Telehandler vs. loader tractor

jorgenbg

Member
Location
Oslo, Norway
Hi

What would be the cons of swaping a loader tractor for a telehandler? I have never driven one.

Can't really afford to have both. It will be used to restore buildings, clearing snow, loading drill, all kinds of yard work. Will need bucket, forks and possibly man basket.

I guess they get stuck easily, but do they work in the field at all(stone picking, transport of gravel and pipes etc.)?

Special things to look out for on a used machine? Any advice on make and model? Max price would be about 30k.
 

jorgenbg

Member
Location
Oslo, Norway
I can imagine. Had to operate without the loader tractor for a while, and that was pain.

Just wondering if they can replace the tractor or does UK farmers usually have both?
 

Wiking

Member
Location
Sweden
Hello there my neighbour of the north! I think what Grassman said sums it up pretty well, if you get a Telehandler you will probably be thinking "Why didn't I get this before?".
How easy it would get stuck depends on the weight and tyres of course... My Volvo wheelloader wasn't worth taking out in the field when it was on standard industrial tyres, but now with Trelleborg TM2000 tyres it's fine even though it's a heavy piece of equipment.
As for make and model I don't have much experience with telehandlers, but Merlo seems like a decent brand according to some of my mates that run them. Supposedly you can even get a 3pt linkage on of those?
 

trook135

Member
Location
Hampshire
Couldn't be without my telehandler, no idea how we managed without one! My only wish would be that it did 40k on the road to go between farms at a decent pace for loading grain lorries, 4 wheel steer is a godsend, so is 6 meter reach and not having to weight up the back end every time you need to lift something heavy! Also if you find it a bit slidey in the snow/ wet grass you can lower the tyre pressures just bear in mind you don't want to be lifting much heavy stuff to heights.
 

sleepy

Member
Location
Devon, UK
Hi

What would be the cons of swaping a loader tractor for a telehandler? I have never driven one.

Can't really afford to have both. It will be used to restore buildings, clearing snow, loading drill, all kinds of yard work. Will need bucket, forks and possibly man basket.

I guess they get stuck easily, but do they work in the field at all(stone picking, transport of gravel and pipes etc.)?

Special things to look out for on a used machine? Any advice on make and model? Max price would be about 30k.

Telehandler is the most wonderful machine on farm, loader tractor is prehistoric in comparison.
 

tm jim

Member
Location
teeside
I always said I was a lot better off with our loader tractor and swore never to get a telehandler because it's only use was lifting and loading and I couldn't use it to power harrow etc. Omg how wrong was I!! Yes a telehandler is a different league, and ours is out every day of the week . still have a loader tractor as back up in case of a breakdown but it now plays second fiddle to the handler.
 

joe soapy

Member
Location
devon
Thanks for the reply. You haven't given me a choice. I now must empty my bank account and buy one of these machines. :)

NO NO NO, do not empty your bank account, only half of it. keep enough back for mending.
Infact, i think it might be a good business model to give someone a handler, on condition they bring it
back for servicing and repairs
 

aidan

Member
Location
Ireland
anyone got any experience of 4 wheel steer v articulated telehandler ?

a tractor loader does thave the advantage of much bigger wheels, therefore more grip and flotation than a handler
 

Grassman

Member
Location
Derbyshire
Remember having the same conversation about 15 years ago:eek::eek:

Asked a local 'big ' farmer
His reply
"Well, you need both really"

Typical smart arsed answer.

Guess what??
If I had to do without the tractor loader or the telehandler I would keep the tractor and loader. For bale carting out of fields and road transport mainly. I could adapt to life without telehandler again but would be a last resort.
 

Dan7626

Member
Not sure how we'd manage without our Merlo. Its the one machine thst gets used every day of the year without fail.
Feeding, mucking out, moving bales from field to shed then shed to lorry, loading wheat rape and grass seed and just bits and pieces you take for granted.
 

cows sh#t me to tears

Member
Livestock Farmer
I know this is completely irrelevant for the UK. But i find our JCB totally useless in irrigated paddocks (ie fixing blowouts on irrigation outlets or repairing check banks etc) 4wd ,pigs arse, if they came standard with diff locks it might be good....I now take the fendt with front end loader as it won't sink and rut the paddock like the telehandler.
As for everything else, bale shifting from paddocks..JCB with 10 tonne hitch pulling 36 foot trailer with 27 8x4x3 hay bales or 23 4"6' round silage bales (can do 30..with 2 rows on top, however for a more stable load that can be towed at a full 40kph a single row is better). Also a full day carting bales in a telehandler leaves you less knackered than a tractor loader will.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

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  • Up to 25%

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  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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