Telehandler or loader tractor for loading grain lorries?

[Handy Andy]

I've recently switched to floor based grain storage after using bins and loading lorries from augers for years. The loader tractor I currently have is ok for pushing up grain in the shed but not big enough to load a lorry with so I've been thinking about buying an old(ish) telehandler to run alongside it. I can see the obvious benefits of owning one.
I make a fair bit of hay which I haul in with my existing loader but it's getting on a bit and not really up to handling 8 foot bales. So if I'm going to shell out for a new machine I'd prefer to have one which can do everything, and I'm not sure that a telehandler ( especially an older one) would be any good for towing a bale trailer on the road.
Could I load a grain lorry with something like a Case 5130 or CX 105? One of the drivers who collects from me says not, that it would require a tip-toe bucket and even then would be difficult, and much slower than with a telehandler.

 

[KB6930]

Definitely need a tip toe to use a tractor with FEL

What do you do most of grain or bales? Then figure it out from there.

I sometimes shift 300 ton of barley from an outlying shed and get a decent size bucket for our tractor 1.25 cube from memory and it doesn't take that long to load a 14t trailer .

Add the top toe bit and your losing capacity but would be a handy thing you do need a fair loader to reach an artic bulker tho

 

[J 1177]

Iv loaded lorries for years with a 5130 and greys toe tip no problem and pretty fast. A 105 would be too light. You can save a lot of time having the wagon as near to the heap as possible

 

[james ds]

Ive bought a JCB 530/70 recently , and if you load a lorry with one you would never consider using a tractor again . I gave €21 k for the JCB with 4500 hrs in mint condition , it has a pickup hitch as well if I want to pull trailers.

 

[DeeGee]

Could you go to having your existing tractor and buying an oldish handler as well? If you can find something like a JCB 525 58 from the nineties (rare to find nowadays) or a lighter weight 526 they can be bought as good machines for under £15,000.

Loadalls are definitely far better than a tractor for handling materials IMO, but your tractor will be better for towing work.

 

[james ds]

Could you go to having your existing tractor and buying an oldish handler as well? If you can find something like a JCB 525 58 from the nineties (rare to find nowadays) or a lighter weight 526 they can be bought as good machines for under £15,000.

Loadalls are definitely far better than a tractor for handling materials IMO, but your tractor will be better for towing work.

I looked at the 525-58 before I bought the 530 , glad now I got a 530 , far better visibility and probably hold its value better for the few pound mower . Here is my one

 

[Oscar]

Use to load 2500 t with 1tonne toe tip on a tractor , around 25 minutes on average per 29t truck. Bought a 3t/6m handler and 2tonne bucket and now about 13 minutes .
However on straw, tractor is better and quicker in field but again stacking in shed, handler wins again. Sorry not much help but depending on which was bigger job would depend which was best.

 

[farmerm]

Been loading lorries with a Ford 6610 for 20 years without a tiptoe bucket. Just remember to insist on no lorries with internal partitions both when you make the sale and again when the haulier calls to arrange collection. A telehandler with a bigger bucket might cut 20minutes off my loading time though.... I also try to avoid having more than one load in a day with the 6610 or I need physio...

 

[David.]

Ideally have both.
@snarling bee had a jcb listed at right money, that would do a lot of work yet.
Tractor much better, less compaction loading bales though, imo.

 

[Jerry]

I swapped a 5455 with loader and toe top bucket for a merlo and a 2 cube bucket.

Would not go back now as the telehandler gets used pretty much daily.

I use an old MF bucket to push up grain to about 10ft.

Loading out 29t takes about 15mins vs 30 with the old tractor.

Boxing up bales in the field is better as I can go higher.

Pushing up compost and muck also better with more height.

Only wish it had a draw bar to move the combine header

 

[Brisel]

I've recently switched to floor based grain storage after using bins and loading lorries from augers for years. The loader tractor I currently have is ok for pushing up grain in the shed but not big enough to load a lorry with so I've been thinking about buying an old(ish) telehandler to run alongside it. I can see the obvious benefits of owning one.
I make a fair bit of hay which I haul in with my existing loader but it's getting on a bit and not really up to handling 8 foot bales. So if I'm going to shell out for a new machine I'd prefer to have one which can do everything, and I'm not sure that a telehandler ( especially an older one) would be any good for towing a bale trailer on the road.
Could I load a grain lorry with something like a Case 5130 or CX 105? One of the drivers who collects from me says not, that it would require a tip-toe bucket and even then would be difficult, and much slower than with a telehandler.

My 531-70 JCB pulls trailers ok. Not great for heavy loads on long hills but it has a hydraulic trailer brake circuit and lights and a hitch. Pulling 6-8 tonnes of seed around is fine. How about one of these?

Toe tip buckets on fore end loaders is ok but slow. I ran both and a Quicke loader on a Case MXU115 wasn't very stable at heights loading lorries on anything but the most level ground. I don't know how much grain you have to load out but it's for you to decide whether or not you can't do without a tractor for most of the time or whether you're happy to be able to handle more loader work with a telescopic handler.

 

[redsloe]

We sold our loader tractor for a little handler and put the loader on an existing tractor that just runs around. Best thing ever, handler makes loading lorries easier and stacking bales higher, whilst the tractor goes field to load. Perfect.
Handler makes feeding up in passageways easier too. You don't need to have a beast!

 

[solo]

Might be worth a look at a mast forklift like a jcb 926 as a cheaper alternative and keep the loader tractor for field work.

 

[yellow belly]

I use a fel with toe tip quicker than a telehandler with the same size bucket 1.5 tonne bucket with a 2 tonne block on the back
Having driven a fel for 40 years they take a different technique to using a 4 wheel steer
Most lorries loaded quicker than the break the driver needs

A big telehandler with a 2 .5 tonne bucket is quicker but costs much more
Having another modern electronic engine doing not enough hours cost a lot more to maintain

 

[Mur Huwcun]

I swapped a 5455 with loader and toe top bucket for a merlo and a 2 cube bucket.

Would not go back now as the telehandler gets used pretty much daily.

I use an old MF bucket to push up grain to about 10ft.

Loading out 29t takes about 15mins vs 30 with the old tractor.

Boxing up bales in the field is better as I can go higher.

Pushing up compost and muck also better with more height.

Only wish it had a draw bar to move the combine header

Ask around a few Merlo dealers, guaranteed they’ll have plenty of the bolt on jaw drawbar to go on the back, would be fine fir dolly type header trailer plus with 4 wheel steer you can get them in and out of very tight spots

 

[Rowland]

You can get an older telehandler now for around £10k these days.
I couldn’t go back to using a tractor and loader now I’ve a 526 jcb with a bucket that holds about 1.5 tons of wheat takes about 15-20 minutes to fill a wagon.
Some of the new wagon trailers are very high now so a loader with a toe tip bucket might not be high enough and a bit hairy.

I had an old manitou on a building site for a while I sold it to a small holding mate he uses it every day

If you get a telehandler you’ll wonder how you managed without one .

 

[Lincsman]

A 8 or 10" auger will beat both of them (roughly 1t/min with a 8") if you can set it up to push/ tip onto with whatever you have. (thats if you can keep up with it)

 

[Richard98]

I reckon you’ll soon wonder how you ever lived without a telehandler if you do get one. Telescopic booms are wonderful things

 

[Robt]

I loaded thousands of tons with a 5140 and quickie loader..... then I loaded them with a jcb telenhandler....

 

[ollie989898]

I have never loaded a corn lorry with a tractor and loader, I feel for anyone who has. I have loaded several trucks a day in a telescopic (a JCB for my sins) but I must confess that is all far more difficult than pulling a handle on the bulk outloading bin...