Tips for Tippers: Essential Components to Inspect When Purchasing a Used Side Tipper
A side-tipper dump truck can be an invaluable piece of equipment when it comes to moving large loads quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, these versatile machines can also be expensive, so many construction and excavation firms seeking to expand their tipping fleet may opt to purchase a used side-tipper.
Purchasing your side-tipper used can have many benefits, granting you the capacity and versatility of a side-tipper without paying full price. However, side-tippers naturally go through a lot of wear and tear during operation, so take care to ensure the following key components on a prospective side-tipper are in good condition:
Chassis and truck frames
These simple supporting frames make up a side-tipper's 'backbone', providing load-bearing strength and keeping the truck straight and true while it tips its loads. As such, you should ensure that the chassis and any additional reinforcement frames are good condition, kept relatively clean and, crucially, free of rust. You should also ensure that the chassis and frames have not been bent or distorted by previous operation—this generally indicates that the tipper has been overloaded during previous use, and can also signify other overloading stresses in more well-hidden areas.
Dump box
The business end of any side-tipper, the dump box holds the tipper's load and pivots sideways to unload it at your chosen spot. As you can imagine, this component of a side-tipper endures significant punishment, so your first task when inspecting it is to check for any signs of significant damage. A few bumps, scrapes are to be expected, especially if the tipper was previously used to carry rubble or other loose loads, but extensive damage (or obvious signs of repaired extensive damage) should be taken as a warning sign.
You should also take time to inspect the condition of the dump box's paint job—naturally, it will not be in perfect condition, but you should inspect any heavily damaged sections of paint more closely. Steel dump boxes with parts left unpainted for extensive periods are vulnerable to damaging rust. If you want to avoid dump box rust problems, choose a tipper with a rust-proof aluminium box, but be aware that these lighter boxes are also structurally weaker and may be damaged by heavy, uneven loads.
Lifting cylinders
The hydraulic lifting cylinders located under the tipper's dump box are just as vital as the dump box itself, providing the lift requires to empty the dump box speedily. These lifting cylinders are expected to operate under intense loads and strains, so ensuring they are in top-notch condition is key.
Check for signs of rust and corrosion that may indicate fluid leakage, and inspect the integrity of all rubber o-rings and seals that may have perished during the tipper's previous employment. You should also ask to operate the dump box's cylinders yourself before buying any tipper, so you can ensure that they operate smoothly and predictably.
For more information, contact companies that have side tippers for sale.
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