Are you sourcing a tipper truck? From trailer lengths to the number of axles, haulage capacity, and off-road capability, tipper trucks come in a range of different combinations and configurations to suit a broad range of construction applications. Here's a rundown of some common tipper truck configurations and how they might best be utilised.
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Tipper truck vs dump truck - is there a difference?
Yep - there are big differences. In Australia, dump trucks are the larger, heavy-duty model varieties that are used for transporting substantial loads and material across off-road terrain. These are driven by machinery operators, that also have heavy rigid licenses (click here to read more about dump truck licensing). Conversely, tipper trucks are trailers attached to road-registered trucks that carry materials on asphalt roads, and are driven by road-licensed drivers. If you want more information about tipper licensing, you should read this article .
Which tipper & trailer configuration best suits your jobsite?
If you're working in an off-road site or construction environment, you'll probably use an articulated dump truck (note; tippers can work off-road if the materials they are driving on is well compacted). If you are heavy hauling materials across any public road, then you're in tipper territory, and the configuration of tipper trailers will depend on the amount of dirt you're shifting, how far you're taking it and how long you have to move it. With large material transport jobs, where you're hauling materials from one location to another location across public roads, the more you can haul in each transport instance, the better. Every load or lap will cost you less incrementally in driver time & consumables, and increase site productivity overall. But the limitations can be the roads you're transporting across, and whether you are actually allowed to drive trucks with certain wheel & axle quantities, or tonnage payloads. A lot of metro roads in dense urban areas don't allow road trucks with certain capacities & lengths to drive on them. We have thousands of verified suppliers who know the legislative & local government rules in their operational locations , so you can call them and talk through your needs and they will help you define the boundaries you're working in. Let's get into the types of tipper combinations & their general payload ranges.
Rigid Tipper Combinations - Bogies, Dogs, Pigs, Tandems
So below are the most common tipper configurations used prolifically in commercial construction, quarrying, and materials handling. This involves a rigid tipper truck, usually called a Bogie Drive, Tandem Tippers & Body Trucks
So below are the most common tipper configurations used prolifically in commercial construction, quarrying, and materials handling. This involves a rigid tipper truck, usually called a Bogie Drive Tandem Tipper or Body Truck , on its own, or with an additional trailer affixed, or sometimes several trailers. Read more about tipper truck sizes
Rigid Tipper Payload Ranges: 12 tonnes to 14 tonnes rigid trucks are the simplest form of tipper truck available and come configured with anything from 2 to 5 axles. Also known as a standard tipper truck, tandem tippers, body trucks or bogie drive tippers, they are typically made up of a cab unit that is permanently fixed to a dump body. Rigid tipper trucks tend to be used for shorter haul applications as they have a more limited payload capacity. You can also drive these puppies with a light or medium rigid license.
A fine example of a bogie drive tipper with a mini excavator, called a Excavator Combo in the biz.
Truck and Dog Trailer vs Truck and Pig Trailer
Two of the most common tipper combinations, both the dog trailer and pig trailer, serve as additional tipper trailers that can be towed by a rigid tipper truck to increase its payload capacity. But what’s the difference between pigs and dogs (in the trucking kingdom, but not the animal kingdom)? Let’s take a quick look at what sets them apart.
Truck and Dog Trailer
Truck & Dog Payload Ranges: 20 tonnes to 40.5 tonnes A truck and dog combination is the most popular type of tipper truck configuration in Australia. It usually comprises a rigid tipper towing a trailer with axles at either end. Combinations can include super dogs which are 3-axle trailers (30-tonne payload) and quad dogs (40-tonne payload) which have 4 axles. There is usually more flexibility (than with pig trailers) in how the trailers can be moved and positioned when tipping, due to the pivot capacity in the trailer axles.
Truck and Pig Trailer
Truck & Pig Payload Ranges : 20 tonnes to 40.5 tonnes. A truck and pig tipper configuration is similar to a truck and dog except that axles are centered or fixed to the front or middle third of the trailer and are connected to the prime mover via a gooseneck coupling. There is also less flexibility in the movement and placement of trailers because of their lack of pivoting capacity. The national heavy vehicle dimensions and guidelines state that you cannot have a truck and pig combination that exceeds total mass of 40.5 tonnes.
Semi-trailer tipper combinations
Single Semi Trailer
Single Semi Trailer Payload Ranges: 30 tonnes to 70 tonnes. Semi-trailer tipper combinations are made up of a cab unit, or prime mover, that is connected to a dump trailer via a fifth-wheel coupling. The advantage of this type of configuration is that the semi-trailer can be detached from the truck. Semi-trailer tipper trucks tend to have higher payload capacities than rigid tipper trucks but are not as maneuverable. The very large semis (70 tonnes etc) are pretty rare and can sometimes appear in the transport of chemicals or hazardous goods.
B-Double Semi-Tipper Combinations
B-Double Payload Ranges : 55 tonnes to 68 tonnes B-Double combinations of semi-tippers are some of the largest and most heavy-duty types of tipper trucks available. B-Doubles are made up of two semi-trailers that are connected to one another and then hitched to a prime mover. B-Doubles have a very large payload capacity but are not suitable for use on unsealed roads or in built-up areas. Usually, the second trailer is smaller than the first one. Short B Doubles can carry up to 55 tonnes as per the national transport guidelines. 68 tonnes is the max for long B doubles.
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Road Train Tippers
Road Train Payload Ranges: 70 tonnes to 175 tonnes Road trains can be made up of anywhere from three to six trailer attachments and are typically used for very long haul applications on regional highways, and are commonly used in transporting ore from mining operations. With the potential to transport extremely large load capacities, road trains are mostly suited to major large-scale projects and worksites. The most common capacity of a road train is around the 100-tonne capacity. Road trains aren't permitted on many types of public roads, so you should really lean on your verified supplier to help you with the legislative requirements when hiring.
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Things You Need to Know When Buying a Tipper Trailer
Construction companies rely on tipper trailers to transport and dump materials like sand, rubble and gravel. Tippers are essential to any construction company to transport and dump materials such as gravel, sand and debris. Compared to dumper trucks, trailers are more convenient and easier to use. When it comes to transporting and dumping the load, trailers don’t have to attach or detach the vehicle, so they can effortlessly make quick trips back and forth.
When buying tipper trailers, you need to look out for the following things:
1. Two Types of Tipper Trailers
Tipper trailers are available in two types viz. electric and hydraulic tippers.
- Electric tipping trailers are used for carrying a lighter load.
- Hydraulic tipping trailers are robust and used for lifting heavier loads. Most of the hydraulic tippers are operated by remote control, which makes it easier to dump materials. Besides, hydraulic tippers are very useful especially when the weight is difficult to manage for the operator to lift and tilt by themselves.
1-way tipper and 3-way tipper options are available for tipper trailers. For dumping materials, a 3-way tipper is more handy and efficient.
2. Material/ Build Quality of Tipping Trailers
Select a tipper trailer that is made from robust materials so that it can endure heavy materials, harsh conditions and rough use. Ensure that trailer’s base is tough and durable, so when dumping materials, it doesn’t scratch. Scratched surfaces can lead to rust formation which can get very expensive to repair and maintain. For durability and longevity, look out for trailers having aluminium sides and galvanised steel bases and chassis.
3. Braking
Typically, leading trailer manufactures fit overrun braking on their vehicles up to two tonnes. Overrun braking is an effective braking system yet simple to operate.
4. Tare Weight
The trailer’s weight is referred to as tare weight. Lesser the weight of the trailer, the better fuel efficiency you’ll get. Besides, a lighter trailer can be easily towed by smaller vehicles and will attract a lower yearly rego fee. So when you want to purchase a tipper trailer, look for a lightweight trailer having the heavy-duty capability.
5. Payload
The overall load that a trailer can carry is referred to as the carrying capacity or payload of the trailer. When you’re looking to buy a tipping trailer, certainly you would want to carry a heavy load, so look for a trailer with a high payload without compromising the tare weight. Typically, heavy-duty trailers are built using heavy materials, so they have a high tare weight and high payload capacity.
What Other Features You Must Look For?
Tipping Trailers should come with a jockey wheel and tie-down points as standard features.
- Tie-down points aids in securing your load and help in transporting the load safely, which gives you complete peace of mind.
- A jockey wheel helps in balancing the trailer.
With the passage of time and use, your trailer will undergo wear and tear. It is advisable to buy a spare wheel along with your trailer purchase, as it is always beneficial to have one handy and it would prove to be a blessing in an emergency. Besides, purchasing a spare wheel along with your trailer guarantees that you get the right wheel for your trailer. A wide range of wheels are available but selecting the right wheel can get tricky because not all of them will be compatible with your trailer.
The Bottom Line
Well, you can buy custom trailer online, as well as the standard trailer. Regardless of the trailer you purchase, you need to make sure that it handles all the requirements of a job, manage tough conditions and outlast. Don’t get tempted to buy a cheap product because it often comes with high repairing costs and higher maintenance over the long term. Thus, it is prudent to invest in a high-quality tipping trailer, which will not only give you less maintenance but also cheaper to repair over the long term use.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website 4 Axle Flatbed Trailer.
