Head to head
Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) vs Volvo FMX 540
The Volvo FMX 540 has 385kW more power and carries 17 tonnes more.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026
Key differences
- Engine power: the Volvo FMX 540 has 385kW more power.
- Payload: the Volvo FMX 540 carries 17 tonnes more.
Specifications side by side
| Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) | Volvo FMX 540 | |
|---|---|---|
| Payload | 3,000 kg | 20,000kg |
| Engine power | 18.1 kW / 24.3 bhp at 2,000 rpm | 540bhp (D13, Euro 6) |
| Unladen weight | 2,250 kg | - |
| Gross weight | - | 32,000kg (32 tonne) |
| Axles | - | 8x4 |
Sources: Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel), Volvo FMX 540. Figures vary by model year and options, so check with the supplier before you commit.
Buy or hire the MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) if...
The Thwaites 3 Tonne Power Swivel, badged MACH2080, is the step-up size from the 1 tonne class and a standard fixture on larger UK groundworks and civils sites needing higher payload per cycle. Its power swivel skip rotates independently of the direction of travel, letting the operator tip to the side without turning the whole machine around. It is hired alongside excavators of a similar class to keep material moving off the dig face.
Full MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) specifications →Buy or hire the FMX 540 if...
- you want one that has 385kW more power
- you want one that carries 17 tonnes more
A heavy construction truck for muckaway and aggregate haulage contractors who need an 8-wheel tipper or tipper-grab body on a chassis built for site conditions rather than motorway haulage. The high-output D13 engine suits loaded running on soft or hilly access roads.
Listed by
- McGovern Plant Hire - Hounslow, Cranford
Common questions
What is the difference between the Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) and the Volvo FMX 540?
The Volvo FMX 540 has 385kW more power and carries 17 tonnes more. The Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) is a a 3 tonne payload swivel-skip site dumper; the Volvo FMX 540 is a 540bhp 8x4 heavy tipper/grab truck.
Which carries more, the Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) or the Volvo FMX 540?
The Volvo FMX 540, by 17 tonnes.
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