Dump or hopper bottom

I'm looking at adding a bulk trailer. I know for sure most of the loads will be grain out of ND. I'm not sure yet what the back hauls will be. I'll primarily stay within 6-800 miles of Fargo, so that's a pretty good part of the Midwest.

I'm wondering how much having a dump with a grain door would hurt getting loads? Are there a lot of places that will only take hoppers? How about on the back haul, is using a dump trailer going to make it harder or easier to find loads back?

 

Hey MJ, if I go with a hopper how many bushel capacity should I consider as my minimum? I'm hearing that to be flexible I should get the biggest hopper I can. Any suggestions? Also do you pull a spread axle trailer? Which do you think is better for a hopper trailer? I've got a spread on my flat and I like not having to worry about axle weights, just load a little towards the rear to be safe, and go. Is it highly suggested on a hopper to, or not a real big deal with bulk loads?

 

Would a small one like this be to small and just a waste of time pulling around? http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=4495521&lp=TRK


The larger ones are $15k more and that's more then I'd like to spend. But I don't want to get a small one and find out a few months later I should of got a bigger one.

 

Flatbed falls off quite a bit in the winter. I already have a flat now, looking to add something to make me more diversified in the winter. I dont think it would make sense to add a converting hopper/flat since i already have a flat. In another thread MJ suggested a side kit for my flat, but after thinking about it I decided against it too since it limits where I can dump at.

 

I see spring suspension saves $5-6k on a new Timpte... Would I be silly to consider spring suspension on the trailer? I doubt the grain cares how comfortable it's ride is. And I doubt I would feel a deference in the cab with air ride seat, air ride cab, and air ride tractor. Unless I'm missing something all I'd low is the ability for a load gauge and wouldn't be able to add a lift axle kit for running empty. Anything else?