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If you’ve ever seen a large truck with a tilting bed working on a construction site, it’s most likely a tipper truck. What is a tipper truck and why is this vehicle so important in various industries? Tipper trucks, also referred to as ‘dump trucks’, are large vehicles often used to transport and deposit material. These trucks usually feature hydraulic rams that allow them to dump items quickly.
Tipper trucks come in different sizes, configurations and types, each with unique features and capabilities. In this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive overview of what a tipper truck is, including its features and uses.
Table Of Contents
A Tipper Truck
A tipper truck is a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) that has a tipper body attached to its rear end. These vehicles feature an open-top body and a hydraulic system that allows them to empty materials quickly. These trucks are highly diverse and available in various configurations and sizes.
With countless types of tippers to choose from, it is essential for anyone taking on a task involving freight transportation or material movement to find the right one. The critical feature that makes a vehicle qualify as a tipper truck is the presence of a tipper trailer.
Usage
A tipper truck is used for transporting and unloading loose material efficiently. Most companies looking to complete construction projects often rely on tipper truck hire services. Tippers are equipped with heavy-duty chassis, which makes them suitable for transporting materials, such as crushed rock, wood chips, dirt, sand and soil, to and from construction sites.
Tipper truck hire makes transportation more efficient and helps companies minimise labour costs. You can customise and configure your tipper trailer’s`3 configuration in order to suit any job or specific requirement. Click here to learn about the various types of trucks and their uses.
What Can Tipper Trucks Carry?
Tipper trucks can carry various materials, including:
- Construction materials: Tipper trucks can carry loose materials, gravel, sand, dirt and wood chips to and from the construction site.
- Waste and debris: These trucks can be used for the transportation of waste and debris, including rubble, trash and other materials generated during demolition or construction projects.
- Agricultural products: They can transport agricultural products, such as crops, grains and fertilisers.
- Raw materials: Tipper trucks can carry raw materials, such as coal, ore and minerals.
- Liquids: Some tipper trucks can be used to transport liquids, such as water or fuel, by utilising tank-like structures.
Operating a tipper truck requires specialised training and experience to ensure safety and efficiency.
Size And Capacity
The capacity of a tipper truck depends on its length, wheels and tipper body weight. Longer trucks have more wheels to support the vehicle’s weight. Most trucks are 3 metres (9.8 feet) wide, and their capacity increases as their weight and length increase. Here’s a list of various sizes of tipper trucks and their capacities:
- Four-wheel dump trucks with lengths of 7.6 meters (25 ft) can carry up to 24.5 tonnes.
- Six-wheel trucks with lengths of 7.6 meters (25 ft) can carry up to 26 tonnes.
- Eight-wheel dump trucks with lengths of 9.8 meters (32.1 ft) can carry up to 32 tonnes.
- Articulated trucks with lengths of 14.2 meters (46.5 ft) can carry up to 44 tonnes.
UK tipper trucks come in a variety of sizes, ranging from three to four axles. The most powerful ones are the 32-tonne models with four axles, which can haul up to 20 tonnes of material. There are also smaller 3.5 and 7.5-tonne tipper truck options. Tippers use a drive system where the front two axles are for steering and the rear two axles drive the vehicle.
Both rear axles rotate to improve traction on any type of rough terrain, including off-road areas. Articulated tippers typically feature all-wheel drive systems. Therefore, all their axles receive power to increase traction, which gives them much better performance and allows them to carry over 40 tonnes.
Tipper trucks use a hydraulic system to raise the truck bed to empty its content. Most tippers tilt upwards, but some, known as ‘side tippers’, tilt sideways.
Tipper vs Dump: Is There Any Difference?
There is no difference between a tipper and a dump truck (or dumper truck). In most places, people use ‘tipper truck’ and ‘dump truck’ interchangeably to refer to the same kind of vehicles. Therefore, they are classified as the same type of machinery. The only exception is Australia.
Australians have different names for trucks depending on their size. The term ‘tipper truck’ describes smaller trucks that you can easily manoeuvre and use on roads and construction sites. On the other hand, large trucks with capacities of up to 30 tonnes and above are referred to as dump trucks. Some dump trucks from major manufacturers have capacities of 250 tonnes.
In the UK, a tipper truck, as well as other types, is often called a ‘lorry’. See here to learn more about that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is It Called A Tipper Truck?
It is called a tipper truck because it is equipped with a hydraulic system and a two-piece tailgate that allows the dump box to be ‘tipped’ to empty its contents. Tipper trucks are popular among construction and agriculture companies for transporting and unloading various materials.
How Do You Operate A Tipper Truck?
To operate a tipper truck, you need proper training. Operating a tipper truck should be easy with the right preparation. Before starting up, ensure that the load has been evenly placed on the bed to prevent any tipping or sliding during transit. When you get to your destination, tilt the hydraulic system and unload the truck’s content. A tipper truck usually has a two-piece tailgate that you can open to facilitate unloading.
How Does A Tipper Truck Work?
A tipper truck works by utilising an innovative hydraulic system, powered by a pump driven from the engine, to tilt its cargo bed upward or sideways and empty out the contents with ease. When the driver activates the hydraulic system, the pump pressurises the hydraulic fluid and sends it to an air cylinder connected to the truck bed. The cylinders lift the front of the trailer, allowing the load to fall out. Some tipper trucks (side tippers) tip sideways.
What Is The Difference Between A Tipper Truck And A Dump Truck?
There is no difference between a tipper truck and a dump truck (dumper truck). While tipper trucks are the common term for these trucks in much of the world, they are referred to as dump trucks in certain countries. However, Australians often refer to the larger versions of tipper trucks as dump trucks. A tipper or dump truck is a powerful vehicle with a tipper body for transporting and unloading materials quickly.
What Are The Types Of Tipper Trucks?
The types of tipper trucks include rigid rear tipper trucks, articulated tipper trucks, front tipper dump trucks, track-mounted tipper trucks, side tippers and underground tipper trucks. The type of tipper truck you select depends on the type of task you’re trying to carry out. However, rigid rear dump trucks and articulated tipper trucks are the most popular kinds of tipper trucks.
Conclusion
You now know the answer to the question, ‘What is a tipper truck?’ This versatile heavy goods vehicle has been crucial to construction, mining, agriculture and other industries for many years. For example, tipper truck hire service is essential for any construction project. With its capability of easily transporting loose materials, a tipper truck is definitely here to stay.
