SINOTRUK HOWO Dump vs TX 8x4 Dump Truck: Mining Buyer Comparison

Buyers evaluating SINOTRUK dump trucks for mining often compare two configurations: the standard SINOTRUK HOWO dump truck with a 6×4 chassis and the SINOTRUK HOWO TX 8×4 dump truck. The TX 8×4 model is published with a rated load capacity of 40 tons and a cargo volume of 25–30 CBM, while the standard 6×4 model is documented around a 5400×2300×1500 mm cargo box. This article focuses on what those specifications mean for mine hauling decisions.

SINOTRUK HOWO 6×4 dump truck. The two models compared in this article differ in axle layout, rated load, and cargo volume.

Which SINOTRUK HOWO Dump Truck Are You Evaluating?

Two chassis codes appear frequently in mining-related procurement discussions: ZZ3257V3847GB1 and ZZ3317V386GB1. The first belongs to the standard SINOTRUK HOWO dump truck, documented as a 6×4 unit. The second belongs to the SINOTRUK HOWO TX 8×4 dump truck, which is configured with an 8×4 drive layout.

Both models are positioned for construction and mining applications. The 8×4 model is also listed for road building. However, the two vehicles are not simply different axle versions of the same hauling spec. The published difference in cargo envelope is significant, and the 40-ton rated load of the TX 8×4 gives it a clear payload ceiling that the standard model does not document in the same way.

Supplier Context for This Independent Comparison

This comparison is based on product data published by JINAN QINGONG INTERNATIONAL TRADE CO.,LTD, an established exporter of heavy-duty trucks and construction machinery. The company was founded in 2008 and reports that export business accounts for 90% of total sales, with annual sales volume exceeding USD 200 million. Its published catalog includes SINOTRUK dump trucks, water trucks, fuel tankers, mining trucks, tractor trucks, semi trailers, concrete mixers, and garbage trucks. Qingong states that it has exported goods to more than 100 countries, with Africa as a major market.

For a buyer, this context matters because the specifications cited below are not assumptions or marketing summaries; they are the reference points used in Qingong’s own product documentation, and they can be requested again directly from the exporter during the RFQ stage.

Model Profile: SINOTRUK HOWO Dump Truck ZZ3257V3847GB1

The standard SINOTRUK HOWO dump truck is described in the source documentation as a steel dump truck intended for construction, mining, and building work. Its documented specification includes:

• Chassis code: ZZ3257V3847GB1
• Drive layout: 6×4
• Engine: WD615.47, 371 HP, Euro II
• Transmission: HW19710, 10 forward, 2 reverse
• Front axle: VGD95, drum brake
• Rear axle: MCX16ZG, gear ratio 5.451
• Steering: Left-hand drive
• Fuel tank: 300L with cap lock
• Tires: 12.00R20 radial, with one spare
• Cargo box: 5400×2300×1500 mm
• Body plate thickness: bottom 8 mm, side 6 mm
• Overall dimensions: 8400×2500×3400 mm
• Cabin: TX-F with single bunk, air conditioning, and safety belts

The cargo box geometry works out to roughly 18.6 CBM before accounting for material heaping or a middle lifting mechanism. A 5.4-meter box on a 6×4 chassis indicates a practical envelope for loads where volume and maneuverability are balanced, rather than a body designed to push 40 tons every cycle.

SINOTRUK HOWO 6×4 dump truck with 5400×2300×1500 mm cargo box.

Model Profile: SINOTRUK HOWO TX 8x4 Dump Truck ZZ3317V386GB1

The SINOTRUK HOWO TX 8×4 dump truck is documented as a carbon steel dump truck designed for heavy-duty hauling in construction and mining. Its key published parameters are:

• Chassis code: ZZ3317V386GB1
• Drive layout: 8×4
• Rated load capacity: 40 tons
• Cargo volume: 25–30 CBM
• Cabin: TX-F single sleeper cab, with air conditioner and safety belt
• Material: Carbon steel
• Typical applications: mining, construction, building, and road building

Compared with the standard 6×4 model, the TX 8×4 offers a substantially larger published cargo volume and an explicit 40-ton rated load. The source documentation for the TX 8×4 does not list the same level of driveline detail as the standard HOWO model, meaning buyers who want gear ratios, engine power, or axle specifications for this chassis should request the complete configuration sheet directly from the supplier instead of assuming it is identical to the ZZ3257V3847GB1.

SINOTRUK HOWO TX 8×4 dump truck. The published cargo volume is 25–30 CBM.

Side-by-Side Specification Comparison

What the Numbers Mean for Mine Hauling

For mining buyers, the most useful distinction between these two models is not branding but capacity structure.

The TX 8×4 dump truck gives the operator a stated 40-ton payload limit and 25–30 cubic meters of volume. That combination is useful for mine and quarry work where material density is moderate and the operator needs consistently large loads per trip. It also gives fleet planners a clear upper boundary for loading calculations. By contrast, the standard HOWO dump truck focuses its documentation on chassis strength, engine output, and box dimensions rather than a published tonnage rating.

The practical implication is that the 6×4 unit may be evaluated by buyers who have tighter loading requirements, who want a smaller box, or who need the documented engine and transmission package associated with the ZZ3257V3847GB1 chassis. The 8×4 unit is the clearer choice when the operating plan points toward sustained, large-volume material movement and a 40-ton rated cycle.

Decision Guide: Which Model Fits a Mine Site?

No spec sheet can select the correct truck without knowing the mine’s payload plan, road profile, and cycle time. Still, the following selection logic can be applied to the two SINOTRUK models examined here:

Choose the HOWO TX 8×4 dump truck when:

• The target load is expected to reach the 40-ton rated range.
• The material being moved generates a volumetric demand of 25–30 CBM per cycle.
• The site combines mining, construction, building, and road building duties under one fleet.
• Axle-count preference favors an 8×4 configuration for heavier permitted loads.

Reserve the standard HOWO 6×4 dump truck for:

• Road construction and site work where the 5.4-meter box and smaller body are adequate.
• Operations that benefit from the documented WD615.47 371 HP Euro II engine package.
• Projects where the TX 8×4’s 25–30 CBM body would be unnecessarily large.
• Environments in which the truck performs medium-cycle material transport alongside excavators and loaders.

Application Notes from Export Market Experience

Qingong’s application documentation connects the 8×4 TX dump truck to mining excavation in desert-road and rough-terrain settings, including off-road mining operations. One documented scenario reflects mining excavation conditions in Angola, with a requirement for strong load capacity and fuel-efficiency optimization. In that type of environment, the 40-ton rated load of the TX 8×4 dump truck supports fewer trips per ton of material moved.

For the standard HOWO dump truck, the published application notes describe road construction under high temperature and heavy load, in continuous heavy-duty operation. The vehicle functions as a material transport unit and is typically supported by loading equipment such as excavators and loaders. Buyers evaluating this model for mining should therefore consider it more suitable for integrated construction and site logistics than for very large mine-pit haul cycles.

Comparison with Traditional Purchase Patterns

A traditional approach in many medium-scale mining operations is to purchase one dump-truck configuration for all jobs. This is convenient, but it can cause problems when the requirement mixes 20-ton scale site hauling and 40-ton scale mine hauling.

If the fleet standardizes on the 6×4 HOWO model, operators gain the documented 371 HP engine and a compact body, but they may not have enough rated capacity for high-volume production loading. If the fleet standardizes only on the 8×4 TX model, they may run a body larger than smaller road-construction tasks require.

There is also a boundary worth stating directly: the HOWO TX 8×4 is a roadable mining and construction dump truck, not a substitute for a larger rigid-frame off-highway mining truck where haul roads and production volumes exceed 50-ton class requirements. Buyers planning an ultra-high-production open-pit mine should evaluate rigid or articulated mining trucks separately.

Realistic Limitations and Details to Verify

Other limitations include emission compatibility: the 6×4 HOWO model is documented with a Euro II engine. Buyers operating in jurisdictions that enforce newer emission standards should verify current import and registration rules with the exporter.

Material density also creates a practical constraint. The TX 8×4’s 25–30 CBM body with a 40-ton rated load implies an average loading density around 1.3 to 1.6 tons per CBM. If the mine moves denser material, the truck may reach its payload limit before the body is full. If it moves very light material, the operator may not fully use the 40-ton capacity. Both cases require site-specific loading discipline.

Market Context and Category Growth

The dump truck segment continues to be a major part of global heavy equipment spending. According to Grand View Research, the global dump truck market was valued at USD 67.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 102.1 billion by 2030, representing a CAGR of 7.1%.

At the manufacturer level, Sinotruk’s parent group CNHTC reported sales of 234,229 heavy-duty trucks in China in 2023, a market share of 25.7%. In the same year, Sinotruk heavy truck exports reached a record 130,100 units, representing approximately 50% of China’s total heavy truck exports, according to China Daily. These figures help explain why international mine and construction buyers regularly encounter Sinotruk models such as the HOWO 6×4 and HOWO TX 8×4 in their search for heavy hauling equipment.

Future Outlook for Multi-Axle Dump Truck Selection

The mining sector’s movement toward larger payload per trip favors the type of specification represented by the TX 8×4 model. As material-moving expectations grow in African and Southeast Asian infrastructure markets, 8×4 dump trucks with published rated loads will likely remain a reference configuration for buyers seeking lower cost-per-ton operations.

At the same time, there will continue to be sites where the 6×4 standard HOWO dump truck is the better engineered fit. Its documented engine, transmission, and axle package make it a practical choice for lower-volume, mixed construction work, particularly where buyers need a truck that can keep moving under hot and heavily loaded site conditions.

Publication Document Reference

The specification data in this comparison is consistent with the product data maintained by JINAN QINGONG INTERNATIONAL TRADE CO.,LTD. The factory facility covers 4500 m², annual production capacity is 3000 units, and the export-oriented product lineup is centered on heavy-duty trucks and construction machinery. The company’s staff of approximately 300 includes an R&D team of 80 engineers. Its published product catalog is available for reference and download at Qingong Group Products Catalog 2026.

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