When Bigger Is Better: 3 Benefits of High-Capacity Telehandlers

Demand for much larger, more powerful telehandlers is growing globally as specialty industries, such as mining and quarries, wind farms, industrial construction, energy exploration/extraction, log handling, waste and recycling, require machines that have the ability to pick and carry heavy, bulky loads on job sites.

An uptick in applications across the energy sector in particular, have led to the need for more versatile machines that can handle heavier loads while traversing uneven terrain. 

High-capacity telehandlers are also commonly used on general construction sites, especially on bridge building projects, where crews today are faced with “building up” instead of “building out”. 

For years, the highest capacity telehandlers maxed out at a 12,000-lb. lift capacity, but now, the industry is seeing models with capacities ranging from 14,000- to 45,000-lbs. JLG, for example, offers three high-capacity models:

• The 1644 with a maximum lift capacity of 15,650-lb (7,098.72 kg)
• The 1732 with a maximum lift capacity of 16,755-lb (7,599.94 kg)
• The 2733 with a maximum lift capacity of 26,600-lb (12,065.56 kg)
  

Three major benefits of high-capacity telehandlers are that they get more work done in less time, they offer outstanding versatility and they can be equipped with a variety of attachments for use across multiple applications. 

Get more done
High-capacity telehandlers save time, money and labor on the job site by allowing operators to accomplish multiple tasks with one machine. Their higher lift capacity and enhanced versatility cut down on the time it takes to complete work. 

For example, a 16,000-lb capacity unit can lift 33% more than a 12,000-lb capacity model. That means that the larger machine’s operator can move more material faster and move on to the next job sooner than the smaller model would allow.

Outstanding versatility
High-capacity telehandlers are an attractive option due to their versatility for not only unloading materials from trucks and delivering them around the job site, but also for maintaining larger, heavier equipment, thanks to their maneuverability, speed and forward reach. The advantages of high-capacity telehandlers over traditional equipment are versatility (lift height and forward reach), a compact footprint and travel speed. 

Equipped to work
Attachments are one of the main factors that contribute to a high-capacity telehandler’s increased productivity over other machines. While a standard fork and carriage is by far the most popular telehandler attachment, there are many other application-specific attachments available. For example, attachment options for JLG® high-capacity telehandlers include…

• Bale Clamp 
• Bale Cradle 
• Dual Fork Positioning Carriage 
• Pallet Forks 
• Side-Shift Carriage with Dual Fork Positioning 
• Standard Carriage Forks 
• Log Handler 
• Pipe Grapple 
• Coupler Mounted Hook 
• Material Handling Arm 
• General Purpose Bucket 
• Grapple Bucket 
• Light Material Bucket 
• Multi-Purpose 4-in-1 Bucket 
• Coupler Mounted Winch 
• Steel Coil Handler 
  

As specialty industries grow and develop, so will the demand for high-capacity telehandlers that can complete heavy lifting safely and efficiently, while offering a greater return on investment. 

Interested in learning more? To check out JLG’s high-capacity telehandlers, click here.

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