Telehandlers with frame tilt

[SSam]

Hi, I'm looking for a newer forklift / loader / tool carrier for around my fab shop and land. I currently have a case 570mxt skip loader with forks and bucket. I move pallets, build things, plow a 1/2 mile driveway and do a bit of dirt moving. I don't like the 570mxt lack of view to the forks or the climb up to the cab. We also manage an 80 acre forest so I would probably look at putting a hydraulic grapple on it as well.

I have rented a few construction telehandlers and totally love being able to see the forks and use the frame leveling to tilt the machine for picking up pallets on uneven ground. The cabs are also right on the ground so you can hop on and off with almost no effort.

My ideal machine would be a 6k capacity telehandler with 20ft lift height and frame leveling/ tilt. This machine essentially does not exist. As the lift height gets lower they assume you don't need the frame tilt. A machine like a genie 644 has frame tilt, but with the super long boom I don't think it's going to hold up to snow plowing or loader bucket work. I found a jcb 506-23TC, but there are almost none of them in existence. Merlo has some cool looking machines but no dealers in the southern Washington area.

Am I missing the perfect machine for my application? Any recommendations would be awesome! Thanks

 

[92U 3406]

Thing with telehandlers is lift capacity drops off drastically the further out you get the boom. If you're wanting to lift 6k lbs at 20 feet out you're probably going to need a 10k or 12k lb capacity unit.

According to the sales literature a JLG 642 will pick 6,600 lbs fully retracted but is limited to 1,000 lbs at full extension. It looks like that model has frame tilt and outriggers as well.

 

[SSam]

Yes, understood on the lift at extension. I only need the 5k or 6k with the boom fully retracted.

 

[tractormech]

First, and some may disagree. Leave that JCB alone. Parts are expensive and technical manuals and support are hard to get, and it's hydraulic hoses are British Standard pipe and a lot of shops don't have fittings. A Skytrak might be what you need. An older one is pretty simple-manual 4BT Cummins usually, and the controls are cable operated for the most part. Simple works. And they usually have frame and fork tilt. Good luck.

 

[skyking1]

gradall's are also solid.

 

[SSam]

Thanks for the thoughts! Definitely the type of info I'm looking for.

 

[HATCHEQUIP]

Dont forget the old bones, Pettibone's, tough and simple.

 

[crane operator]

Skytrak or lull, or newer JLG/cat.

All that said, telehandlers are not built for bucket work. It will tear up the wear pads and extension chains, and also be pretty hard on the pins.

If I was really going to just do just front bucket and fork work, and could only live with one machine, it would be a small end loader. Have hydraulic quick coupler to switch from bucket to forks. If you don't need the reach of a telehandler.

 

[92U 3406]

Skytrak or lull, or newer JLG/cat.

All that said, telehandlers are not built for bucket work. It will tear up the wear pads and extension chains, and also be pretty hard on the pins.

If I was really going to just do just front bucket and fork work, and could only live with one machine, it would be a small end loader. Have hydraulic quick coupler to switch from bucket to forks. If you don't need the reach of a telehandler.

Weidemann builds a telescopic wheel loader.

Its pretty much just a Wacker Neuson painted red and with a telescopic boom instead of loader arms. Interesting machine, farmers seem to like them.

 

[willie59]

I agree with tractormech, avoid JCB. There's been times I've ordered JCB parts and they're not in stock in the US distribution center, so guess what, gotta wait for it to come from the UK. As for which to choose, I speak from the wrench bender point of view. The Genie GTH-644 is a solid machine. Well built, has sturdy Dana axles. I've worked on the 844, which is pretty much the same machine just heavier, but I've replaced the boom chains as well as the hoses inside the boom for the tilt cylinder and auxiliary, and you don't have to disassemble the boom to do that. Few machines you can do that. And the thing I really like about them is you can remove the panels covering the engine and transmission and it busts everything wide open for repairs. Very well designed and thought out machine. On top of all this, they're durable.