I’m looking to px my 535-95 for a machine with a little more reach on it. I’ve got a budget of around £25k, any recommendations? And if you know of a good one for sale that’d be ideal. Like to look of Merlo 38.12, looks nice and compact for the capacity. The JCB is a big old machine!
Construction spec Telehandlers
- Thread starter Magik22
- Start date
You may be aware already, but they're significantly heavier, quite often narrow'ish tyres, and generally slower with some running non blown engines etc... but perfectly adequate for general use, so long as the ground is dry enough. Obvs not suitable for towing. Some mention reduced crowd angles on them, never struggled with that though.
Yes the 535-95 I have is a non turbo slow machine, we don’t really use it a huge amount for Ag stuff, occasionally muck shed out etc. mostly used for building work and shifting things around the yard. Any off farm work it gets loaded on the low loader, road speed is terrible!
I would just go for the best condition, best serviced..., most genuine one (good luck with that...) that I could find, as all JCB, manitou, merlo, etc have their lovers/haters, quirks and suchlike that it's a lottery anyhow in the 2nd/3rd/4th hand market anyhow.
Maybe put your request in the wanted section.
Maybe put your request in the wanted section.
The Merlo 12 metre was always popular years ago with shed builders working in tight spaces because of it's shortish chassis, although not sure if that is still the case - depends what you want - lift height or forward reach - because of the design of the Merlo over a range of models there is a vast difference between lift height and placing height - if you look at the Merlo load chart, at full lift height you can not place the load, as it is above your front axle/ Cab, so to place say on scaffolding you have to lower the boom lower to place. where as if you look at JCB and Manitou the load chart at full height the load is still out in front at full height. Also with a shorter Merlo chassis you may find the capacity at full height is less than the competitors - so lots of consideretions to take into account - Merlo is pretty much a Marmite machine - if you go down that route make sure you have a local capable Merlo dealer nearby. If your not too bothered about age the Manitou MT1233/1235 was a simple machine to maintain although the 12 metre market has diminished in the last 10 years as most hire companies just buy the 14 mtr now but that is on a longer chassis and more cumbersome than you maybe want.Tilt rotation on Manitou is much reduced on MT models and MLT models have the full rotation for AG use, whereas JCB is better rotation across the range even higher lift models.
- Location
- The North
i would go jcb, friend has had 2 Manitou site machines and their crap,
he did have a cat which was excellent but i hear parts prices are eye watering, all machines around 13m, if you have a good jcb now i would seriously consider making a jib for the extra reach, its not often you need high loads at full reach usually roof trusses, these bigger machine are seriously heavy and numb, ive done alot of building work with my jcb 526! certainly beat carrying slates up ladders to the roof!!
x A plant hire machine i bet you could get in that budget, they sell all their stuff at euro auctions we got a jcb digger off them a while ago.
he did have a cat which was excellent but i hear parts prices are eye watering, all machines around 13m, if you have a good jcb now i would seriously consider making a jib for the extra reach, its not often you need high loads at full reach usually roof trusses, these bigger machine are seriously heavy and numb, ive done alot of building work with my jcb 526! certainly beat carrying slates up ladders to the roof!!
x A plant hire machine i bet you could get in that budget, they sell all their stuff at euro auctions we got a jcb digger off them a while ago.
A merlo 38.12 has the same wheelbase as a 535-95,I doubt you’ll notice much difference.
warksfarmer
Member
Got a 535-12 construction spec and a 541-70 agrispec. Night and day difference between them both. The construction spec is woefully underpowered in comparison. Hydraulics are a lot slower and it has twin levers instead of a joystick. It takes twice as long to do any job with the construction spec machine.
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
Ex hire construction spec JCB from a genuine large hire company
Pros:- quite likely to have done little serious work
very ruggedly built
should have been well serviced and all things working. probably even good back up for a limited warranty.
Cons :-
p*** poor awful things to drive. poor to awful vision nasty gearbox , terrible boom controls and even worse lighting
then there is the little issue of tyres being unsuitable for fieldwork especially combined with the weight of a tank.
occasionally have to hire in machines for my job handling solar panels they are a nightmare.
Pros:- quite likely to have done little serious work
very ruggedly built
should have been well serviced and all things working. probably even good back up for a limited warranty.
Cons :-
p*** poor awful things to drive. poor to awful vision nasty gearbox , terrible boom controls and even worse lighting
then there is the little issue of tyres being unsuitable for fieldwork especially combined with the weight of a tank.
occasionally have to hire in machines for my job handling solar panels they are a nightmare.
little blue
Member
Have a 530-110 jcb on farm with agri spec tyres and hasn't failed to get around the fields yet
JCB models share the same chassis,cabs and booms as agri spec,only differences are spec levers and for some unknown reason construction spec come with a foolish boom control set up,only a five minute job to change though.
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
Every ag spec machine I have driven has been good to drive, the same cannot be said for any industrial spec
Lakesdigger
Member
The foolish boom control is to stop numpties tipping stuff off pallets, makes sense on fork work (which is the primary job for one in site).