What is a dumper?
A dumper is a construction machine specifically designed to transport unconditioned materials (rubble, sand, earth). The dumper is a member of the earth-moving machine family. This equipment is usually equipped with 4 wheels with an open bucket in front of the driver. The dumper can tip and dump its load.
Dump means to unload, hence the name of the machine! The dumper’s loading is done with a mini excavator or backhoe if the dumper does not have a self-loading bucket.
This machine can be found on construction and public works sites. Dumpers are usually powered by diesel, and the bucket is hydraulically operated for dumpers with high load capacity. They can be articulated using a hitch eye, which allows the dumper to be converted into a tractor if required. Modern dumpers have a load capacity of up to 70 tons.
Dumper or skip?
A skip truck has the same characteristics as the dumper truck with the difference that its dump body is always located behind the driver’s cab, whereas in a dumper, the driver faces the dump body. This makes sense because nowadays, it is not uncommon to find construction companies that confuse these two categories, which can make communication a little more complicated.
The different models of dumper
Rotary tipping dumpers:
A rotary dumper is a machine whose dump body can tip in all directions. It is much appreciated because it is a machine that adapts well to any type of situation.
Front dumper (or front tipping dumpers):
The frontal dumper is a dumper whose dump body tips frontally (in front of the driver). Logical, because this corresponds to the definition of a dumper. But as explained above, the confusion between dumper and skip has made many professionals lose this specificity. This explains the creation of this category.
The mini-dumpers:
Dumpers also exist in the mini version. The mini-dumper has the advantage of being all-purpose, easy to handle, and suitable for small construction sites. The market specialists today are Ausa, Thwaites, Sambron, but so is the caterpillar dumper. Notwithstanding, when we speak about heavy machinery, some people even substitute the words “heavy machinery” for “caterpillar,” a brand that remains popular worldwide.
High dump dumpers:
The high dump dumper is more versatile and allows you to dump over obstacles or directly into a dumpster on a construction site. Dumping heights exceed 1.5m for a load of between 1 and 2 tons.
Tracked transporters (or dumpers):
The tracked dumper is rarer on the market. This model is suitable for steep terrain, as it provides better stability.
Buying a dumper
Your final choice will be a careful balance between time and volume of loading and unloading. This will, of course, depend on your materials’ origin and destination (from a few hundred meters to several tens of kilometers). The most bought dumper is the 6T dumper (based on global website search). You can find a wide range, from the mini dumper 1T through the 2T dumper to the 9T dumper.
Good to know
The leading dumper manufacturers are:
Caterpillar, Ausa, Thwaites, Terex, Peterbilt, Kubota, Volvo, Kenworth, Isuzu, Chevy, Mack, Renault, ST Kinetics, Hino Motors, MAN, MAZ, among many others.
Should you be looking for a used heavy equipment supplier that also provides reliable maintenance services, Allinson Solutions is a trusted used heavy equipment supplier and even a refurbished heavy equipment parts supplier in South Florida. Should you wish to read on some more specific topics about heavy equipment or heavy equipment motors, please leave your comments or share your experience in the comment section below.
