Telehandlers Upcoming Auctions

About Telehandlers

Telehandlers, sometimes called “telescopic forklifts” or “telescopic handlers,” are material handlers with forks or other attachments at the end of an extendable boom instead of a vertical mast. As such, they can lift loads up and down like a forklift but can also extend loads forward and retract them back without moving their drive wheels, allowing them to (for example) load or unload an entire curtainside or roll tarp truck or trailer from one side. Construction crews also use them to lift large loads of building materials several stories. Some telehandlers can also slew (pivot) their carriage to swing a load to one side or the other.

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JLG 1732 Telehandler

Common Characteristics

Telehandlers typically roll on pneumatic, polyurethane foam-filled, or solid rubber tires. They’re usually powered by an internal combustion engine running on diesel, or in some cases LPG (liquid propane gas). As with forklifts, LPG-powered telehandlers are right at home working inside, as are electric models like JCB’s zero-emission 525-60E. But they are also commonly better-suited to outdoor work than their mast-equipped brethren, thanks to greater lifting versatility and widespread four-wheel drive and rough-terrain capabilities.

Lift Capabilities & Attachments

Maximum lifting capacity is a worthy consideration when choosing a telehandler for your operation. Maximum lifting capacities among the majority of telehandlers top out at about 26,000 pounds (11,800 kilograms), although there are outliers like Manitou’s MHT 12330 (72,753 lbs; 33,000 kg) with greater lifting prowess, and most telehandlers fall in the 5,000- to 10,000-lb (2,268- to 4,536-kg) range. Maximum lifting height is also something to take into account, and is related to boom length. A telehandler’s boom may have multiple stages, enabling it to attain lift heights of 50 feet (15 meters) or more on high-reach models. As with telescopic boom cranes, however, it’s important to remember that maximum lifting capacity decreases as a telehandler approaches its max lift height. This rule also applies as operators extend loads farther away from the machine.

Besides forks, a telehandler can use attachments such as bale spears, buckets, rotators, grapples, and aerial work platforms, adding to their versatility.

Find The Right Telehandler

Visit this site often to find new and used telehandlers for sale from such leading manufacturers as Caterpillar, Gehl, Genie, JCB, JLG (owner of SkyTrak and the discontinued Lull brand), Manitou, Merlo, and many others.