Head to head
Thwaites 3 Tonne Front Tip vs Yanmar ViO17
The Thwaites 3 Tonne Front Tip has 15kW more power.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026
Key differences
- Engine power: the Thwaites 3 Tonne Front Tip has 15kW more power.
Specifications side by side
| Thwaites 3 Tonne Front Tip | Yanmar ViO17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine power | 24.8kW (33.2 bhp) @ 2800rpm | 10.1 kW at 2,200 rpm |
| Payload | 3000 kg | - |
| Heaped capacity | 1680 litres | - |
| Engine | Yanmar 3TNV88 | - |
| Operating weight | - | 1,830 kg |
| Dig depth | - | 2,410 mm (blade lowered); 2,310 mm (blade lifted) |
Sources: Thwaites 3 Tonne Front Tip, Yanmar ViO17. Figures vary by model year and options, so check with the supplier before you commit.
Buy or hire the 3 Tonne Front Tip if...
- you want one that has 15kW more power
A mid-size front tip dumper for groundworks, drainage and general muck shifting on UK sites where a 3 tonne payload is enough. Sits between the 1 tonne hi-tip and the 6 tonne dumpers in the Thwaites range.
Full 3 Tonne Front Tip specifications →Buy or hire the ViO17 if...
The Yanmar ViO17 is a true zero tail swing mini excavator built for working tight to walls, fences and parked vehicles without the counterweight overhanging, a common requirement on UK residential and urban groundworks jobs. It sits in the same roughly 1.7-1.9 tonne hire class as the Takeuchi TB216 and Kubota KX019-4. Yanmar's compact equipment range is less widely stocked across UK hire fleets than Kubota or JCB, but it has a following among contractors who rate its digging force for its size.
Full ViO17 specifications →Common questions
What is the difference between the Thwaites 3 Tonne Front Tip and the Yanmar ViO17?
The Thwaites 3 Tonne Front Tip has 15kW more power. The Thwaites 3 Tonne Front Tip is a 3 tonne front tip site dumper; the Yanmar ViO17 is a a 1.8 tonne true zero tail swing mini excavator.
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