Telehandler Showcase

Compact Telehandlers Continue to Lift Eyebrows

Aerial work environments call for extra reach. Construction, landscape and agricultural professionals all have elevated work applications that require a long arm and a deft touch (jobs like framing houses, loading silos, lifting bales of hay, grabbing recycling, helping with disaster cleanup and spearheading snow removal). Ideal for these applications is a one-armed work mobile called a compact telehandler, and it’s a category of small equipment that’s often overlooked by North American contractors.

Like a stylish and maneuverable little roadster, with a two-stage telescoping arm (going up 13 to 25 plus ft), crews can not only pick and place pallets of materials (like larger telehandler varieties), but also wield various attachments (from brooms to buckets) in long-reach applications. Migrating from Europe, where they are used in markets as diverse as farming and waste, compact telehandlers are offering owners extra options.

As the name implies, compact telehandlers are smaller in dimension than traditional telehandlers (those large pick-and-place telehandlers with three- and four-stage booms, going up 50 ft plus for the bridge and commercial construction industries). When combined with a tight turning radius, these smaller versions of telehandlers are engineered with increased maneuverability in confined spaces, going from crowded construction sites to decimated disaster zones, built with low profile dimensions so barns, low-access buildings and even parking garages are accessible.

Despite their reduced size, compact telehandlers can offer lift heights up to 25 plus ft and outreach that ranges from 10 to 12 ft, creating a larger work envelope for accurately placing loads or running attachments. Meanwhile, maximum carrying capacity of the machines ranges from 5,000 to 7,000 lbs to provide the strength and power for a productive work environment. Just check out a few of our favorite models.

Keith Gribbins is associate publisher of Compact Equipment, based in Brecksville, Ohio.

Cat TH255C

The new Cat TH255C telehandler delivers a rated load capacity of 5,500 lbs and a maximum lift height of 18.3 ft. Measuring in at 5 ft, 11 in. wide, 76 in. tall and with a turning radius of 10.5 ft, it features a powerful, compact design that accommodates tight work spaces and a varied range of applications with a wide range of work tool attachments. At the center of the TH255C is a fuel-efficient, 2.9-liter Tier 4-Final engine rated at 74 hp (55 kW), as well as a more powerful hydrostatic drive system for added tractive effort in negotiating difficult terrain. Auxiliary hydraulics are standard, and a new cooling package features a hydraulically-driven, variable-speed fan with an available reversing feature for environments with significant airborne debris. For more info, visit cat.com.

JLG G5-18A

The G5-18A super compact telehandler features a 127-in. turning radius, enabling movement through crowded jobsites and a stowed height of less than 76 in., making it ideal for work in confined or congested spaces and any application with overhead height restrictions. The machine also offers a variety of attachments for versatility in handling jobsite challenges. Redesigned in 2013 for enhanced reliability and serviceability, the G5-18A features a maximum lift height up to 18 ft, an extended outreach of 11 ft and a 5,500-lb maximum lifting capacity. Operators will also appreciate the enhanced visibility over the engine side of the machine and comfortable cab. The G5-18A also offers savings through its Tier 4 Final Deutz engine, which provides higher levels of fuel efficiency and reduces the impact on the environment. For more info, visit jlg.com.

Genie GTH-636

Genie’s all-new, 6,000-lb capacity GTH-636 telehandler delivers all of the performance of a full-sized machine in a compact size. Rather than detuning its 8,000-lb telehandler by downsizing the cylinders, Genie optimized the structure in the boom and the chassis, dropping the weight of the machine to under 20,000 lbs. By staying under 20,000 lbs, the new telehandler — built from the ground up — delivers full-sized performance, full-sized tires and full-sized capacity with the right-sized price. With a maximum lifting height of 36 ft and a forward reach of 21 ft, 11 in., the telehandler offers a maximum lifting capacity of 6,000 lbs. Its operating weight is 17,600 lbs, and the telehandler provides an outside turning radius of 13 ft, 4 in. For more info, visit genielift.com.

JCB 525-60 Hi Viz

Although it boasts a maximum lift height of 20 ft and a maximum load capacity of 5,500 lbs, JCB’s 525-60 Hi-Viz telescopic handler is just 5 ft, 10 in. wide and 6 ft, 3 in. tall. Three steer modes allow for access to confined areas. The machine’s side-engine mount design permits a low-boom pivot point for maximum stability, improved serviceability and increased visibility. Powered by a new 2.5-liter JCB Diesel by Kohler four-cylinder engine, the 525-60 delivers 74 hp. This reduces downtime and operating costs. A two-speed hydrostatic transmission provides travel speeds of up to 16 mph. Equipped with a 21-gpm hydraulic pump, the machine delivers auxiliary hydraulic power to accommodate a side-shifting carriage. Customers can choose between JCB’s Q-fit carriage, compact tool carrier or a universal skid steer compatible attachment interface. For more info, visit jcbna.com.

Bobcat V417 VersaHandler

The V417 VersaHandler’s two-stage boom can lift more than 4,400 lbs, and its narrow frame and compact size (just 6 ft wide and 6.5 ft tall) makes it easy to enter limited access areas. This telescopic tool carrier is well-suited for building sites, landscaping projects and rental companies. A contractor can easily and quickly go from pick-and-place tasks to other jobsite duties using the standard-equipped Bob-Tach system, such as attaching an angle broom to sweep away dirt and debris or a bucket for grading and backfilling. Combining features of the skid steer loader and VersaHandler give you the best of both worlds — the advantage of using a variety of attachments on a telescoping boom that has a higher capacity, extended reach and greater lift height. For more info, visit bobcat.com.