A Dump Truck can be very Useful

Here is a story about how my dump truck came in handy to help a neighbor with a small but labor-intensive job.

Part of my approach to frugal living is to avoid costs, and sometimes that requires a bit of an upfront investment - like investing in some used construction equipment to tackle a tough job.

The equipment helps me tackle tough jobs, but it's also available to help my neighbors as well. So here's the story...

One day my neighbor came over to ask if he could borrow one of my truck-bed trailers. It was fine with me, but I inquired as to what he was going to use it for, in the event that I might have some equipment better suited to his need (like my flatbed trailer). He explained that he wanted to use it for hauling gravel for a foundation he was building for a shed.

It sounded like a lot of work to me. No matter how the gravel was going to be loaded, the unloading would be done by hand. I'm not against working with my hands, but even one trailer load of gravel sounds like just too much work.

So, I offered use of my dump truck instead. He insisted that he only wanted the trailer, so I asked him how much dirt he was going to haul. After he explained that it would be several trailer loads, I again suggested that he use my truck to avoid all the hand shoveling.

I offered my backhoe and skidsteer to load it, and the dump truck to haul and spread it. He said: "Look Clair, I just want to borrow one of your trailers, that's all. I don't want you to go to any trouble." I assured him that it was no trouble and that I would be glad to fire up the dump truck and lend a hand with his project.

I told him that it was making me tired just thinking about him doing all that back-breaking work to unload and level by hand. I asked him: "Why work hard all day when we can let the equipment do the work and get it done in about an hour?"

To make a long story short, he acquiesced and we traveled down to his lower pasture together - him riding his tractor equipped with a loader, and me driving the dump truck. We loaded that truck up to the max, and I had to run it back up the hill in low range first gear, just to keep it moving against the incline and heavy load of wet gravel.

We then made a controlled "dump and spread" of the single load of gravel, right where he intended to build the foundation of the shed. After I brought the truck bed back down and buttoned up the end gate, he shook my hand and said most sincerely: "You just saved me a hell of a lot of work. I'm glad we used the dump truck." I simply said I was glad to help.

My neighbor would have worked all day getting that gravel loaded and unloaded. I saved him the price of his stubborness by insisting that we make good use of my equipment to handle the job. He was grateful and I was happy to help out.

It sounds a bit self-serving, but I always keep in mind how my neighbors might be able to use equipment that I intend to purchase. It's all part of being able to help others. Part of my approach to frugal living is to help others and get help in return.

Done with Dump Truck, take me back to Used Construction Equipment