trucks · Equipment & asset finance
Tipper truck finance
Tippers earn per load, so the finance has to sit inside the cartage rate. We structure the term around the work rather than the sticker price.
What is tipper truck finance?
Tipper truck finance is funding for a truck with a hydraulic tipping body used to cart soil, sand, aggregate and demolition waste, secured against the vehicle. Tippers are the standard cartage asset for Australian civil and landscaping businesses, and lenders regard them as mainstream with reliable resale.
Tipper work in Australia divides roughly into three tiers. Light tippers on a car-licence cab chassis suit landscapers and small builders moving a few tonnes at a time. Six and eight wheelers do suburban civil cartage and spoil removal. Truck and dog combinations carry the biggest legal payload on a single driver and are where the serious cartage margins sit, though the capital cost roughly doubles.
Whichever tier you buy into, the finance question is the same: how many loads a week does this truck need to do to cover its repayment, and is that realistic given the work you have? Tippers are often bought on the strength of a subdivision or civil contract, so aligning the term with the contract, or leaving a balloon at the point the contract ends, gives you options if the work changes.
Tipper truck finance at a glance
| Typical price range | $60,000 – $400,000 |
|---|---|
| Finance term | Up to 84 months |
| Useful life | About 15 years |
| New or used | Used tippers are abundant, especially in the 8 and 10 wheeler classes; new light tippers on Japanese cab chassis are a common first purchase for landscapers. |
| Indicative rates (Chattel mortgage) | 6.9% – 14.5% p.a. · rate history |
| Finance structures | Chattel mortgage (recommended), Truck finance, Equipment loan |
How lenders assess tipper truck finance
Tipper trucks are financed by most panel lenders on standard terms for established operators. Because tippers work hard in abrasive conditions, lenders pay attention to chassis rust, body condition and hoist function when valuing used units. Bodies built after purchase can be included on the same contract with the right invoicing. Truck and dog combinations are often financed as two contracts — truck and trailer — or one bundled facility. Age limits usually require the truck to be under 15 years at the end of the term.
Before you buy
- Inspect the hoist, sub-frame and body pivot pins carefully; a tired hoist is a large and disruptive repair.
- Check the tare weight — every kilogram of body weight is a kilogram of payload you cannot carry and bill for.
- Confirm the tailgate configuration suits your work: a two-way or grain door setup handles very different loads to a standard barn door.
Commonly financed
Isuzu FVZ 260-300 8x4 · Hino 500 Series FM 2628 · Kenworth T359 tipper · Fuso Fighter 1627 · Iveco Acco 8x4
Estimate tipper truck repayments
- Number of repayments
- 60
- Balloon at end of term
- $46,000
- Total interest (est.)
- $65,107
- Total repaid (est.)
- $295,107
This calculator provides an estimate only and does not account for fees, charges or the specific terms a lender may offer. It is not financial advice or an offer of finance.
Key terms
What is tipper truck finance?
Tipper truck finance is a secured loan or lease used to buy a truck with a hydraulic tipping body, with the vehicle as security. Terms typically run 48 to 84 months and the tipper body can be funded with the cab chassis on one contract.
What is a truck and dog?
A truck and dog is a tipper truck towing a dog trailer, which has both a steerable front axle group and rear axles. The combination carries a much larger payload than a rigid tipper alone and is common in Australian quarry and civil cartage.