Dumpers - Cab or no Cab

Storrsy

Storrsy

Well-known member
I had a couple of months on a 9t cabbed WN in '17 for Alex .. fair play he got the cabbed version specially - it was end of Jan when we started the job .. driest winter spell on record I reckon .. barely lost a day to rain, for months, but 'kin cold ... was nice to be in a warm place, but clearing the windows of frost of a morning was a PITA - good side and rear viz ... front was dire .. went everywhere backwards most of the time .. very close to the edge of a fishing lake and i had no desire to put it in there - was deeeeep ... was on big floaties and fair play it plowed through everything 'til the diffs couldn't doze any more out the way then had to grade to haul way a bit .... very sandy shite and soft as !!
was a great dumper and it never got stuck once .. unlike the 3t jake that replaced it later in the job - stuck first time down the haul and a real temperamental starter ( 3 hrs on the clock when it arrived)
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Was just saying this to a mate the other day. Would always go for a 9 ton if ground is shitty or soft. They seem far better than the 3 or 6t and you don't have to fill them up! I have photographic evidence of a 9t and 6t on the same job I did back in winter and the difference in mess made was astounding!
 
Storrsy

Storrsy

Well-known member
We’re just a small setup, we have had the same guys for 10years+, they all know how I like things and work accordingly.. everything is looked after so I’ve no problem with buying decent kit.. I’ve ran old dumpers before, but spending weekends resealing axles/swapping knackard rams/rebuilding newage gearboxes etc isn’t fun anymore!
But how long do they sit on a dumper for any given time. There have been times for sure driving dumpers back and forth the moor in the pissing rain where I've thought how nice to have a cab now but for site work id have thought the lesser visibility and short cycle times would make the cabs less warranted?
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
But how long do they sit on a dumper for any given time. There have been times for sure driving dumpers back and forth the moor in the pissing rain where I've thought how nice to have a cab now but for site work id have thought the lesser visibility and short cycle times would make the cabs less warranted?
I did a spell on dumpers in winter when I was young. I can still remember how f****ng cold it wet and miserable it was. If I was paying someone to sit on one I would opt for a cab.
If I was buying one for myself I would go for whatever was cheapest
 
Gunners

Gunners

Well-known member
I think unless someone makes you buy a cabbed one its just a pita - more complicated, more to break/replace, Dumper should be the most simple thing possible to cart muck around and clean look after.
And cost no more than £5k :LOL:

If I was in the market for a bigger dumper, I know I'd be specifying a cab. As I have to drive it, Ill make the job as nice as it can be please!
 
Grahams

Grahams

Don't complain - suggest what's better
If you can afford the extra cost I would go for a cabbed version. Ideally with air con.
It will show your men you appreciate them and their comfort. Also assuming you are likely to hang on to it for some time it will future proof against tighter health and safety. Some big companies already only allow cabbed dumpers on site and we all know rules only get tighter rather than using common sense.
 
T whiting

T whiting

Well-known member
I think I'd have a cab but unfortunatly not a current thwaites in either cabbed or cabless.

The cabbed ones loose so much steering lock that there nearly useless unless they have a entire field to turn around in.

The rops+ highchair bar beats you to pieces unless your on a tarmac road.

And neither have enough horsepower due to emissions s**t.

I've not driven any of the other brands latest models but I think I'd give a old terrex dumper a good refurb given choice
 
D

DaveDCB

Well-known member
@T whiting interesting comment on steering lock - I hadn’t envisaged this being a thing? The Thwaites version literally looks like they have just stuck a cab on the mainframe?

Thwaites were 8k more for a cab with ac fyi @Gunners 🫣
 
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