A telescopic handler is similar to a forklift. It possesses a single telescopic boom that extends upwards and forwards from the truck, and a counterweight situated within the rear. It functions a lot more like a crane than a forklift. The boom could be equipped with various kinds of attachments. The most popular attachment is pallet forks, but the operator can also attach a muck grab, lift table or bucket. Also referred to as a telehandler, this particular kind of machinery is normally used in agriculture and industry.
A telehandler is most frequently employed to move loads to and from areas which will be difficult for a conventional forklift to access. Telehandlers are normally utilized to unload pallets from in a trailer. They are also more practical compared to a crane for lifting loads onto other high places and rooftops.
There is only one major limitation in utilizing telehandlers. Despite rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom could cause the vehicle to destabilize as it extends. Hence, the lifting capacity lessens as the distance between the center of the load and the front of the wheels increases.
The Matbro company developed telehandlers in England. Their design was based on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. Early versions had a centrally mounted boom on the front and a driver's cab on the rear section, but today the most common design has a rigid chassis together with a rear mounted boom and side cab.