Terex TA3 or TA3H dumper- any good?

[Storrsy]

Local plant trader selling one of each model 800hrs and 1250hrs respectively.
I think I want the H hydrostatic drive as I have bad problems with my left knee so want to do away with clutch. But anyone have anything to say about either of these- good or bad?
Cheers

 

[Regy53]

Very good machine imo

 

[Furniss]

Gunners is your man for machine reviews I think he prefers thwaites .....but thats prob because he likes painting his machines on a weekend
I recently got a 2016 TA3HS and think coming from an old manual dumper the Hydrostatic is a step forward and I cant really fault it.

 

[GazCro]

I'd personally go thwaites 3 ton up. But thwaites paint is terrible and despite always thinking benford/terex are lighter built the they stand up to abuse as well as a thwaites. Tbh dumpers nigh on all use the same engine transmission axles etc (or choose for same 2 options) so there isn't much to choose between any of them. Good thing about the hydro fast in reverse as well as forwards but the hydro don't climb a heap as well. I'd have no worries about either if price and condition suit you.

 

[Regy53]

so here's my experience with dumpers. I used to sell 400 plus a year

90% of people probably say and prefer thwaites.
80% of people wont pay or wait for thwaites
80% of people are probably happy with Terex
there are 80% more available Terex hydrostatic compared to thwaites due to the cost. Back in the day our hydrostat unit was about 1k extra and thwaites was £2.5k extra. This was down to buying power with the Terex network .

Its very hard and rare to see a thwaites hydrostatic machine

Edited to add. Terex dumpers were always more heavy than thwaites. The 1 tonne was 50kg heavier in steel alone

 

[Hg2702]

The only down side to hydrostatic is it won’t climb as well as a geared dumper but I appreciate the knee issue one of the main reason I’ve gone for a digger with all the controls on the joystick !

Brand wise I’ve always liked a twaites but love the new mecalec wise I believe is just a terex ( having previously no experience on terex dumpers that I can remember )

 

[JD450A]

Thwaites are Dogshit. Rust like f**k. Nicer to drive and work on than a Benford/Terex/Mecalac but pah there made of cheese.

Terex/Mecalac are fine. Just a pity they have changed the steel rear mudguards for plastic SHITE.

Hydrostatic is brilliant too.

The fundamental design of either has not changed for 30 odd years.

 

[GazCro]

All dumpers 6 ton up are crap now with the emissions as well imo 74hp isn't enough if you wanna get on.

 

[Gunners]

Gunners is your man for machine reviews I think he prefers thwaites .....but thats prob because he likes painting his machines on a weekend
I recently got a 2016 TA3HS and think coming from an old manual dumper the Hydrostatic is a step forward and I cant really fault it.

Thanks Furniss, I do prefer a Thwaites generally, although do rate both the 1t and 3t Terex/ JCB/ Mecalec dumpers. The 3t Hydrostatic actually wipes the floor with the Thwaites in terms of driving power and skip capacity. Generally I would agree that Hydrastatic dumpers don't climb heaps as well but I've hired both and the Terex is far superior to the Thwaites in this regard. Even loaded. I've been very surprised where you can drive one. The only thing I don't like about the Terex 3t dumpers is their swivel skip shape. Its rubbish! But straight tip is great. Kubota engines are bombproof.
I did a video on my thoughts on one. (shameless plug for my YouTube again!)

 

[Storrsy]

Yeah, I always swore when I bought my own dumper it’d be a Thwaites- given I used to do work for mr Thwaites himself (what a character he was). But every time I have one on hire the heavy clutches exasperate an old knee injury and can’t find many hydrostatic Thwaites.
I think the Terex has a fair bit bigger Kubota engine too which can’t be a bad thing? Same engine as my 5 tonner which is always handy for spares and servicing etc.

 

[Storrsy]

Thanks Furniss, I do prefer a Thwaites generally, although do rate both the 1t and 3t Terex/ JCB/ Mecalec dumpers. The 3t Hydrostatic actually wipes the floor with the Thwaites in terms of driving power and skip capacity. Generally I would agree that Hydrastatic dumpers don't climb heaps as well but I've hired both and the Terex is far superior to the Thwaites in this regard. Even loaded. I've been very surprised where you can drive one. The only thing I don't like about the Terex 3t dumpers is their swivel skip shape. Its rubbish! But straight tip is great. Kubota engines are bombproof.
I did a video on my thoughts on one. (shameless plug for my YouTube again!)

Great job- good videos you do too- keep them coming!

 

[Brendan]

Funnily enough had a 3t machine on hire the other day, didn't really pay attention to what it was, although was clutch jobbie. Only thing that was annoying was the skip would nearly touch the floor when tipped so had to keep coming out to heap up the pile

 

[JD450A]

Theres something about Gunners Voice makes me want a G&T

 

[JD450A]

On a side note the Rob Roy Commadore gets my vote as top 3 ton dumper now tbh....

 

[Smiffy]

Funnily enough had a 3t machine on hire the other day, didn't really pay attention to what it was, although was clutch jobbie. Only thing that was annoying was the skip would nearly touch the floor when tipped so had to keep coming out to heap up the pile

That's good it's bulldozer spec
Tip infront of the pile and push it up

 

[V8Druid]

I'd personally go thwaites 3 ton up. But thwaites paint is terrible and despite always thinking benford/terex are lighter built the they stand up to abuse as well as a thwaites. Tbh dumpers nigh on all use the same engine transmission axles etc (or choose for same 2 options) so there isn't much to choose between any of them. Good thing about the hydro fast in reverse as well as forwards but the hydro don't climb a heap as well. I'd have no worries about either if price and condition suit you.

My Thwaites shuttle is as fast in either direction

 

[V8Druid]

Funnily enough had a 3t machine on hire the other day, didn't really pay attention to what it was, although was clutch jobbie. Only thing that was annoying was the skip would nearly touch the floor when tipped so had to keep coming out to heap up the pile

That's good it's bulldozer spec
Tip infront of the pile and push it up

old Thwaites Alligator 2.5t was the same .... good for spreading it about with

 

[GazCro]

My Thwaites shuttle is as fast in either direction

Shuttles are but manual 3 forward 1 reverse are not.

 

[V8Druid]

Shuttles are but manual 3 forward 1 reverse are not.

well if you will buy one o' them

 

[GazCro]

well if you will buy one o' them

Me old benford manual with 3 cyl lister will be still be going after my days though.