Choosing a telehandler

A Telehandler is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment for working at height on any site. It combines aspects of a forklift, crane and a work platform into one handy machine. At the end of the boom, attachments like buckets, pallet forks, much grabs or winches can be added on. This means with a few extra attachments, one piece of gear can be used for a whole range of jobs. So how do you use a telehandler and how do you choose the right telehandler for the job?
 

Why use a Telehandler?

As mentioned, a lot of the benefits of a Telehandler come from the machine’s incredible versatility. Its huge range of functions makes the Telehandler one of the best pieces of access equipment to hire. For instance, you could use a Telehandler to lift gear off a truck, transport it over to a different building, and then lift it up to the second or third story. Unstable surfaces aren’t as much of an issue for Telehandlers either due to their frame levelling, which we’ll cover later. All of these efficiencies can greatly reduce the time for completing projects, and reduced costs overall.

What are the types of Telehandlers?

There are essentially two types of Telehandlers to choose from, fixed and rotating.

Fixed Telehandlers are better suited for heavy lifting. The cab being locked in one place allows this, but with the obvious drawback of being unable to rotate. Hiring a fixed Telehandler will limit your movements, but will allow you to lift more - from small to large capacities, super compact, compact, standard lift, high lift and high load models.

Rotating Telehandlers allow for more movement and flexibility, being able to rotate the boom a full 360 degrees. They’re an easy machine to maneuver while also perfect for working in areas that can be challenging to reach.

You can specialise even further within these two categories, getting into compact models or Telehandlers that are made for rough terrain. Compact models are one of the best ways to move heavy loads within tight spaces, while rough terrain models can have extra stabilisation features to handle uneven surfaces.

What attachments are there for Telehandlers?

The biggest strength of the Telehandler is its wide range of attachments that can be easily swapped and changed for the job at hand. The most popular attachments are:

• Buckets - available in a range of sizes and designs, perfect for moving materials around any site. There’s a surprising amount of variety available here, make sure you speak to our experts about what works for your job;

• Forks - the most common attachment, used for pallets, bales, blocks or other heavy materials. There’s a variety of sizes available for different weights and types of load including adjustable forks that can easily swap between different pallet and material types. Also available are options for tilting carriages for unstable ground and tighter workspaces;

• Blades - with the change of an attachment you can turn your Telehandler into a dozer. Again, the wide range of applications and sizes combined with different materials for moving means that speaking to an expert about your options is vital;

• Augers - Although less common, auger drills can be used to make holes for irrigation or installing poles. There’s a range of options for drills, with lightweight, smaller bit options suited for soft ground and heavier, reinforced options for hard, abrasive ground;

• and much more - there is an abundance of specialised attachments created to tackle unique jobs, with new attachments being developed all the time for different purposes.

As you can see the Telehandler is an incredibly useful piece of gear to have on any worksite. When you take into account the different sizes and uses for Telehandlers, then combine the diverse range of attachments available, it can tackle a lot of jobs in a short amount of time. 
 

To speak to our expert staff about hiring the right Telehandler for your needs, call us on 13 15 32.