Considering the purchase of a roll-off system but don’t know where to start?
Roll-off truck systems generally fall into five categories, each with different tradeoffs in cost, durability, and interchangeability.
Switch-N-Go/Swap Hogg:
Truck mounted. Great for contractors who need to interchange multiple bodies on the same truck and for occasional dumpster use/rental. Not a great hard-use dumpster platform due to the lift geometry.
Standard Rail 36”:
Truck or trailer mounted. Industry standard, most prolific, the gold standard for heavy use and interchangeability. Expensive acquisition cost. Available in both cable-pull and hook-lift from a plethora of manufacturers. Note that there is also a “California/West Coast” standard rail with slightly different dimensions than traditional standard rail. The two are similar, but not fully compatible.
Texas Pride/U-Dump/47" Rail:
Lower acquisition cost. Lighter duty use. Primarily available in 12, 14, and 16 foot lengths up to 20yd capacity. Historically only available as trailer rigs through aforementioned brands, though truck-mounted 47" rail systems — including our own Trash Cat 47 — are becoming more available through aftermarket builders.
PJ/MaxxD/RawMaxx/Big Tex/Lone Star:
Utilizes a cradle system instead of traditional rails. Best for lighter use, but also lower cost of entry similar to TP/U-Dump. Historically only available as a trailer rig, but that's changing too.
Load Trail:
Proprietary system geared toward an affordable entry price. Doesn’t interchange with any other system. 44” Rail width
Note that the rail width measurements will vary slightly depending on whether the number is taken from the dumpster or the truck.
