Isuzu Grafter Tipper Review

The Isuzu Grafter Tipper at a glance

The award-winning 3.5-tonne Isuzu Grafter Tipper is a favourite on the van market.

With a Euro 6 120PS engine, 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox, compact footprint, reduced turning circle, powerful performance and excellent payload, the Isuzu Grafter comes loaded with features to help power your business.

The 3.5-tonne Grafter provides an impressive payload, with compact overall dimensions, making it ideal for urban use.

Builders, landscape gardeners, arborists and other contractors rely on the Grafter to pull its weight on-site day in, day out, and its performance more than lives up to its name. If you’re in the business of regularly carrying loose material like soil, screed or sand, then the Isuzu Grafter Tipper could be the van for you. All you need to do is open the tailgate, press a couple of buttons and you’re good to go – the Isuzu Grafter Tipper will do the rest.

The Isuzu Grafter Tipper is packed full of features including a 1.9-litre engine to achieve a more powerful, more efficient and lighter drive and a lighter chassis for increased payload carrying capacity. It has a 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox for a car-like feel and ride.

This tipper is available with big savings off list price in a variety of materials, colours and sizes.

Engines and Spec

Sold solely as a chassis cab with two different wheelbases – 2,500mm or 3,360mm – and with the choice of either single or twin rear wheels, Grafter can be ordered with either a manual or fully-automatic transmission.

They both have six gears, and the auto box can be used as a manual by pushing the lever to ‘M’ and flicking a switch on the side to go up and down the box.  Note that the automatic Grafters are restricted to hauling a trailer grossing at 2.5t while manual models are permitted to pull a 3.5t trailer.

The Isuzu Grafter Tipper tipper has a BHP of 118 with a 1.9 litre and is capable of towing up to 3.5 tonnes.

Following the recent update, the tipper now uses a brand-new Isuzu RZ4E 1898cc four-cylinder Euro six diesel engine with Lean NOx Trap technology. Significantly, no AdBlue is required. Improved power and torque are 90kW at 3200rpm and 320 Nm T 1600-2000rpm respectively. This advanced technology enables a reduction in CO2 emissions whilst the new engine is also far more fuel-efficient by the nature of its design and reduced displacement.

Isuzu Truck quotes a WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) average fuel consumption figure of 11.9l per 100km for this model.

Considering the driver is sitting over the engine, noise is well suppressed and makes for a very pleasant, quiet drive.

Interior

Incredibly hard-working and versatile, the Isuzu Grafter can take on any job at hand without compromising on comfort and design.

Now available in white or flint grey with new keyless entry-coded key fobs, the Isuzu Grafter Tipper has seen several upgrades to its interior design.

With a crisp and modern exterior, the interior is practical, easy to clean and has good cab access, allowing the driver to get in and out from the passenger side.

The latest update of the Isuzu Grafter meant an updated interior rim and red seat belts as standard.

The air conditioning system can be supplied as a fitted kit complete with electrics, switches, and fully gassed with a 3-year warranty.

If a comfortable and practical van is what you’re looking for, the Isuzu Grafter Tipper could be the perfect choice for you.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Reduced noise – the new models feature a rear engine cover to reduce noise and protect the engine components
• More fuel efficient – the new engine is more fuel efficient due to the design and reduced displacement with reduced CO2 emissions
• Improved gearbox – new Isuzu 6-speed MCV6W manual gearbox improved gear selection

Cons

• More bounce than a semi-forward control model
• Design is basic

The Verdict

If you’re looking for a reliable, versatile tipper that provides a platform for a wide range of bodywork, the Isuzu Grafter Tipper could be your winner.

Following the most recent improvements, the Isuzu Grafter can now offer a much smoother ride due to more concise steering and better suspension.

It now is more fuel efficient with reduced road noise and an improved gearbox.

While the interior design is more on the basic side, its practicality cannot be faulted. All of these features enabled the Isuzu Grafter Tipper to win the ‘Light Truck of the Year’ award at the Great British Fleet Awards in 2020.

If you’re ready to upgrade to the Isuzu Grafter Tipper, contact our knowledgeable team at Van Sales UK who would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Call us now on 0117 428 7721 or send an email to sales@vansalesuk.co.uk.