
3.) Short time in F/Liner ( sleeper ) w. 34'-36' "frameless" end-dump. Long wheelbase tractor...short trailer...PITA to back uphill...& you will have that situation come up.
4.) Ran 38' frameless end-dump, belly dumps, & side dump in semi & Nevada "train" configuration. Ie: 38' front belly, 28' rear...40' double side-dump. Tractor was a Pete ( not really a fan ) 475-500 ISX Cummins ( I'll get hell for this; ) very squirrely engine DRIVEABILITY wise. Good mechanical product...lots of de-rate, DEF, turbo sensor problems, etc. Think twice about that motor. Running good? Yeah, grossing 130# w. 18-speed & correct gearing I easily ran 75MPH w/o much problem anywhere. Pete air bag rear.

I think good HP, right gearing & trans is the answer. No former OTR trucks. Nothing is right ( unless you plan to change ) on the spec. Cheaper & more available for certain, but you'll have enough things to work on w/o starting with the wrong truck.

Good Luck

 

Im sort of looking at the same deal as you, as i sold my dump and am looking for a truck and trailer as well.

I think what I have decided to look for is a western star 4964, pete 378, or a kenworth t800. Day cab, or 36 inch or smaller sleeper with a window in the back.

450+ horsepower, in whatever cummins/cat/detroit I can find for a decent price (my preference is cummins though)

18 speed and I think I would like my rear end ratio 4:10 ish or lower, maybe 4:56 so I can still burn on the highway here and there.

One thing I didnt think about is the overall length. What would be a decent length? What is too long?

I also have been looking at trucks with removeable sleepers, but find it hard to figure out on some trucks if its removeable or not!

I dont mean to hijack, just to add a little more to the thread

 

You can't go wrong with a nicely specced T800. Mack's are nice but I have no experience with anything newer than 2003 there... I used to pull an end dump with a Prostar, that's definitely one to avoid. No ground clearance and they're really not built to handle it.