Telehandler

How it works

A telehandler has a low chassis with the engine to one side and the cab beside it. The boom pivots at the rear of the machine and has one or more sliding sections pushed out by hydraulic rams, so it can lift a load high, reach it forward or both. A carriage at the boom tip carries the attachment and is tilted by its own ram; most machines keep it level automatically as the boom rises.

Because the boom acts as a lever, the further the load is from the machine, the less it can lift before tipping forward. Every telehandler has a load chart showing safe weights at each reach and height, and in Europe machines must have a load moment system that warns the driver or stops movements when they approach the limit.

Main types and attachments

• Agricultural telehandler: Tuned for farm work with faster hydraulics, a towing hitch and often a powershift or hydrostatic drive. Some have a rear linkage and PTO.
• Compact telehandler: Low and narrow for older buildings and livestock sheds, with lift capacities from about 1.5 tonnes.
• Construction telehandler: Built for greater reach, often with front stabilisers; usually carries pallet forks.
• Rotating telehandler: Has an upper structure that turns on a slewing ring and stabilisers, so it works more like a small crane.
• Common farm attachments: Buckets for grain and muck, shear grabs and silage forks, bale spears and squeezes, pallet forks and feeder buckets.

Using it on the farm

Telehandlers are self-propelled, so they do not need a tractor, although some farm models can pull a trailer. Many have four-wheel drive with selectable steering modes: front-wheel steer for the road, four-wheel steer for tight yards and crab steer for working along walls. JCB alone lists models lifting from 1.5 to 6 tonnes, with reach up to 20 metres on the largest construction machines; farm models are usually shorter and quicker.

A short history

The first telehandler is believed to have been built by the French firm Sambron in 1957. In Britain, Liner launched the four-wheel-drive Giraffe in 1971, based on a Matbro design. JCB launched its rear-steer Loadall in October 1977, first for building sites, but farmers soon saw its value for handling bales and bulk materials. JCB built its 100,000th Loadall around 2007 and its 200,000th less than ten years later, and the telehandler is now a standard machine on many livestock and arable farms.

Buying and care tips

• Read the load chart: Rated capacity applies only with the boom retracted and low. Check the chart for the reach and height you will actually use.
• Keep the boom low when travelling: Carry loads close to the ground and retract the boom before driving.
• Check boom wear: On a used machine look for play in the boom sections and wear pads, and leaks from rams.
• Look at hours and transmission: Shuttle work is hard on transmissions. Ask for service history and test direction changes under load.
• Train every driver: Telehandlers overturn more easily than they appear to. Make sure operators are trained and wear seat belts.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between a telehandler and a forklift?

A telehandler has a telescopic boom that reaches forward and up, while a forklift lifts straight up on a mast. Telehandlers also work well on rough ground.

How much can a telehandler lift?

Farm and construction models typically lift between about 1.5 and 6 tonnes, but only with the boom retracted. Capacity falls sharply as the boom extends.

Who invented the telehandler?

The French company Sambron is credited with the first in 1957. JCB's Loadall of 1977 made the idea popular on British farms.

Is a telehandler better than a tractor loader?

A telehandler reaches higher and stacks better, while a loader tractor can also pull and power implements. Many farms run both.

Related equipment

Sources

1. Telescopic handler, Wikipedia
2. What is a telehandler?, JCB
3. Big birthday for JCB's Loadall, The Scottish Farmer

Last checked 2026-11-01

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