If you haul gravel, dirt, mulch or job-site debris around Georgia, you have probably narrowed your search to two sizes: the 7x14 and the 7x16. They look almost the same on paper. Both are 7 feet wide, both usually ride on heavy-duty tandem axles with brakes, and both are common with contractors and landscapers. The two extra feet on the 7x16 do change how the trailer works for you, though, and so do side height and weight rating.
Here is how to decide which dump trailer size fits your work.
The Quick Answer
- Choose a 7x14 if you work a lot of residential driveways and tight job sites, haul dense material such as gravel and dirt, and want a size that is a bit easier to position and back up.
- Choose a 7x16 if you haul bulky, lighter material such as brush, demolition debris and cleanout junk, and fewer trips per day matter more than maneuverability.
Both sizes on our lot have recently carried a 14,000 lb GVWR, so the bigger trailer does not always let you haul more weight. It mostly gives you more room.
Volume: What Two Extra Feet Gets You
Here is some rough math using the outside dimensions. Actual inside measurements are a little smaller, so treat these as estimates:
- 7x14 with 2-foot sides: about 196 cubic feet, roughly 7 cubic yards
- 7x16 with 2-foot sides: about 224 cubic feet, roughly 8 cubic yards
- 7x14 with 4-foot sides: about 392 cubic feet, roughly 14 cubic yards
- 7x16 with 4-foot sides: about 448 cubic feet, roughly 16 cubic yards
Notice that side height changes capacity far more than length does. A 7x14 with 4-foot sides holds much more than a 7x16 with 2-foot sides. When you compare units, look at the side height in the listing title, not just the size.
Weight: Where GVWR Comes In
GVWR is the maximum the trailer can weigh fully loaded, including the trailer itself. Subtract the empty weight and you get your real payload. This matters because dense material fills up your weight limit long before it fills the bed.
A few cubic yards of gravel, crushed stone or wet Georgia red clay can reach a heavy dump trailer's payload with plenty of room left in the box. For that kind of work, a 7x16 with 4-foot sides is mostly extra space you cannot legally fill. Light, bulky loads like brush, shingles mixed with decking, or furniture from a cleanout go the other way: you run out of room before you run out of weight, and the longer 7x16 earns its keep.
Match the Load to the Sides
- 2-foot sides: gravel, sand, soil, stone and roofing tear-offs. Easier to shovel over, and the low walls keep you from overloading.
- 4-foot sides: mulch, brush, yard waste, demolition debris and junk removal. A tarp kit keeps it all in the bed on the highway.
Maneuverability on Georgia Job Sites
Two feet sounds small until you are backing down a sloped driveway in a cul-de-sac in Henry County or squeezing beside a house in an older Atlanta neighborhood. The 7x14 dump trailer is a little easier to position close to a roofline or a tear-out, which is part of why roofers, remodelers and residential landscapers like it.
The 7x16 dump trailer shines on open sites: land clearing, storm cleanup, big hardscape installs and commercial cleanouts where you have room to swing around. Crews that haul mulch and stone to customers' yards also like the 7x16, since fewer trips means more jobs in a day.
Your Truck Matters as Much as the Trailer
Most 7x14 and 7x16 dump trailers are usually paired with a three-quarter-ton or one-ton pickup, depending on the load. Before you choose, check:
- Your truck's towing capacity and the hitch rating
- The trailer's empty weight and GVWR, listed on each unit
- Your brake controller, since these trailers have electric brakes
- Whether your hitch, ball and wiring match the trailer
We are happy to look at your truck and help you match a trailer to it when you stop by.
Hoist, Gate and Options to Compare
Size is only part of the decision. On either trailer, compare:
- Hoist type: recent Southern Utility dump trailers on our lot use a telescopic lift, a single front-mounted cylinder that raises the bed to a steep dump angle. Others use a scissor hoist. Ask us which one a unit has.
- Rear gate: barn doors, a spreader gate or a combination, depending on whether you dump in one pile or spread material.
- Ramps: many units include ramps, which let you carry a small machine or skid steer attachment to the job.
- Tarp kit: a good tarp keeps loads covered and debris off the interstate.
Before your first load, read up on the safe operation of dump trailers, especially how to dump on level ground.
Still Undecided? Consider the Work You Want Next Year
Many buyers pick the size that fits today's jobs and then outgrow it. If you are starting a junk removal or cleanout business, plan for volume. If you are a landscaper hauling stone and soil, plan for weight. Be honest about where your business is heading and pick the trailer that will still fit in two years.
Paying for a Dump Trailer
We offer traditional financing, no credit check rent to own on new dump trailers with 15% down for Georgia buyers and buyers in 20 other states, and lease-to-own options through ClickLease, which uses a soft credit pull. Call us and we will walk you through each one.
Compare Them Side by Side in Jonesboro
The fastest way to decide is to stand next to both sizes. Browse our dump trailers for sale in GA to see what is on the lot right now, with real photos and stock numbers.
Come see us at 8834 Tara Blvd, Jonesboro, GA 30236, just south of Atlanta. We are open Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM. Call (770) 603-8511 or text (404) 383-8194 and tell us what you need to haul.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a 7x14 and a 7x16 dump trailer?
A 7x16 adds two feet of bed length for more volume per trip. A 7x14 is a little easier to maneuver in tight driveways and on residential job sites. Both are commonly built on heavy-duty tandem axles with brakes.
Does a 7x16 dump trailer carry more weight than a 7x14?
Not necessarily. The 7x14 and 7x16 units on our lot recently both carried a 14,000 lb GVWR. The longer bed adds room, but your payload still depends on GVWR minus the trailer's empty weight.
Should I get 2-foot or 4-foot sides on a dump trailer?
Two-foot sides suit dense material like gravel, dirt and stone. Four-foot sides suit bulky, lighter loads like mulch, brush, demolition debris and junk removal.
What truck do I need to pull a 7x14 or 7x16 dump trailer?
These trailers are usually paired with a three-quarter-ton or one-ton pickup, depending on the load. Check your truck's towing capacity and hitch rating, and we can help you match a trailer to it.
Where can I see dump trailers for sale near Atlanta?
Our lot is at 8834 Tara Blvd in Jonesboro, GA, just south of Atlanta. We are open Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM.