by Wendelspanswick » Tue Sep 08, 2015 8:02 am
Not sure where your located but here in Somerset most farm auctions seem to include the ubiquitous 1 ton dumper, either a Thwaites, Benford or Bamford with a crank start Perkins, Lister or Petter aircooled diesel engine and they tend to sell for around the £200-£450 mark depending on condition and how many bidders want a dumper!
The engines and gearboxes are pretty bombproof and give very few problems, the weak points tend to be the steering components and brakes. Also the skips tend to rust out if left outside for any length of time as they fill with water.
The cheaper dumpers have a trip operated skip - drive forward, pull the lever and press the brake simultaneously and the skip tips forward. To reset the skip either pull it make manually till it latches or hurtle backwards in third* and slam the brakes on.
The better dumpers have a hydraulically operated skip, much more civilised.
*The gearboxes tend to be 3 speed with a forward and reverse lever so you can go just as fast in reverse as you can forwards!
