JLG’s 1043T Quad Track Concept Telehandler Targets Tough Terrain

Concept machines are supposed to hint at where equipment design is headed. The JLG 1043T Quad Track telehandler concept looks forward to address one of the biggest limitations of traditional telehandlers: poor mobility in soft, wet or unstable ground. From the press release:

“Contractors are being asked to do more work in tougher conditions, and that’s exactly what inspired the innovation behind the 1043T Quad Track telehandler,” says Daryl Stauffer, Director Product Management — Telehandlers, JLG. “This preview model reflects how we’re listening to customers and exploring new ways to maintain productivity when the ground won’t cooperate.”

The 1043T Quad Track telehandler replaces tires with four independent rubber tracks to improve traction, flotation and stability. The quad-track layout visually echoes rubber track systems developed by Camso, known for traction and flotation in off-highway environments. This JLG configuration targets loose soils, muddy conditions, steep grades and uneven terrain common in heavy civil and specialty construction. By distributing machine weight across a larger footprint, the design also reduces ground pressure.

Specs That Still Fit Real-World Jobsites

Despite its unconventional undercarriage, the 1043T remains firmly within established telehandler performance ranges. The concept machine is rated at 10,000 lbs with a maximum lift height of 43 ft, 5 in. Those numbers support typical material placement, lifting and staging tasks while expanding where the machine can operate. Target applications include foundation restoration, deep shoring and below-grade work in wet sand, clay soils and unstable ground. From the press release:

“The 1043T Quad Track telehandler is about enabling productivity in the most challenging ground conditions,” says Stauffer. “This concept model lets us show customers how tracked mobility can help their crews stay on schedule when terrain becomes the biggest obstacle.”

What the Quad Track Design Brings to the Jobsite

• Improved traction on loose or unstable ground
• Better flotation than tires in mud, sand and snow
• Reduced ground disturbance on sensitive surfaces
• Increased confidence when operating on slopes

Part of a Broader Innovation Strategy

The 1043T Quad Track telehandler reflects a broader push by JLG to rethink traditional access and material-handling equipment. At CES this year, the company showcased an autonomous boom lift concept featuring robotics, AI-guided control and sensor-driven perception. While the 1043T is not autonomous, it shares the same forward-looking approach to machine capability and jobsite efficiency.

Other Forward-Leaning JLG Programs

• Electric telehandlers for zero-emissions jobsites
• Hydraulic-free electric scissor lifts
• Bi-energy compact crawler booms for indoor and outdoor work

Where the Concept Appears

JLG previewed the 1043T Quad Track telehandler at World of Concrete, but you can also see it at CONEXPO-CON/AGG (register here!). We’ll see you there!

Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.

Electric construction equipment is on the rise. Learn all about the exciting products leading the charge.