What telehandler

[Andy84]

looking at spending £25k-30k on a telehandler what does everyone recommend? Doesn’t need to be a big one main jobs will be feeding cattle, mucking out and stacking bales.

 

[mf7480]

Cat always offer very good value in that price bracket

 

[alan6430]

Bob wild machinery had a JCB tm310s on Facebook in that price bracket and it looked really good.

 

[daveydiesel1]

My vote is side boom merlo or pivot wiedemann

 

[milkloss]

Bob wild machinery had a JCB tm310s on Facebook in that price bracket and it looked really good.

Good tool. Check the centre pivot bush (lift the boom so it rocks back), check the headstock for cracks near the pivot pins and that the boom pivot is ok near the cab. They can crack too if there is too much slop in the tele part of the boom.

 

[nick...]

JCB are market leaders and I love mine despite the fact I dislike their diggers
Nick...

 

[JMTHORNLEY]

Merlo, most user friendly and the hydro box for round the yard is fantastic. Try and find a decent 32.6 that doesn't have to many safety features and they are an absolute joy to have. Easy to get on and off, plenty of pushing power and unbelievably manoeuvrable.

 

[mengeleguru]

Claas 7035 varipower 15 Reg. good condition, may suit your needs ?

 

[milkloss]

Ooooh! Raises the question, side-shot or bendy?

I’d go bendy everyday of the week!!

 

[Andy84]

Bob wild machinery had a JCB tm310s on Facebook in that price bracket and it looked really good.

Interesting I’ve dealt with Bob Wild before and had a good buying experience would go back again!

 

[rs1]

Just bought a jcb 531/70. Very pleased with it, a fair upgrade from a matbro.

 

[Pluto]

JCB gets my vote. Parts tend to be cheaper. I’ve heard Merlo’s have a problem with booms cracking.

 

[Sa86]

Defiantly merlo what a machine get one pre 12 plate without that stupid trigger joystick you won't be disappointed mines an 08 40.7 and it's been very good over 9500 hours cost very little compared with our previous jcbs

 

[Sa86]

JCB gets my vote. Parts tend to be cheaper. I’ve heard Merlo’s have a problem with booms cracking.

I think thats the other way round jcb are terrible for cracking around the main bushes

 

[HarryB97]

I would definitley recommend a Merlo we run a 40.7 and have a neighbouring beef farmer that runs 2 and another that runs 3. Fantastic gearbox, flat mudguards for net wrap and string etc, brilliant visibility and very compact for their lift capacity. Some people moan about the trigger on the joystick but you have to hold the back of the joystick to move it so naturally depress it anyway, after a few hours you wont even notice it. Ours does all our bale hauling both silage and straw and tows well, the only things to watch out for is the brakes getting hot due to lack of use, and the plastic bushes wearing as they have a shortage of grease nipples.

 

[rs1]

I would definitley recommend a Merlo we run a 40.7 and have a neighbouring beef farmer that runs 2 and another that runs 3. Fantastic gearbox, flat mudguards for net wrap and string etc, brilliant visibility and very compact for their lift capacity. Some people moan about the trigger on the joystick but you have to hold the back of the joystick to move it so naturally depress it anyway, after a few hours you wont even notice it. Ours does all our bale hauling both silage and straw and tows well, the only things to watch out for is the brakes getting hot due to lack of use, and the plastic bushes wearing as they have a shortage of grease nipples.

merlo’s seem to be a marmite machine. i know of one that was plagued my electrical faults, put me off buying one. Although I like the hydro transmission

 

[Andy84]

Ooooh! Raises the question, side-shot or bendy?

I’d go bendy everyday of the week!!

would you not get more for your money with a rigid saying they are a good bit cheaper new?

 

[HarryB97]

merlo’s seem to be a marmite machine. i know of one that was plagued my electrical faults, put me off buying one. Although I like the hydro transmission

Like all brands we all no of one that has been an absolute nightmare! We bought our Merlo from the other end of the country and had never driven one but can honestly say it is the best telehandler I have ever used by some margin, Kramer comes in at second.

 

[Dukes Fit]

Manitou MLT 627, 634 or 735.

Couple of years ago I would have said JCB every day but most Jcbs I’ve driven recently just haven’t been up to scratch. Hydraulics jerky, power brakes that put you through the windscreen and just generally harsh to drive. No consistency between models.

Exception to this was a 560 but that’s a bit out of the price range.

Manitou controls are excellent and the shuttle on your index finger is so easy to use. Also really like the manitou joystick control, much more ergonomic and intuitive than a conventional stick. Whoever designed the shape of it deserves a lifetime supply of beer.

 

[ACEngineering]

Manitou MLT 627, 634 or 735.

Couple of years ago I would have said JCB every day but most Jcbs I’ve driven recently just haven’t been up to scratch. Hydraulics jerky, power brakes that put you through the windscreen and just generally harsh to drive. No consistency between models.

Exception to this was a 560 but that’s a bit out of the price range.

Manitou controls are excellent and the shuttle on your index finger is so easy to use. Also really like the manitou joystick control, much more ergonomic and intuitive than a conventional stick. Whoever designed the shape of it deserves a lifetime supply of beer.

JSM joystick is the best on the market by miles, plus there cheap as a unit compared to other brands and you can even buy the separate parts for it unlike some other brands if you so wish!