6×4 vs 8×4 Dump Truck: Which One Do You Need?
What the numbers mean, how much each truck really carries, and when the extra axle of an 8×4 is worth paying for.
Short answer: A 6×4 dump truck has three axles. It is shorter, easier to turn, cheaper to buy and runs on 10 tyres, so it suits mixed construction work and tight sites. An 8×4 dump truck has four axles, including two steering axles at the front. It carries a longer body and spreads the load over more axles, so it suits high-volume work on roads that allow higher gross weights. For heavy materials such as sand and stone, the legal weight limit, not the body size, decides how much you can carry.
What "6×4" and "8×4" mean
The first number is how many wheel positions the truck has. The second number is how many of them are driven.
- 6×4: three axles, which is six wheel positions. The two rear axles are driven, and the single front axle steers.
- 8×4: four axles, which is eight wheel positions. The two rear axles are driven, and the two front axles both steer.
Both have the same tandem drive at the rear. The 8×4 adds a second front steering axle, which carries more weight at the front and lets the truck take a longer body.
6×4 vs 8×4: side-by-side comparison
This table uses the HOWO 371 references in our catalogue, which have the same engine and gearbox, so the only real difference is the layout.
| Item | HOWO 371 6×4 | HOWO 371 8×4 |
|---|---|---|
| Axles / tyres | 3 axles / 10 tyres | 4 axles / 12 tyres |
| Engine and gearbox | WD615.47, 371 hp · HW19710 | WD615.47, 371 hp · HW19710 |
| Wheelbase | 3,775 + 1,400 mm | 1,950 + 3,225 + 1,350 mm |
| Tipper body (L × W × H) | 5,600 × 2,300 × 1,600 mm | 7,600 × 2,300 × 1,600 mm |
| Body volume (level) | ≈ 20.6 m³ | ≈ 28.0 m³ |
| Tipping cylinder | JIAHENG 179 | JIAHENG 191 |
| Overall length | 8,650 mm | 10,080 mm |
| Guide price (refurbished, EXW) | From USD 16,000 | Price on request |
The body volume is calculated from the inside dimensions (length × width × height), filled level. Full pages: HOWO 371 6×4 · HOWO 371 8×4 · SHACMAN F3000 8×4 · Sitrak 8×4.
Body volume is not payload: the most common mistake
Buyers often compare tipper trucks by body volume in cubic metres. But a full body of a heavy material can weigh far more than the truck is allowed to carry. Multiply the volume by the material's bulk density:
| Material | Typical bulk density* | 6×4 body (20.6 m³) | 8×4 body (28.0 m³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | ≈ 0.85 t/m³ | ≈ 17.5 t | ≈ 23.8 t |
| Topsoil (loose) | ≈ 1.3 t/m³ | ≈ 26.8 t | ≈ 36.4 t |
| Crushed stone | ≈ 1.5 t/m³ | ≈ 30.9 t | ≈ 42.0 t |
| Dry sand | ≈ 1.6 t/m³ | ≈ 33.0 t | ≈ 44.8 t |
| Gravel | ≈ 1.7 t/m³ | ≈ 35.0 t | ≈ 47.6 t |
| Wet sand | ≈ 1.9 t/m³ | ≈ 39.1 t | ≈ 53.2 t |
*Approximate values. Real density depends on moisture, grading and compaction, so weigh a real load to find your own figure.
A full body of sand or stone is usually heavier than the legal payload for either truck. So for dense materials, the extra body length of an 8×4 helps only if your road rules allow a higher gross weight for four axles. Then the 8×4 can legally carry more tonnes per trip. For lighter materials such as coal, the body fills up at a much lower weight, so the extra volume of an 8×4 is easier to use within the legal limit.
Axle ratings such as "16 t" (the AC16 rear axle) are component ratings. They are not your legal limit. Check the vehicle's plated weights and your country's axle and gross weight limits before you choose.
When a 6×4 dump truck is the better choice
- Tight sites and city work. It is about 1.4 m shorter, turns more tightly and is easier to place for tipping.
- Mixed jobs. It is suitable for construction, roadworks and short-distance haulage.
- Lower cost. The purchase price is lower, and there are fewer tyres, steering parts and brakes to maintain.
- Roads with lower weight limits, where a four-axle truck cannot legally carry much more.
- Proven parts support. The HOWO 371 6×4 is one of the most common export tippers.
When an 8×4 dump truck is the better choice
- High-volume, repeat haulage from quarries or sand pits on roads that allow four-axle weights.
- Lighter, bulky materials, where the extra body volume is easier to use within the weight limit.
- Heavier front loads. Two steering axles share the weight at the front and give stable steering when fully loaded.
- Fewer trips. Where it is legal to carry more per trip, you save driver time and fuel per tonne.
What about 4×2 and 6×6?
A 4×2 tipper (two axles) suits light, local deliveries of building materials. See the 4×2 range. A 6×6 (all-wheel drive) is for off-road sites, mud and sand where a 6×4 would get stuck. Ask us about all-wheel-drive options. For the full ranges, see 6×4 trucks and 8×4 trucks.
Questions to answer before you choose
- What material will you carry, and what does one load weigh?
- What are the legal axle and gross weight limits on your routes?
- How tight are the loading, tipping and turning areas on site?
- How long is each trip, and on what kind of road?
- Which truck can your local workshop support best?
Send us the answers and we will suggest a configuration. See also HOWO vs SHACMAN and the HOWO 371 price guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic metres does a 6×4 dump truck carry?
Our HOWO 371 6×4 reference body is 5,600 × 2,300 × 1,600 mm, which is about 20.6 m³ when filled level. Other body sizes are available. What you can legally carry depends on weight, not volume.
How many cubic metres does an 8×4 dump truck carry?
Our HOWO 371 8×4 and SHACMAN F3000 8×4 references use a 7,600 × 2,300 × 1,600 mm body, which is about 28 m³ filled level.
Is an 8×4 more expensive to run?
Yes. It has two more tyres, a second steering axle and more brakes to maintain. That extra cost pays off only if your road rules let it carry more per trip, or if your material is light enough to use the extra volume.
Do the 6×4 and 8×4 HOWO 371 have the same engine?
In our references, yes. Both use the WD615.47 (371 hp) and the HW19710 10-speed gearbox.
