JC Balls & Sons opt for Thompsons Stonemaster bodies

Tipper bodybuilder supplies its lightest all-steel body to Derbyshire contractors 

PLANT hire and contracting firm JC Balls & Sons have put into service three high-spec 6x4 tippers each fitted with Thompsons’ lightest all-steel body – the Stonemaster. Serving the Midlands construction industry with an unusually diverse and versatile vehicle fleet, the six-wheel tipper has always been a core vehicle for JC Balls. 

Built on a Mercedes-Benz Arocs chassis, each 350hp truck has a single-skinned Stonemaster body complete with a rear-opening hatch built into its air-operated tailgate. Ready to run and immediately recognizable in JC Balls’ highly distinctive red and grey livery, unladen weight is a highly competitive 10,700kg, providing a clear 15-tonne payload.

Company representative Jamie Balls commented: ‘The 6x4 tippers have a gross weight six tonnes less than an eight wheeler, but in practice our new trucks will carry just 4 tonnes less. Six wheelers are also much more manoeuvrable, which suits many of our local Derbyshire roads better than an 8x4. 

‘And, of course, the lighter trucks are also considerably cheaper to buy and operate. For us, the 6x4 tipper is a supremely versatile vehicle, with these latest Thompsons Stonemasters offering a greater performance potential than ever.’

As a long-time user of Thompsons bodies, JC Balls & Sons specified a rear opening hatch in each of their new Stonemaster tailgates to ensure the trucks have the capability to work on the company’s long-standing local highways contracts. 

Company partner Chris Balls said: ‘We’re confident these trucks will perform better than ever. We’ve already had years of experience with Thompsons bodies and we know they will stand up to any job we put them to. Despite being built completely in steel, Stonemasters give a really good payload, which makes these new trucks highly productive. 

‘As well as being super-durable, Thompsons bodies are clean, modern designs with the highest build quality and paint finish. We tend to keep our trucks a long time, so it pays to get their specifications right at the outset.’

Ian Chaplin, sales manager for Thompsons, added: ‘We are delighted to have once again delivered the precise bodywork specification that JC Balls required. It’s noteworthy too that the 6x4 Stonemaster specification can produce tippers of such efficiency and productivity.’