TRAILER RENTAL
Dump Trailer Rental in Johnson City and the Tri-Cities
East Tenn Rent-Alls rents hydraulic dump trailers from three locations in Johnson City, Greeneville, and Bristol, VA. We carry a standard hydraulic dump trailer and a lighter version sized to be towed by a half ton truck, so you can match the trailer to the vehicle you already own. Rent by the day, the weekend, or the week.
A dump trailer is the answer to a specific problem: you have a pile of something heavy, and it needs to be somewhere else. Roofing tear-off, a gutted bathroom, brush from a storm, dirt from a footer, gravel for a driveway. It loads at ground level, it dumps hydraulically, and when the job is done it goes back to us instead of sitting in your driveway.
WHY ETRA
What We Carry
We stock two hydraulic dump trailers, and the difference between them comes down to what you are pulling with.
Hydraulic Dump Trailer
The standard unit. Built for heavier loads, which makes it the choice for construction debris, dirt, gravel, and demolition material. It needs a properly rated tow vehicle and hitch, so confirm your truck is set up for it before you reserve one.
Hydraulic Dump Trailer for a Half Ton Truck
Same hydraulic dump function, sized so that a half ton pickup can pull it. This is the one most homeowners want, because most homeowners drive a half ton. If you have an F-150, a Silverado 1500, a Ram 1500, or a Tundra, ask for this trailer by name.
We also carry other trailers in the same category if dumping is not what you actually need, including a 12 foot single axle tiltbed, a 2 axle lowboy with ramps, and a 2 axle steel car trailer with ramps. Browse the trailer catalog or call and describe the load, and we will point you to the right one.
Dump Trailer or Roll-Off Dumpster?
Most people searching for a dump trailer are really deciding between two things: rent a trailer and haul it yourself, or have a dumpster dropped in the driveway. Both are reasonable. Here is the honest difference.
A dump trailer usually makes more sense when:
- You have a truck that can pull it.
- The job is a weekend, not two weeks. You are paying for the days you use it.
- You want to make more than one trip, or haul to more than one place.
- You are hauling something in as well as out. Gravel, mulch, and topsoil go the same direction a dumpster never does.
- You do not want a container sitting in your driveway or blocking a lane while you finish.
- You need it today rather than on the container company’s next available drop.
A roll-off dumpster usually makes more sense when:
- The project runs for weeks and debris accumulates the whole time.
- The volume is genuinely large. A big tear-off can outrun a trailer.
- Nobody on the job has a tow vehicle or wants to make dump runs.
- You do not want to deal with the landfill, the scales, or the tipping fee.
The trade is straightforward. A dump trailer gives you control and costs you the trips. A dumpster gives you convenience and costs you the flexibility. For most weekend and single-room projects in this area, the trailer wins. For a full roof or a whole-house cleanout, it usually does not. Call us and describe the job. If a dumpster is the better answer for what you are doing, we will tell you.
Process
What You Need to Tow It
This is the question that trips up the most rentals, so we will be direct about it. A loaded dump trailer is heavy, and the load is what determines whether your vehicle can handle it, not the empty trailer weight.
- Check your tow rating, not your instincts. It is in the owner’s manual and usually on the driver door jamb. A half ton truck that tows fine empty can be well over its limit with a trailer full of wet dirt.
- You need the right hitch and a working connection. Correct ball size, a rated receiver, safety chains, and a wiring plug that actually powers the lights.
- Dirt and concrete are heavier than they look. Soil, gravel, and masonry debris hit weight limits long before they fill the bed. Brush, drywall, and roofing shingles fill the bed first.
- If you are not sure, ask before you reserve. Tell our counter staff what you drive and what you are hauling. They do this every week and they will tell you straight whether your truck is up to it.
What People Around Here Use Them For
Some of the jobs we see dump trailers go out for most often across the Tri-Cities:
- Roofing tear-off and shingle disposal
- Bathroom, kitchen, and basement demolition debris
- Storm cleanup, downed limbs, and brush hauling
- Hauling in gravel, mulch, topsoil, and river rock
- Dirt and spoil from footers, trenches, and grading work
- Deck and fence tear-out
- Estate and rental property cleanouts
- Moving equipment and material between job sites
Anything you would otherwise move a wheelbarrow at a time, or in eight trips with a pickup, is a dump trailer job.
Why Rent From ETRA
East Tenn Rent-Alls has been family owned since 1962, when Ed Baxter opened the first store in Johnson City. Three generations of the same family have run it since, in the same communities.
Our technicians service every machine between rentals, and on a dump trailer that means the hydraulics, the lights, the brakes, and the tires get checked before it leaves the lot. A trailer that fails on the road costs you a day and possibly more than that, which is why we do not skip it.
Our counter staff also know these roads. If you are hauling out of a subdivision in Gray or down a gravel drive in Hawkins Co, that is worth mentioning when you call, because it changes what we recommend.
TRUST + CREDIBILITY
Three Locations, Three Places to Pick It Up
Trailers are among the first things to go out on a good weekend, so call ahead. If the store nearest you is out, we will check the other two.
We can often move equipment between the three stores. Call and we will tell you what is available and what it takes.
JOHNSON CITY
3711 Bristol Highway
423.282.3221
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-5:00pm
Sat: 7:30am-12:00pm
Sun: Closed
GREENEVILLE
210 Bohannon Ave.
423.638.2436
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-5:00pm
Sat: 7:30am-12:00pm
Sun: Closed
Bristol, VA
300 Commerce Ct.
276.669.3401
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-5:00pm
Sat: 7:30am-12:00pm
Sun: Closed
Dump Trailer Questions We Hear at the Counter
Can a half ton truck pull a dump trailer?
Yes, if you rent the right one. We carry a hydraulic dump trailer built specifically to be towed by a half ton pickup, which covers most F-150, Silverado 1500, Ram 1500, and Tundra owners. Check your vehicle tow rating against the loaded weight, and call us if you are unsure, because the load matters more than the trailer.
Is a dump trailer cheaper than renting a dumpster?
Delivery is quoted per job, because it depends on the equipment, the distance, and the site. Call the store nearest your address with those three details and we will give you a straight answer before anything is scheduled.
What can I put in a dump trailer?
Construction debris, roofing material, brush and yard waste, dirt, gravel, mulch, furniture, and general cleanout material all haul fine. What you cannot do is exceed the weight rating, and dirt and masonry get there faster than most people expect. Hazardous materials, tires, and appliances containing refrigerants have separate disposal rules, so check with your landfill before you load them.
Do I have to unload it myself?
No, that is the point of hydraulics. The bed lifts and the load comes out. What you do need is somewhere legal to put it, which usually means a landfill, a transfer station, or a permitted fill site. We can tell you what other customers in your area typically use.
Let's Build Something You're Proud Of
Give us a call or stop by one of our three convenient locations today. We are here to equip any project, big or small!