Advice: Compact tipper vs ute

It’s always amazed me how ute makers can charge so much for their payload-deficient offerings. Fuso’s urban tipper has around three times the load capacity for the same money as a 4WD ute!

For an ask of less than 50 grand the narrow-cab Fuso Canter 615 is a lot of light truck for the money. It has a factory-fitted tipping body and hydraulics kit; a payload around three tonnes and tray capacity of two cubic metres.

Those without a light rigid truck licence can opt for a GVM derate to 4495GVM. Nothing changes mechanically, only the compliance plate.

A five-year/200,000km warranty on everything – tipping gear included – makes ute warranties sound very ordinary. Also, because it has a truck-sized sump and 30,000km oil change intervals it’s cheaper to operate.

Crawling around underneath the little Canter reveals four-wheel ABS disc brakes, a massive 4.5-tonnes capacity rear axle with positively-locking limited slip centre and a tipper-specific, box-section chassis.

Tradies who want toolbox space in addition to the load area can easily bolt a metre-long, side-opening box to the headboard and still have two metres of tray length.

The skinny cab – width only 1.7 metres – is designed to allow the little tipper to fit into tight spaces, but fat blokes can always opt for the wide-cab version that measures two metres across.

Traditionally, light trucks have always been manual-transmission-only, but the Canter 615 can be bought with the standard five-speed stick shift or a dual-clutch, six-speed self-shifter.

The Duonic automated shift box can be driven like a full auto, or manually shifted without the need for a clutch pedal.

I’ve driven both transmissions and the auto is the pick. Shifts are seamless and the calibration provides a downshift program when the exhaust brake is engaged or the wheel brakes are used.

A bonus with the Duonic transmission is cruise control.

With leaf springs front and rear the ride quality is firm and handling is flat, even when fully loaded.

Initially, I was disappointed with the fact that the Canter tippers don’t have independent front suspension, as some Canter versions do, but after testing the IFS I can see why: it’s a smooth road suspension that hates ruts, corrugations and potholes, thumping loudly in protest when it encounters bumps. The leaf suspension is much more tolerant.

Performance is ute-like, with 150hp (110kW) in the 2800-3500rpm band and 370Nm at 1350-2840Nm from Fuso’s 4P10 3.0-litre, four-cylinder, common-rail diesel.

Emissions level is Euro 5, through a diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter, but Fuso engineers claim there are none of the common DPF maintenance issues for this vehicle, thanks to a different filtration material and higher-temperature operation.

Canter models come standard with a touch screen multi-media system featuring a satellite navigation system that comes with three-years of free map upgrades. The screen also displays images and sound from a reversing camera that is now fitted as standard.

“The 615 City Cab tipper is a great compact truck for operators who sometimes need to operate in tight environments,” said Fuso Truck and Bus Director, Justin Whitford.

Fuso 615 Factory Tipper
Enigne: Four-cylinder in-line DOHC,four-Valve
Type: Variable geometry turbo charged air to air intercooled
Displacement: 3.0 litre (2998cc)
Bore: 95.8mm
Stroke: 104mm
Power: (DIN) 110kW at 2840 to 3500rpm
Torque: (DIN) 370Nm @ 1350 to 2840rpm
Transmission: Six-speed Dual Clutch with auto and manual modes (opt five speed manual)
Suspension front: Multi-leaf with double acting dampers
Suspension rear: Semi-elliptic leaf with double acting dampers
Rear Axle: Full floating banjo type with positive locking limited slip differential(LSD)
Capacity: 4500kg
Axle ratio: 5.285
GVM: 6000kg (opt 4500kg)
GCM: 9500kg (opt 8000kg)
Fuel: 70 litres