My friend's mom asked us to help her haul away some dirt from a 20' x 20' area that's about 6 inches deep. We don't have a truck or trailer, so we're considering renting one, but we're not sure what's the best and most affordable option. We looked at flatbeds from Home Depot, but getting the dirt into the bed might be a struggle. Trailers have ramps, but then we'd need a truck to tow one. Is there a type of truck with a pull-out ramp that isn't a moving truck? I'm located in California, and I'd appreciate any advice on this. Thanks!
4 Answers
Honestly, it might be cheaper to hire someone to do it. They know how to dispose of it legally and safely. Plus, if the dirt’s clean, you could post it for free on social media. It’s easier if you’re not in a hurry!
Wow, you might not realize how much dirt that actually is! You could need an excavator and a dump truck to handle that. Just so you know, it’s about 7.5 cubic yards of dirt, and a standard pickup can only carry about 0.5 to 1 yard at a time. So, expect to make a ton of trips if you go that route.
If you really want to tackle this yourself, a mini skid steer would be the ideal tool to scoop it up. If that seems too technical, renting a pickup truck and using a sod cutter from Home Depot could help break things up a bit. You might still end up shoveling a lot of dirt into wheelbarrows to get it to the truck, though. For about $200, you can also rent a dump trailer, which would make things a bit easier overall. Just prepare for some serious labor either way!
Totally agree, it’s heavier than you think! A pickup or standard trailer won’t handle that well. Better to plan for multiple trips.
I had a similar situation recently, where I hired someone. They delivered a dumpster and used a bobcat to scoop up the dirt—it was quick and way less hassle than doing it manually!
Just a heads-up, I did a smaller area of dirt and it was way heavier than expected. I ended up hiring a couple of workers from Home Depot to help, which saved my back! Might want to consider that.
Yeah, definitely rent a machine if you can. It’ll save your back and speed things up—just be ready to fix your lawn afterward.