• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

First Timer to telehandlers

big builder

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2007
Messages
221
Location
ontario
Hey Everyone,

I am looking to buy a zoom boom for our construction business.

We build cottage and residential homes and are starting our first subdivsion.

I know nothing about these things.

I don't think I want anthing too big yet. Something to lift pallets of lumber and sheet goods and you know...........whatever it is people do with these things. Maybe put a bucket on it for winter too. Maybe lift a few first floor trusses into place.

Really I am just looking for peoples opinion on what they like and what to stay away from.

Any opinion is welcomed.
 

Squizzy246B

Administrator
Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
3,388
Location
Perth, Western Australia
Occupation
Digger Driver
Becoming more popular by the day. Somebody said the skid steer is like the swiss army knife of the construction site.....but the telehandler is a very universal tool.

https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=1400

https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=2751

I would put parts availability as the No 1 priority. There are a lot of European Teles comming on the market here and no all are well supported.

From what I have seen and heard, in terms of performance, they are all much of a muchness.

https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=2817
 

stumpjumper83

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
1,974
Location
Port Allegany, pa
Occupation
Movin dirt
down here in s.e. pa, it seems like every building crew has one. The mason uses them for moving blocks. The framers move stacks of lumber and set trusses with them if they are not too high. Roofers use them for material platforms. The siding guys hang the siding with them. I've used them for tree removal and snow plowing. Almost everyone is making them. IMO you want to get one with outriggers & joystick pilot controlls. Some allow you to level the machine by tilting at the axles, some allow you to angle the platform much like a 6 way dozer can angle his blade. That is nice if you can't come in square to the house. Look at your load charts to see that you are actually getting a heavy enough machine for what you wanna do. At 40 some feet out, the capacity is much less than right at the machine. For what its worth I like the gehl rs8-44, handy to use, good power, seemed to be pretty stable.
 

JCBgm

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2007
Messages
87
Location
WV, OH, & KY
Bigbuilder,

There are a few things to consider. There are 3 configurations of telescopic machines.

1. Lift and Place. These machines have a high boom pivot point and are typically used by masons. No outriggers. Generally a 3 section boom with a chain and pulley system for extending/retracting the 3 sections. These machines have a leveling cylinder on the front to level up the machine on uneven surfaces. Due to the "swan neck" at the fork end of the boom and the chain set up, theses machines should NEVER be used with a bucket. They are not designed for this type of use. JCB 508, Skytrak 8042

2. Digging machines. These machines ussually have 2 section boom and limited reach (ussually around 26-28 feet). The boom extend cylinder is directly connected to each boom section. May have a z-bar setup on the carriage for high breakout. CAT TH330, JCB 541-70

3. Multipurpose machines. These are generally the most expensive. Low boom pivot point. Heavier machines have outriggers. Can be used with a bucket, but fall between the two above as far as digging capability. JCB 550-140, JLG G10-55
 

Nac

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2004
Messages
566
Location
NJ
Occupation
Construction
I prefer Lull forklifts. It may be beacuse before going on my own I always worked for mason and concrete guys and Lull is the only thing you see. My fathers boss has owned over 25 Lull have tried others Gradell, Gehl and Terex and still will only by a Lull. Also Lull was the only company that had the sliding carige that made it easy to put a cube of block 6 frames up on the scalfold now I think there are other companys that have the sliding carige. I just accaried a Lull 1044B it is a 30,000 lb machine 10,000 lb capacity and has a max hieght of 44 feet.
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,250
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
I have to put my $.02 in for ol' blue - The Graddall. I have a '98 534D6 that I bought new and have owned ever since. It has the framers carriage with pallet and block forks, tilting carriage and light duty bucket.

I have used that machine so much for so many different things - still working on a job today. It's very simple to operate (once you get used to the Gradall steering), very reliable and is not computer controlled - we can go to NAPA and get any electrical part you need. I have put 3K hours on it since new and replaced the starter and batteries twice. The little Cummins still purrs but you need to plug it in if it gets really cold. All in all and excellent machine.

We use it for framing, block/brick work, clean-up with the bucket (you can shoot it to the 2nd or 3rd floor window and shovel into the bucket), built Keystone walls with it, put the man basket on it and have an arial lift - pretty much a Swiss Army knife for the building side of my business. We recently used it to help remove an interior slab demo in a resturant remodel. We sawed the slabs in 4'x4' cubes, put the mini-hoe inside the building and shot the boom through a hole in the wall and loaded the slabs out to the dump truck. I bid the job using hand labor and jackhammer. Needless to say we had it done in 1/4 of the time and 1/4 under my bid. Ol' Blue is still a money maker.:D

It is one machine I will probably never sell - it's worth more to me than the money it would bring selling it.
 

Speedpup

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2007
Messages
1,214
Location
New York
Occupation
President and all else that needs done!
I have always used Lulls. I had two 7-C's, 4 844's and 1044B. They have served me well. Equipment is going cheap now as work contracts.
 

albertozordan

Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2009
Messages
22
Location
Breganze, Italy
I can notice that Lulls are very popular overthere. Here in Italy and Europe too we don't know them too much. They look to me as the tipical US machine.

Machines overhere seems to be more...how can I say, well designed than machine in US or other countries.

Is it a wrong impression?
 

big builder

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2007
Messages
221
Location
ontario
I never did pull the trigger on a telehandler. Bought two bobcats instead.

I would still very much like to find one if the opportunity presents itself.

I am going to start looking again now that the prices for used ones might be down.
 

Speedpup

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2007
Messages
1,214
Location
New York
Occupation
President and all else that needs done!
I never did pull the trigger on a telehandler. Bought two bobcats instead.

I would still very much like to find one if the opportunity presents itself.

I am going to start looking again now that the prices for used ones might be down.

Prices are in the basement now. You need to see what you want to spend and the hieght and capacity you need.
 

quebecmason

New Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
1
Location
quebec
i'm a First Timer to telehandlers too, and i'm looking for a small telehandler, gradall 524-dS or a gehl rs, what do you think.
 

Aero Lift

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2009
Messages
6
Location
Detroit
All are good machines, but I would agree with the individual who says parts should be of high importance. I am with a company who specializes in SkyTrak forklifts. They can range in all sizes and can be out fitted with many attachments. Also, from my experience the parts and support of this product is strong. It will be inevitable that the machine will break and you will want to get it up and running as soon as possible. SkyTrak forklifts have many universal products and our company is now selling used parts. Parts for SkyTrak (JLG) products can be found relatively easy with a little research.

Good Luck
 
Top