Head to head
Caterpillar 301.7 CR vs Thwaites MACH2001 (1 Tonne Hi Tip)
The Thwaites MACH2001 (1 Tonne Hi Tip) has 0kW more power.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026
Key differences
- Engine power: the Thwaites MACH2001 (1 Tonne Hi Tip) has 0kW more power.
Specifications side by side
| Caterpillar 301.7 CR | Thwaites MACH2001 (1 Tonne Hi Tip) | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine power | 15.7 kW (21 hp) | 15.9 kW / 21.4 bhp at 2,800 rpm |
| Operating weight | 1,915 kg (4,222 lb) | - |
| Dig depth | 2,540 mm (100 in) (long stick) | - |
| Payload | - | 1,000 kg |
| Unladen weight | - | 1,295 kg |
| Standard transport width | - | 1,115 mm (982 mm with narrow wheel option) |
Sources: Caterpillar 301.7 CR, Thwaites MACH2001 (1 Tonne Hi Tip). Figures vary by model year and options, so check with the supplier before you commit.
Buy or hire the 301.7 CR if...
The Cat 301.7 CR is Caterpillar's roughly 2 tonne mini excavator, built around the Cat C1.1 engine and backed by Caterpillar's dealer network for parts and service. It is specified on UK sites for the same drainage, groundworks and utility jobs as the Kubota U27-4 and Takeuchi TB216, with buyers often citing Cat's residual values and dealer support over price. It is one of the smaller models in Caterpillar's wider mini excavator line-up, which extends up to around 10 tonnes.
Full 301.7 CR specifications →Buy or hire the MACH2001 (1 Tonne Hi Tip) if...
- you want one that has 0kW more power
The Thwaites 1 Tonne Hi Tip, sold as the MACH2001, is one of the most common site dumpers on UK construction and groundworks hire fleets, used to move spoil, aggregate and materials around small to medium sites. Its narrow wheel option lets it pass through standard access points a wider dumper cannot. Thwaites builds its dumpers in Leamington Spa, and the 1 tonne class is typically the first machine a groundworks operator is trained and ticketed on.
Full MACH2001 (1 Tonne Hi Tip) specifications →Common questions
What is the difference between the Caterpillar 301.7 CR and the Thwaites MACH2001 (1 Tonne Hi Tip)?
The Thwaites MACH2001 (1 Tonne Hi Tip) has 0kW more power. The Caterpillar 301.7 CR is a a sub-2 tonne conventional-tail-swing mini excavator; the Thwaites MACH2001 (1 Tonne Hi Tip) is a a 1 tonne payload site dumper for construction material transport.
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