Finding the Perfect Telehandler for Sale: What You Need to Know

Construction sites, farms, and warehouses all need one thing: a reliable way to lift heavy loads and place them exactly where they need to go. Telehandlers do this job brilliantly. They’re basically forklifts with an extendable arm that reaches higher and further than traditional lifting equipment. If you’re looking for a telehandler for sale, you’ll want to know what actually matters beyond the glossy brochures and sales pitches.

Boom Geometry Matters More Than You Think

Here’s something most people miss. A telehandler might claim it lifts 17 metres high, but that doesn’t tell you how far forward it reaches at that height. The boom angle changes everything. When the arm points straight up, you get maximum height but barely any forward reach. Tilt it forward, and suddenly you can reach over obstacles, but you lose lifting height.

Farmers need forward reach to load trailers or stack hay bales. Construction crews want vertical lift for getting materials onto roofs. Check the load chart at different angles, not just the impressive maximum numbers in the advert.

Transmission Types: The Fuel Economy Secret

Hydrostatic transmissions sound fancy in sales materials. They’re smooth and easy to use, especially for operators who’ve never driven a telehandler before. But they guzzle diesel. A traditional powershift transmission uses 15-20% less fuel over a full working day. That difference adds up fast when you’re running the machine eight hours daily.

Experienced operators often prefer powershift because it feels more responsive and direct. New drivers like hydrostatic because there’s less to learn. Your choice depends on who’s operating the machine and how much you care about fuel costs.

Stabilisers Show Build Quality

Want to know if a telehandler is well-built? Look at the stabilisers. Cheap machines have narrow pads that sink into soft ground, which makes the whole machine unstable when lifting. Quality telehandlers have wide, flat pads that spread the weight properly.

Some models let you adjust each stabiliser independently. This helps when you’re working on slopes or uneven ground, which is pretty much every real job site. Crawl underneath any telehandler for sale and examine those stabilisers. Thin metal and small pads mean problems later.

Visibility Problems Nobody Talks About

Every manufacturer claims their telehandler has brilliant visibility. Then you sit in the cab and realise there’s a massive blind spot on the right side where the boom blocks your view. This gets dangerous fast when you’re swinging loads near people or other vehicles.

The rear view can be just as bad. Older models have almost no rear visibility without reversing cameras, which weren’t standard until recently. Don’t trust the photos. Sit in the actual cab and look around properly before buying.

Hours and Age: What Actually Matters

A five-year-old machine with 2,000 hours looks perfect on paper. A two-year-old machine with 5,000 hours seems overworked. But machines that sit around develop their own problems. Seals dry out. Hydraulic fluid goes bad. Electrical connections corrode.

A high-hour machine from a busy rental company often runs better than a low-hour machine that’s been parked in a shed. What matters is consistent maintenance. A telehandler serviced every 250 hours like clockwork beats one that gets serviced whenever someone remembers, regardless of total hours.

Attachment Systems Aren’t Standard

Manufacturers say their quick-attach system works with “industry standard” attachments. That’s only half true. The physical mounting might fit, but hydraulic connections differ between brands. Electrical systems don’t match. Even the dimensions vary slightly.

You might find the perfect work platform or bucket, then discover it needs adapter plates or new hydraulic lines. Some telehandlers use their own proprietary system, which locks you into buying attachments from one supplier. Check your existing attachments will actually fit before you buy.

Running Costs Hide the Real Price

The purchase price is just the start. Some telehandlers use uncommon hydraulic parts that take three weeks to arrive when something breaks. Others use standard components you can get next-day delivery from multiple suppliers.

Engine choice matters here too. Common engines like Perkins have parts everywhere. Obscure brands mean waiting and paying premium prices. Can your local mechanic service it, or do you need a specialist technician for basic repairs? This ongoing expense catches people out more than anything else.

Choosing the right machine means looking past the shiny paint and marketing claims. Sit in different cabs. Check the boom geometry at working angles. Look underneath at the build quality. Ask about parts availability and service costs. When you’re comparing any telehandler for sale, these practical details matter far more than the headline specifications. Get these right, and you’ll have a machine that actually does what you need it to do, day after day, without the expensive surprises.