How much does a 14K dump trailer weigh, empty and loaded?
Our 14K dump trailer, a Big Tex 14LP-14, weighs 4,180 lb empty and is rated for 14,000 lb loaded. That leaves 9,820 lb of payload. Light loads like brush or demo debris weigh far less than that. Gravel and topsoil hit the limit before the bed is full: about 3.6 cubic yards of gravel or 4.7 of topsoil.
Key takeaways
- Empty: 4,180 lb. GVWR: 14,000 lb. Payload: 9,820 lb.
- Bed: 168 x 83 in with 24 in sides = 7.17 yd³ level.
- Gravel (~2,700 lb/yd³) maxes out at about 3.6 yd³.
- Expect 1,400-2,100 lb on the hitch at full weight (10-15%).
- A level load of shingles is about 18 squares and roughly 9,400 lb all in.
How much does a 14K dump trailer weigh empty?
Our 7x14, a Big Tex 14LP-14, weighs 4,180 lb empty, according to Big Tex's spec sheet.
The rest of the spec sheet explains where that weight comes from. It has two 7,000 lb axles with electric brakes on both, 10-gauge 24-inch sides, a scissor hoist, a deep-cycle battery and Load Range E radial tires. Other 14K dumps vary by length and build. Big Tex's own 12-foot version is 3,870 lb and the 16-foot is 4,250 lb, so check the VIN plate on any trailer you rent.
That empty weight alone is close to a half-ton pickup's 5,000 lb no-weight-distribution limit. See whether a half-ton can tow it.
Big Tex lists ST235/80 R-16 Load Range E radial tires and a 12,000 lb drop-leg jack on the 14LP. Drop axles are an option on the 14LP that lower the deck to 24 inches off the ground. Options like that, along with taller sides and electric jacks, add weight, which is why two 14K dumps of the same size can differ by a few hundred pounds.
How much does it weigh loaded?
Anywhere from about 5,100 lb with brush to the full 14,000 lb with stone or soil.
| Material (lb/yd³) | Yards that fit | Load weight | Trailer + load | Hitch weight (10-15%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brush (127) | 7.17 (full) | 911 lb | 5,091 lb | 509-764 lb |
| Mixed C&D (417-484) | 7.17 (full) | 2,990-3,470 lb | 7,170-7,650 lb | 717-1,148 lb |
| Asphalt shingles (731) | 7.17 (full) | 5,241 lb | 9,421 lb | 942-1,413 lb |
| Mulch (~800) | 7.17 (full) | 5,736 lb | 9,916 lb | 992-1,487 lb |
| Topsoil (~2,100) | 4.68 (weight-limited) | 9,820 lb | 14,000 lb | 1,400-2,100 lb |
| Gravel, sand, stone (~2,700) | 3.64 (weight-limited) | 9,820 lb | 14,000 lb | 1,400-2,100 lb |
Densities are typical values. Wet material is heavier, so leave a margin. The shingle figure (731 lb/yd³) and the debris range come from EPA conversion factors. Enter your material in the load calculator to check a load before you fill it.
Check your load before you hitch up
Pick the material and amount. We'll show the weight, the fill line and how many loads it takes.
Open the load calculatorWhy does gravel max out before the bed is full?
Because 7.17 yards of gravel would weigh about 19,400 lb, nearly double the payload.
By volume, stone, sand and soil are about 4 to 20 times heavier than debris and brush. At about 2,700 lb a cubic yard, 3.64 yards of gravel is already 9,820 lb. In practice that's about half the bed, spread level, not heaped in the front. Topsoil stops at about 4.7 yards. If a supplier loads you with a bucket, tell them the payload number first. For more, see how much gravel a dump trailer can carry.
How do you work out a mixed load?
Figure each material's yards times its weight per yard, add them up, and stay under 9,820 lb.
Bed volume first: 168 x 83 x 24 inches is 334,656 cubic inches. Divide by 46,656 (cubic inches per cubic yard) and you get 7.17 yd³.
| Example: landscape cleanup | Yards | lb/yd³ | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old topsoil and sod | 2.0 | 2,100 | 4,200 lb |
| Shrubs and brush | 4.0 | 127 | 508 lb |
| Mulch | 1.0 | 800 | 800 lb |
| Total | 7.0 | 5,508 lb load; 9,688 lb with trailer |
That's within payload, but the hitch would carry roughly 970-1,450 lb, too much for most half-tons. Keep soil and stone low and spread across the bed, never piled at the front or back.
How much of that weight sits on the hitch?
Plan on 10-15% of the total, so 1,400-2,100 lb on the ball at the full 14,000 lb.
That number has to fit your hitch, ball, receiver and truck payload, not just the tow rating. Ford's 2026 F-150 guide caps tongue load at 500 lb without weight distribution and 1,400 lb with it. A 2026 Silverado 2500HD is rated 14,500-18,500 lb conventional, with a brake controller standard. Our 7x14 uses a 2-5/16" ball and a 7-way plug. Run your numbers in the tow checker. Your vehicle's manufacturer ratings and manual always win.
Weight also matters for stopping. Maryland requires brakes on all wheels and a 15-minute breakaway on trailers registered over 10,000 lb. The 14LP-14 has electric brakes on both axles, which only work with a brake controller in your truck. See whether you need a brake controller.
How does the 6x12 compare?
The 6x12 is lighter and smaller: 3,100 lb empty, 6,800 lb payload, 9,900 lb GVWR.
| Material | 6x12 yards that fit | Trailer + load |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed C&D | 4.44 (full) | 4,951-5,249 lb |
| Mulch | 4.44 (full) | 6,652 lb |
| Topsoil | 3.24 (weight-limited) | 9,900 lb |
| Gravel | 2.52 (weight-limited) | 9,900 lb |
Both trailers cost the same per ton at the scale. The 6x12 rents for $119 a day ($126.14 with tax) and the 7x14 for $165 ($174.90).
For heavy material, the 6x12 can be the better choice even though it carries less. Fully loaded it's 9,900 lb, not 14,000, so the hitch sees about 990-1,485 lb instead of 1,400-2,100. If your truck can't safely handle the 7x14's full weight, two 6x12 loads of gravel beat one overloaded 7x14. Your vehicle's manufacturer ratings and manual always win.
What does the weight mean at the landfill?
You pay by the ton, so the load weight is the disposal bill.
Example: a level 7x14 of shingles (5,241 lb, 2.62 tons) at Alpha Ridge's $106-a-ton C&D rate is about $278, plus the 2.45% card fee. The same tonnage at Carroll's Northern Landfill ($85 a ton) is about $223. Alpha Ridge may refuse soil or large concrete loads, so call first. Landfill fees, hours and rules are set by each county or site and can change without notice. We don't control them; call the site before you go.
The same 2.62 tons costs about $262 at Millersville ($100 a ton for rental or double-axle trailers) and about $328 at Eastern Sanitary ($125 a ton), where shingles are capped at 2 cubic yards at $200 a ton. A full 7x14 of shingles is over that cap, so Baltimore County roofers need another site.
Questions
What is GVWR?
Gross vehicle weight rating: the most the trailer may weigh with its load. For the 14LP-14 that's 14,000 lb.
Can I heap material above the sides?
Only light material, tarped and within payload. Never heap stone or soil; it exceeds the payload long before it reaches the top.
Where can I weigh a loaded trailer?
The county landfill scale weighs you in and out. Some truck stops have public scales, too.