Q&A: Bobcat’s Ryan Saunders Discusses the Compact Telehandler Market with a Focus on the Super Small TL519

Compact telehandlers are quickly becoming a tool-carrier of choice for contractors, landscapers, farmers and rental pros who want telescoping power in a smaller footprint. These machines bring the lift height, reach and attachment versatility of their larger cousins — but with more agility and comfort for navigating tight workspaces. To kick off a new Q&A series on compact telehandlers, we’re talking with Ryan Saunders, senior marketing specialist at Bobcat Co.

Bobcat has been a long-time player in the telehandler market, launching over 14 models in North America since the early 2000s. Today, their compact TL519 leads the pack as a powerful and nimble machine built for small sites and multi-tool versatility. In this interview, Saunders shares insights into Bobcat’s smallest telehandler offering, its attachment capabilities, emerging jobsite trends and tips for making the most out of these super-compact material movers. Whether you’re a contractor considering your first telehandler or a veteran looking to upgrade, this series is here to break down the specs, features and standout benefits of today’s compact telehandler options.

Ryan, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us today. We’re big fans of the Bobcat brand and of its compact telehandler lineup. First off, maybe give us a brief history of your company in the telehandler market. Quickly summarize your product offerings for our readership.

Telehandlers are popular equipment in agriculture, landscaping, construction and snow removal applications. The Bobcat telehandler lineup offers the extended reach and superior lift capacity of a heavy-duty telescoping boom combined with a range of attachment offerings for leading versatility. Since Bobcat began manufacturing telehandlers in the early 2000s, the company has launched over 14 models for North America. Its current lineup features four models: the TL519, TL623, TL723 and TL923. The models range in horsepower from 74 hp to 135 hp, along with operating weights of 9,963 to 18,158 lbs. Each model offers exceptional lift height and reach. The lift height spans from 232 in. for the TL519 to 277 in. for the TL923.  

Summarize your smallest compact telehandler units offered today. Share major features, specs, technologies and options. How high do your units lift and what is their capacity?

The Bobcat TL519 telehandler is compact in size but delivers productivity with maximum rated capacity of 5,500 lbs and a lift height of 19.6 ft. At 6-ft wide and just over 13-ft long, the TL519 can tackle big jobs on small and difficult-to-navigate worksites. Even with its compact size, operator comfort is a priority. The TL519 features optimal visibility, excellent ergonomics, an efficient HVAC system and enhanced attachment operation. A large selection of standard and hydraulic-powered attachments gives the TL519 unparalleled versatility.

What are your major product differentiators? What makes your small telehandlers unique?

The latest generation of Bobcat telehandler models are equipped with premium performance and comfort features that come standard. These features, along with many others, help keep operators productive, efficient and comfortable on a variety of jobsites. Bobcat telehandlers offer remarkable visibility thanks to their side-mounted engine and low-profile boom. Bobcat telehandler engines achieve emissions compliance without the use of a diesel particulate filter (DPF). This means fewer components for simpler operation, easier maintenance and no downtime due to DPF regeneration.

Bobcat telehandlers are designed to work with more than 18 attachment models to support agriculture, construction, grounds maintenance, landscaping and turf applications. From augers and buckets to pallet forks and snow attachments, the Bobcat telehandler goes far beyond a high-performing material handler. Select attachments are also compatible across other Bobcat products such as compact track loaders, skid steer loaders, compact wheel loaders and more. The TL519 and TL623 offer the Power Bob-Tach attachment mounting system, which allows operators to change non-hydraulic attachments without ever leaving the cab. Operators simply line up the attachment and press the switch.

Cab comfort is also a differentiator for Bobcat telehandlers. Its operator-centered design continues with high visibility, excellent ergonomics, a comfortable suspension seat, efficient heat and air conditioning, plus a standard, 5-in. LCD display that provides full-featured machine interaction and monitoring capabilities. The TL723 and TL923 have a unique wrap-around rear window that gives the operator a good view to the side and rear of the machine.

The multi-control joystick, which sets Bobcat telehandlers apart, controls travel direction, lift and tilt functions, boom extension and auxiliary hydraulics. This gives the operator the ability to accurately lift loads and use several machine functions at the same time from one control point. This enables more precision and higher productivity without having to remove their hand from the joystick.

Let’s take a look at the smallest mini excavators on the market.

Where do these super small telehandlers end up working? What type of applications are popular for compact or subcompact telehandlers?

Compact telehandlers are a versatile choice for operators across a wide range of applications, including construction, agriculture, landscaping, snow removal, rental and material handling. Their attachment versatility makes them an excellent choice for many jobsites, including soil conditioner, flail cutter, angle broom, pallet fork, auger and even a snow blade.

Compact telehandlers are often a machine of choice for agricultural tasks such as loading and stacking bales, handling feed and maneuvering in barns or tight spaces. Farmers find telehandlers ideal for stacking hay bales six to eight rows high inside a hay shed. Their reach is greater than that of a tractor, and the lift capacity means 2,000-lb bales can be stacked two at a time. The lifting capacity of the telehandler is also helpful for lifting and stacking shingles, pallets of sod and bundles of pipe.   

In construction, they are utilized for tasks like lifting and placing materials at various heights, accessing confined spaces and transporting loads across jobsites. In landscaping, these machines are utilized for moving pallets of sod, transporting trees and shrubs and accessing difficult terrain. Material handling industries use compact telehandlers for loading/unloading trucks, stacking pallets and moving materials on loading docks.

The extended reach of the telehandlers makes it possible to safely unload delivery trucks from one side. This eliminates the need to enter the street and block traffic while unloading materials.

Farming is big in Europe for small telehandlers. Is that a growing application in America?

Telehandlers are growing increasingly common across various types of agriculture, including beef cattle producers, dairy producers and crop producers.

Small telehandlers are attachment-takers or tool carriers. Tell us about the attachment capabilities of your units. What is the auxiliary flow to attachments? What type of attachment systems are available?

Attachments simply enable telehandlers to do more than a dedicated lifting machine. Buckets and pallet forks are the most common attachments for telehandlers. Other popular attachments include grapples (both industrial and root), bale forks, snow pushers, angle brooms, augers, flail cutters, soil conditioners and snowblowers. Bobcat telehandlers offer advanced attachment control model, which allows operators to control the engine and travel speed separately for full auxiliary hydraulic performance. Operators can set drive speed increments from 1 to 99 for the ideal combination of attachment performance and machine control. The engine rpm can be increased with the engine speed lever to maximize attachment productivity.

How much does a compact telehandler cost (generally) vs. a full-size compact telehandler?

Bobcat offers only compact telehandlers with prices ranging from approximately $100,000 to $150,000.

What operation tips can you share when using super small compact telehandlers?

It’s important to fully understand the tasks that you’re looking to accomplish and how that measures up with the compact telehandler’s abilities. For example, knowing the weight of the material you plan to move and how high (or far) you need to move the material is critical. Additionally, understanding the job site environment and/or required attachments is also key. Operators should get well acquainted with their machine and its features to enhance productivity. Bobcat telehandlers have many standard features that make them versatile. Some of these features include four steering modes, five operation modes, up to four travel speeds, selectable auxiliary flow, along with a wide array of attachments. This is where operators can tailor their machine’s performance for the task at hand.

Do you offer electric or battery-powered units? Give us all the details.

Bobcat EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) launched an electric telehandler concept, the TL25.60e, at INTERMAT 2024. Additional details on this concept machine are available by viewing the full news release. Still a concept machine, this is not commercially available in any region.

What advice would you give a contractor looking to buy or rent a super small telehandler? Everyone knows that understanding your application will drive your buy or rent, so give advice on a subject people don’t often think about.

Equipment owners and operators should consider how much time they spend in the cab to determine what comfort features are important to them. Look closely at ergonomic and comfort features before selecting a telehandler. Opting for models that come with features like heated air-suspension seats, wrap-around rear windows and spacious enclosed cabs improve operator experience and make long days on the jobsite more enjoyable. Contractors should also look at the other equipment and attachments in their fleet. For example, Bobcat’s Power Bob-Tach mounting system allows for quick attachment changes while also sharing select attachments with other Bobcat equipment.

What trends do you see in the compact telehandler market overall? Are buyers gravitating toward certain sizes or technologies? What interesting evolutions do you see in the market and the near future?

Attachment versatility is important across the equipment industry, and telehandler attachment offerings continue to grow to enable these machines to serve more purposes on a jobsite. Operators also want more versatility for their applications, so Bobcat offers five operation modes to support their unique job site needs — whether they’re seeking to reduce fuel consumption, increase responsiveness, enhance precision or control the engine and travel speed separately. Eco mode, for example, maintains hydraulic performance without using the engine’s full power for less noise and lower fuel consumption. Finally, an increased focus on ergonomics means these units are coming equipped with more comfortable cabs, intuitive controls and improved visibility for the operator. 

Great info. We really appreciate it, Ryan. For those looking to learn more, head over to bobcat.com.

Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.