Tippers vs Grab Lorries: Which One Saves You More Time and Money?

Written by Nick Towens

Key Findings

• Tipper lorries excel at high-volume transport across distance, ideal for moving 20+ tonnes of aggregates or subsoil between sites
• Grab lorries offer self-loading convenience for smaller, harder-to-access jobs where manual loading would be impractical
• For large-scale projects requiring multiple daily runs, tipper hire provides better economies of scale
• Grab hire eliminates labour costs associated with loading, making it cost-effective for one-off clearances under 20 tonnes
• Your choice hinges on three factors: site accessibility, volume of material and whether you need loading capability

The difference between tipper hire and grab lorry hire isn’t just about the vehicle, it’s about matching capability to your specific site requirements. Choose wrong and you’ll pay for it in wasted time, additional labour costs or delays.

For most large construction projects requiring consistent haulage of aggregates, subsoil or road planings across Somerset and the South-West, tipper lorries remain the workhorse. They carry up to 20 tonnes per load and integrate seamlessly into high-turnover operations.

Grab lorries solve a different problem. When you’re dealing with awkward access, smaller volumes or don’t have plant machinery on site, our 8-wheel grab lorry gets the job done.

Understanding tipper hire

Tipper lorries are the backbone of large-scale construction projects. Our modern fleet of Euro 6, 8-wheel tippers can carry up to 20 tonnes of material per load, whether that’s muck, aggregates, topsoil or road planings.

What makes tippers uniquely suited to large projects is their payload capacity and speed of operation. When you’re shifting hundreds of tonnes, tippers deliver efficiency through volume. They’re designed for road travel and can cover significant distances quickly throughout Somerset.

We operate over 30 modern tippers, enabling us to service the largest projects with multiple vehicles simultaneously. For exceptionally large jobs, we also run an articulated tipper trailer with a payload of up to 30 tonnes.

Tippers require loading equipment on site, typically excavators or loading shovels. This means they work best on established construction sites where plant machinery is already present.

Understanding grab hire services

Our 8-wheel grab lorry combines transport and loading in one vehicle. The hydraulic grab arm reaches over walls, fences and obstacles to collect waste or soil directly, then loads it into the vehicle’s own body.

This capability makes grab hire particularly valuable when access is restricted or loading equipment isn’t available. The grab can reach outside of the vehicle, meaning the lorry doesn’t need to enter tight spaces.

Grab lorries typically handle smaller volumes than tippers, think one-off clearances, residential groundworks or sites where bringing in additional plant machinery would be impractical. Barry, our seasoned machine, usually arrives within a couple of days of your enquiry.

Choose tippers if:

You’re moving high volumes regularly

When your project requires shifting 100+ tonnes of material over several days or weeks, tipper hire delivers better value. Multiple vehicles can work simultaneously, and the 20-tonne payload maximises efficiency per journey.

You have loading equipment on site

If excavators or loading shovels are already part of your site setup, tippers integrate seamlessly. Your existing plant loads the tipper quickly, and the vehicle focuses purely on transport.

Choose grab lorries if:

Access is restricted or awkward

Narrow driveways, sites surrounded by walls, or locations where a full-size tipper can’t manoeuvre – these scenarios favour grab hire. The hydraulic arm reaches over obstacles without the vehicle entering the space.

You don’t have loading equipment

Residential developments, smaller groundworks projects or emergency clearances often lack on-site plant machinery. The grab lorry provides its own loading capability, eliminating additional equipment rental.

You’re dealing with a one-off clearance

For single-day jobs involving soil removal, garden clearances for construction prep or small-scale demolition waste, grab hire offers a complete solution without committing to larger tipper contracts.

When to choose what

Project requirement	Choose tippers	Choose grab lorry
Volume	20+ tonnes regularly	Under 20 tonnes, one-off
Site access	Good vehicle access	Restricted or awkward
Loading equipment	Already on site	Not available
Distance	Long-distance haulage	Local removals
Duration	Multi-day contracts	Single-day clearances

Our tipper hire services across Somerset

We’ve provided tipper hire in Somerset and the South-West for over 20 years. Based in Weston-Super-Mare, our fleet of more than 30 modern Euro 6 tippers operates throughout North Somerset, and Somerset.

For night-time road projects or contracts requiring 24-hour shifts, we have experienced drivers ready to fulfil your requirements. All our drivers receive regular training on driving standards, health and safety regulations and environmental compliance.

With competitive rates and the capacity to service the largest projects across the region, our tipper lorry hire provides the ideal solution for construction and demolition operations requiring reliable, high-volume transport.

Contact us on 01934 424242 or email skips@towens.co.uk to discuss your requirements.

Our grab hire services

Our 8-wheel grab lorry handles those smaller or difficult-to-access jobs where you need loading and removal in one operation. Whether it’s soil, construction waste or clearance materials, our machine Barry typically arrives within a couple of days of your enquiry.

Grab hire works particularly well for residential groundworks, restricted access sites and projects where bringing in separate loading equipment isn’t practical.

We’ve operated grab hire services across Somerset and the South-West for 20 years. From tight residential plots to awkward commercial sites in Taunton or Bridgwater, our grab lorry provides an efficient alternative when standard tippers aren’t practical.

Call 01934 424242 or email skips@towens.co.uk to discuss whether grab hire suits your project.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the main difference between tipper and grab hire?

Tippers transport high volumes but require loading equipment on site. Grab lorries provide self-loading capability through their hydraulic arm, handling smaller volumes but solving access and loading challenges. Choose based on volume, site access and whether loading equipment is available.

How quickly can Towens provide tipper or grab hire?

Our grab lorry service typically responds within a couple of days. For tipper hire, we maintain a fleet of over 30 vehicles, enabling us to accommodate urgent requirements and scale up for large projects with minimal notice.

What areas do Towens services cover?

We operate throughout Somerset. Our base in Weston-Super-Mare positions us well for projects across the county including Bridgwater, Taunton and surrounding areas.

Who are Towens?

We’re a family-owned recycling, waste management and haulage business with over 25 years of experience across Somerset. Based in Weston-Super-Mare with depots throughout Somerset, we handle well over a million tonnes of waste and recycled aggregates annually.

We operate four recycling facilities and a fleet of vehicles, including tippers, artics and skip lorries. Currently, 92% of the waste processed through our facilities is recycled, reused or recovered, only 8% reaches landfill.

We provide tipper hire, grab hire, skip hire, aggregate supply and topsoil delivery services. Our customers range from major infrastructure projects to local contractors, builders and homeowners.

For tipper hire Somerset or grab hire services, call us on 01934 424242, email skips@towens.co.uk or complete our online contact form.