A tipper is a body built on somebody's chassis. The body builder decides the steel, the hydraulics and the welding; the chassis maker decides the engine, gearbox, axles and cab, and with them the parts you will be buying for the next ten years. That is why "HOWO or Shacman?" is usually the first question a fleet owner asks. This article compares the chassis brands as they appear in our own tipper range and is open about where a brand is not on our list.
The chassis behind most Chinese tippers
- HOWO is the heavy truck line of Sinotruk. It is the name most often requested by tipper buyers in West and East Africa, and it covers everything from mini tippers to mining trucks.
- Shacman is the export brand of Shaanxi Automobile. Its heavy 6x4 and 8x4 chassis compete directly with HOWO in construction and mining work.
- Dongfeng builds a very wide range and is especially strong in light and medium trucks, which is where most of its tippers in our catalogue sit.
- CLW is our own chassis line. We include it here because several of our medium tippers are built on it.
What each brand covers in our tipper range
| Truck | Drive | Gross weight | Rated payload | Engine | Body |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinotruk HOWO mini tipper | 4x2 | 4,495 kg | Confirm in quotation | 85 kW (116 PS) | 3,600 × 2,100 × 600 mm |
| Dongfeng narrow tipper | 4x2 | 7,360 kg | 3,250 kg | 129–184 hp, Cummins or Yuchai | Three body options, 1,780–1,850 mm wide |
| CLW tipper | 4x2 | 18,000 kg | 11,420 kg | Yuchai, 199 to 270 hp | 3,600–4,800 mm long |
| CLW tipper | 6x2 | 25,000 kg | 16,070 kg | Yuchai 245 hp, FAST 12-speed | 6,000 × 2,400 × 1,500 mm, 21.6 m³ |
| HOWO tipper | 6x4 | 39,500 kg | 26,805 kg | Confirm in quotation | 5,600 × 2,300 × 1,500 mm, 19.3 m³ |
| CLW HOWO 7 mining tipper | 6x4 | Rated for 30–40 t loads | Confirm in quotation | 371 hp standard, up to 450 hp | 5,600 × 2,350 × 1,500 mm, 20 m³ reinforced |
| HOWO middle-lift tipper | 8x4 | 39,500 kg | 26,805 kg | 351–450 hp | 8,800 × 2,350 × 1,500 mm |
The pattern is clear. In our dump truck range, HOWO takes the two ends: the mini tipper and the heavy 6x4, 8x4 and mining trucks. Dongfeng supplies the narrow light tipper. CLW chassis fill the middle with 4x2, 4x4, 6x2 and 6x4 models, including two battery-electric tippers. We do not list a Shacman tipper at present; see the section on Shacman below.
Engines, gearboxes and axles side by side
HOWO
Heavy HOWO tippers use Sinotruk's own engines; our 8x4 is offered from 351 to 450 hp and the mining 6x4 starts at 371 hp. The gearbox is a Sinotruk unit (the mining truck lists the HW19710) with a FAST gearbox available as an option on the 6x4 and 8x4. Engine, gearbox and axles largely come from one group, so a Sinotruk dealer can cover most of the driveline.
Shacman
Shacman heavy trucks are commonly built with Weichai engines and FAST gearboxes. Both are supplied to many other truck and bus makers, so these parts are stocked widely outside the Shacman dealer network. Buyers who already run Weichai-powered equipment often choose Shacman for that reason.
Dongfeng
Our Dongfeng tipper is offered with Cummins or Yuchai diesel engines from 129 to 184 hp. In the light class, low weight and a narrow cab matter more than power: this truck is about 2.1 m wide and carries 3,250 kg.
CLW
Our own medium chassis use Yuchai engines, from 199 to 270 hp on the 4x2 and 245 hp on the 4x4 and 6x2, with FAST 12-speed gearboxes on the 4x4 and 6x2. The 4x2 lists a 6,500 kg front axle and an 11,500 kg rear axle.
Price positioning
We do not rank these brands by price, for a simple reason: the gap between two brands at the same specification is usually smaller than the gap between two specifications of the same brand. A 371 hp tipper with a reinforced rock body costs more than a lighter-bodied truck of either brand. Compare quotations with the same drive, engine power, gearbox, tyre size and body before you compare badges. Our tipper truck price guide lists the items that move the price.
Where Shacman and Isuzu fit
Shacman. We build on Shacman Delong chassis for other bodies; two of our vacuum and sewage trucks, a 4x2 and a 6x4, use it. A Shacman tipper is not in our published range today. If your fleet is Shacman, tell us in your enquiry and we will confirm whether a tipper body on that chassis can be offered.
Isuzu. Isuzu chassis appear in our crane and aerial platform ranges, not among our tippers. Buyers who ask for an Isuzu tipper are usually looking for a light or medium truck with a strong local dealer network; the Dongfeng and CLW 4x2 tippers are the nearest models we publish.
Check parts supply yourself before you choose
Parts availability differs from town to town, and a claim on a supplier's website is no substitute for asking locally. Before you decide on a brand, spend an hour on these checks:
- Visit two parts dealers near your yard. Ask which of the three brands they stock oil, fuel and air filters, brake linings, clutch kits and spring leaves for, and what they can get within a day.
- Ask a mechanic you trust which engines they have opened and rebuilt. Familiar engines are repaired faster.
- Look at what the other tipper owners on your route are running. A common brand means used parts and experienced drivers.
- If you already own trucks, count the parts you could share. One brand across the fleet halves the stock you keep.
- Ask us for the engine, gearbox and axle models in the quotation, so the dealer can check the exact part numbers.
Which to choose for quarry, road and town work
| Work | Model in our range | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quarry and mine haulage | CLW HOWO 7 6x4 mining tipper | Reinforced floor and sides, 371 hp or more, reinforced multi-leaf springs |
| Sand and aggregate on public roads | HOWO 6x4 | 26,805 kg rated payload on three axles with a 19.3 m³ body |
| Long hauls where axle loads are checked | HOWO 8x4 middle-lift | The same rated payload spread over four axles and an 8.8 m body |
| Good roads, lighter material | CLW 6x2 | 21.6 m³ body and 16,070 kg payload with one driven axle |
| Town deliveries | CLW 4x2 or Dongfeng narrow 4x2 | 11,420 kg or 3,250 kg payload on two axles |
| Soft ground | CLW 4x4 | All-wheel drive with a 9,050 kg rated payload |
For a wider view that includes FAW, Foton and Isuzu across all body types, read HOWO, Dongfeng, FAW, Foton or Isuzu: choosing a chassis.
Common questions
Is HOWO or Shacman better for a tipper?
Both are proven heavy tipper chassis. The better one for you is the one whose engine and gearbox parts are stocked near your yard and whose mechanics you can find. Run the checks above before deciding.
Why is HOWO so common in Africa?
It has been exported in volume for many years, so used trucks, parts and drivers who know it are easy to find in most markets. That familiarity is an advantage in itself.
Can I have a different engine on the same chassis?
Within the options listed for each model, yes. The HOWO 8x4, for example, is offered across a 351 to 450 hp range. State the power you want and we will quote the matching driveline.
Are these tippers available in right-hand drive?
Several CLW models list left- or right-hand drive. For HOWO and Dongfeng models, ask us to confirm the steering side for the exact model before ordering.
