Tuhorse Submersible Bore Pump Review: Worth the Money?
Cheap bore pumps have a reputation. Some of it is earned. Here is where Tuhorse sits.
A Tuhorse bore pump is worth the money for most house, garden and stock bores, because you get a complete stainless steel submersible package (pump, motor and starter box) from $893 delivered, at roughly half what the big European brands cost. The trade off is a 12 month return to base warranty and a spec sheet that gives maximum head and flow rather than a full pump curve.
For most people the model to buy is the Tuhorse 4 inch 1HP 240V A-12 at $963: 98 metres of maximum head, 58 L/min maximum flow and a 6.3A running current on a normal single phase supply.
Short on time? See the Tuhorse A-12, the 3 inch T-22 for narrow bores, or every submersible bore pump we sell.
What a Tuhorse bore pump is
A Tuhorse bore pump is a multistage stainless steel submersible pump sold as a matched package with its motor and a starter or control box, in 3, 4 and 6 inch sizes from 0.5HP to 15HP.
Every package in the range includes the pump end, the motor and the box. What is not included: the stainless safety cable that holds the pump in the bore, the poly pipe to the tank, and the electrician. Single phase 240V packages run up to 3HP. Anything bigger is 415V three phase, which is normal for bore pumps of any brand.
Tuhorse bore pump specs and prices
The table below lists the most useful Tuhorse bore pump packages with the figures from each live product page.
| Model | Casing | Power | Max head | Max flow | Running current | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3" 0.75HP T-22 | 3 inch | 240V | 70m | 50 L/min | 4.4A | $973 |
| 4" 0.5HP S-08 | 4 inch | 240V | 69m | 35 L/min | 3.6A | $893 |
| 4" 1HP A-12 | 4 inch | 240V | 98m | 58 L/min | 6.3A | $963 |
| 4" 1HP S-14 | 4 inch | 240V | 120m | 35 L/min | 6.3A | $963 |
| 4" 1.5HP BF-09 | 4 inch | 240V | 70m | 117 L/min | 8.6A | $998 |
| 4" 2HP A-20 | 4 inch | 240V | 162m | 58 L/min | 10.6A | $1,088 |
| 4" 2HP MA-07 | 4 inch | 240V | 45m | 267 L/min | 10.6A | $1,088 |
| 4" 3HP A-30 | 4 inch | 240V | 236m | 58 L/min | 14A | $1,463 |
| 4" 5.5HP BF-32 | 4 inch | 415V | 232m | 117 L/min | 10.3A | $1,873 |
| 6" 10HP DS-09 | 6 inch | 415V | 138m | 417 L/min | 18.5A | $3,063 |
Prices current as of November 2026, AUD including GST, with free delivery within Australia. Maximum head is at zero flow and maximum flow is at low head; the pump never delivers both at once.
How to read the Tuhorse model codes
The letters in a Tuhorse model code tell you the flow family, and the number tells you how many stages, which sets the head.
Across the 4 inch range the pattern is consistent: S series tops out at 35 L/min, A series at 58 L/min, BF series at 117 L/min, MA series at 267 L/min and DG series at 333 L/min. Within a family, more stages and more horsepower mean more head at the same flow. So an A-12 and an A-30 move the same maximum flow, but the A-30 pushes it from more than twice the depth.
That makes choosing simple. Pick the family for the flow you need, then the stage count for your depth. The mistake we see is buying by horsepower. A 1HP MA-03 moves 267 L/min but only lifts 17 metres. Put that down a 40 metre bore and you get nothing.
Which Tuhorse bore pump to buy
The right Tuhorse bore pump depends on your total head and how many litres a minute you need, and for most domestic and stock bores that lands on the A series.
Best all rounder: 4" 1HP A-12
The Tuhorse A-12 is the best all round Tuhorse bore pump, with 98 metres of maximum head and 58 L/min on a 6.3A single phase supply, at $963. It suits a house or stock bore with a pumping level in the 20 to 50 metre range feeding a tank. Deeper than that, step up to the 2HP A-20 ($1,088, 162m) or the 3HP A-30 ($1,463, 236m).
Best for irrigation: 4" 1.5HP BF-09
The Tuhorse BF-09 is the pick for garden or small irrigation off a shallow to medium bore, with 117 L/min maximum flow and 70 metres of maximum head on 8.6A, at $998. Double the flow of the A series for $35 more, as long as the bore is not deep and can actually yield that much water.
Best for narrow bores: 3" 0.75HP T-22
The Tuhorse T-22 is the only 3 inch package in the range, rated to 70 metres and 50 L/min at 4.4A, for $973. A 4 inch pump will not go down a 3 inch casing, full stop, so if your bore is 3 inch this is the one.
Best for big water: 6" 10HP DS-09
The Tuhorse DS-09 is the pick for serious irrigation or a big stock operation with a 6 inch bore and three phase power, giving 417 L/min maximum flow and 138 metres of maximum head, at $3,063. It ships with an automatic control box. At 85 kg, it is a rig job, not a ute and a mate job.
Tuhorse bore pump pros
The biggest advantage of a Tuhorse bore pump is price for a complete stainless package. Under $1,000 gets you a 4 inch pump, motor and starter box delivered, where a premium European bore pump and its control gear usually cost more than double.
- Complete package. Pump, motor and box arrive matched. No guessing which motor suits which pump end.
- Stainless steel construction on the pump body, which handles most bore water better than cast iron.
- Wide range. Thirty packages from 35 L/min to 1,200 L/min and up to 236 metres of head, in 3, 4 and 6 inch sizes.
- Low running current. The 1HP models draw 6.3A, comfortable on a normal 240V circuit.
- Free delivery within Australia.
Tuhorse bore pump cons
The biggest drawback of a Tuhorse bore pump is the 12 month return to base warranty, which means pulling the pump and sending it back if it fails, at your cost and with your water off in the meantime.
- Short warranty. Twelve months return to base. Premium brands generally offer longer cover and wider service networks.
- No full pump curve on the product page. You get maximum head and maximum flow. Your actual duty point sits somewhere between, so ask us for the curve before you buy for a deep bore.
- No dry run protection listed. The spec sheet does not list dry run protection on the single phase starter box. If your bore can be pumped down, fit a low level probe or a pressure cut out. A burnt motor is not a warranty claim.
- Extras not included. Safety cable, poly pipe, drop cable joints and installation are on you.
Who should not buy a Tuhorse bore pump
A Tuhorse bore pump is the wrong choice if the bore is your only water and a week without it is a disaster, or if the pump must run long hours every day on a commercial operation.
In those cases pay for a premium pump with a local service agent, or at least keep a spare on the shelf. A cheap pump plus a spare still often costs less than one premium pump, and the spare means the house never goes dry. That is what a lot of farmers actually do.
And if there is no power at the bore, do not run a cable 800 metres to it. Look at a solar pump instead: our Tuhorse solar pumps review covers the solar side of the same brand.
How to size a Tuhorse bore pump
Size a Tuhorse bore pump on total head, which is the pumping water level, plus the height from the bore head to the top of the tank, plus pipe friction, plus any pressure you want at the outlet at 10 metres per bar.
Worked example: pumping level 40 metres, tank 8 metres above the bore head, about 4 metres of friction in a long poly run. Total head is about 52 metres. The A-12 at 98 metres of maximum head is running at roughly half its maximum, a comfortable place for a multistage pump. The S-08 at 69 metres would technically reach but deliver very little at that depth.
Then check the casing. A 4 inch pump needs a 4 inch or larger casing. Measure the inside diameter; do not trust a memory from when the bore was drilled. For a full ranked shortlist across brands, read our best submersible bore pumps in Australia guide. If the job is pumping a pit rather than a bore, see the best sump pumps instead.
Our verdict on Tuhorse bore pumps
Tuhorse bore pumps are good value, honest pumps for the price, best suited to house, garden and stock bores where you can tolerate a short warranty in exchange for a much lower price.
Buy by flow family and depth, not horsepower. Protect it from running dry. Keep the box out of the weather. Do that and a Tuhorse will do the job. Expect a premium pump's service network from a $963 package and you will be disappointed.
Frequently asked questions
Are Tuhorse bore pumps any good?
Tuhorse bore pumps are good value for house, garden and stock bores, offering a complete stainless steel submersible package with pump, motor and starter box from $893 in Australia. The main drawbacks are a 12 month return to base warranty and a spec sheet that lists maximum head and flow rather than a full pump curve.
How much does a Tuhorse bore pump cost in Australia?
A Tuhorse bore pump package costs from $893 for a 4 inch 0.5HP 240V model to $4,313 for a 6 inch 15HP 415V model in Australia, as of November 2026, with free delivery. Most domestic and stock bore models cost between $963 and $1,463.
What warranty does a Tuhorse bore pump have?
A Tuhorse bore pump package has a 12 month return to base warranty in Australia. Return to base means the pump is removed from the bore and sent back for assessment, so a low level or dry run cut out is worth fitting to avoid damage that warranty does not cover.
Which Tuhorse bore pump do I need?
The Tuhorse bore pump you need depends on your total head and flow: choose the series letter for flow (S 35 L/min, A 58 L/min, BF 117 L/min, MA 267 L/min, DG 333 L/min) and the stage count for depth. The 4 inch 1HP A-12 at 98 metres maximum head suits most house and stock bores with a pumping level of 20 to 50 metres.
Can a Tuhorse bore pump run on single phase power?
Tuhorse bore pumps up to 3HP run on 240V single phase power, and the 5.5HP to 15HP models need 415V three phase. All electrical connection must be done by a licensed electrician.
Not sure which Tuhorse fits your bore? Send us the numbers
Send us your casing size, standing and pumping water level, tank height, distance from bore to tank and how many litres a day you need. We will pick the series and stage count, and tell you plainly if a Tuhorse is the wrong pump for the job.
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Very deep or low yield bores can also suit a deep well pump, and off grid sites a solar bore pump.
This review is general information for Australian property owners and is based on the manufacturer's published specifications, not our own test results. It is not a substitute for advice on your specific bore and site. Electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician, and bore work by a licensed driller where your state requires it. Confirm final sizing with us before you buy.