As a versatile piece of equipment widely used in many industries, the Telehandler is capable of handling heavy materials as well as realizing precise work at height. With the continuous progress of technology and equipment upgrading, the lifting capacity of telescopic loader forklift is also constantly developing and changing. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the lifting capacity of the extended boom forklift and its influencing factors is of great significance for the reasonable selection and correct use of equipment to ensure the efficient and safe development of the project and operation.
Telescopic handler forklifts can be categorized into three main types based on operational requirements: compact, standard and heavy duty. Compact equipment with its dexterous body size (usually the entire width of the machine is less than 2.3 meters) in the narrow site performance, but its rated load is mostly in the 3 tons or less; standard equipment by virtue of the load range of 4-6 tons and 12-18 m operating height, become the preferred choice of construction sites; heavy equipment is designed for special working conditions, the maximum load of up to 12 tons or more, but need a special transport vehicle for transfer. Heavy equipment is designed for special working conditions, with a maximum load of more than 12 tons, but requires specialized transport vehicles for transfer. It is worth noting that as the model increases in size, the pressure of its hydraulic system, the strength of structural steel and other key parameters are geometrically increased.
In practice, there are two key physical parameters that have a direct impact on equipment performance:
– Load eccentricity: When the center of gravity of the load is off the standard load center (usually 50cm from the front of the fork arm), every 10cm increase in eccentricity will result in a 15-20% reduction in actual load carrying capacity.
– Working amplitude effect: at the maximum working amplitude (usually 12-15 meters of horizontal extension), the load carrying capacity of the equipment may only be 30-40% of the rated value. For example, a model with a nominal capacity of 8 tons has an actual load of only 2.5 tons at 15 meters.
Modern telescopic boom forklifts ensure operational stability through three major systems:
(1) Chassis leveling system: adopting electronic leveling device with hydraulic outriggers, automatic leveling can be completed within 30 seconds, and the tilt error can be controlled within ±0.5°.
(2) Intelligent counterweight management: real-time monitoring of changes in the center of gravity through sensors, automatically adjusting the position of the counterweight block.
– All-terrain tires (ground pressure <80kPa)
– Rubber track option (for soft ground)
– Automatic tire pressure adjustment
These technological innovations have improved the stability of modern telescopic boom forklift trucks by more than 40% compared with traditional models under complex working conditions.
The working height range of modern telescopic forklifts is mainly divided into three levels:
(1) Basic type: working height 4.5-9 meters
Typical representative: JCB 527-58, with single-stage telescopic boom design, the height of the whole machine is controlled within 3.2 meters, which is especially suitable for indoor storage operations.
(2) General-purpose type: working height of 9-12 meters.
The representative model Cat TH355 is equipped with a two-stage telescopic boom system. By optimizing the cross-section shape of the boom, it achieves a larger working range while maintaining a compact size.
(3) High-altitude type: working height 12-16.8 meters
For example, Genie GTH-1256 adopts high-strength steel and unique hydraulic circuit design, which can still maintain stable performance at the extreme height.
(1) Structural Mechanical Limitations:
– Boom deflection is controlled within L/200 (L is the arm length)
– Hydraulic system needs to maintain more than 35MPa working pressure
– The hydraulic system needs to maintain more than 35MPa working pressure. The box section design is used to improve the bending performance.
(2) Stability control:
– The ratio of center of gravity height to outrigger span is not more than 1:2.5.
– Equipped with electronic tilt warning system (sensitivity ±1°)
– The working height is automatically limited when the wind speed exceeds 12m/s.
(1) Light load type: 1-3 tons
Adopting single-pump hydraulic system, suitable for logistics turnover and other light work.
(2) Standard type: 3-6 tons
Equipped with double-pump hydraulic system to meet the needs of building construction.
(3) Heavy-duty type: 6-10+ tons
Equipped with load sensing hydraulic system and reinforced gantry, suitable for heavy equipment lifting.
(1) Eccentric load effect:
– 15% load capacity loss per 10cm of eccentricity.
– Equipped with automatic balancing control system (compensation accuracy ±5%).
(2) Dynamic load control:
– Lifting acceleration is limited to 0.3m/s².
– Adoption of buffer valve group to reduce hydraulic shock
– Real-time weighing system with accuracy of ±1%FS.
| Model | Maximum Lift | Height | Typical Application | Representative Models |
| Compact Telehandler | 15–30ft（4.5–9m） | 2,000–5,000lb（0.9–2.3t） | Warehouse, agriculture | JCB 527-58 |
| Standard Telehandler | 30–40ft（9–12m） | 6,000–10,000lb（2.7–4.5t） | Construction, logistics | Cat TH355 |
| Large Telehandler | 40–55+ft（12–16.8m） | 10,000–12,000+lb（4.5–5.4+t） | Industrial, heavy construction | Genie GTH-1256 |
What is the maximum height and weight to be lifted?
Are multifunctional attachments required?
To ensure that the forklift telehandler you choose is the perfect match for your project, it’s important to evaluate all aspects of the job scenario. This involves focusing on three core elements:
1. Characteristics of the operating environment, including the size of the site space, ground bearing capacity and access conditions;
2. Material parameters, need to accurately calculate the maximum weight of the goods, volume size and special lifting requirements;
3. operation intensity indicators, to count the average daily working hours and continuous operation cycle and other key data.
For example, in warehousing logistics scenarios, due to limited operating space and generally lighter goods, compact telehandler is often the optimal solution; while in high-rise building construction scenarios, in the face of heavy-duty steel lifting tasks, must be equipped with a large tonnage, long boom spread of the professional models to be able to cope with the task. This precise matching selection strategy not only ensures safe and efficient operation, but also avoids the waste of equipment resources.
The load lifting chart is an important reference for choosing the right equipment. The charts list in detail the lifting capacity of the equipment under different conditions, including different reach distances, load centers and lifting heights. By reading and understanding these charts, users can choose equipment that operates within safe limits according to actual needs.
Typical relationship:
Height↑ → Capacity↓
Distance ↑ → Capacity ↓
Example:
A machine with a nominal capacity of 8,000 lbs (3.6 tons) may only be able to lift 3,000 lbs (1.4 tons) at a height of 30 ft (9 m).
| Attachment | Primary Use | Impact on Lifting Capacity |
| Forks | Standard pallet/load handling (e.g., construction materials, crates). | Minimal impact; rated capacity applies. |
| Hook | Lifting heavy equipment (steel beams, machinery). | Check hook’s SWL*; may limit total capacity. |
| Bucket | Moving loose materials (gravel, soil). | 10–20% capacity reduction (due to weight). |
| Work Platform | Aerial work (maintenance, installations). | 20–30% capacity drop (platform + workers). |
| Rotating Fork | 360° load rotation for tight-space maneuvering. | Slight reduction (added hydraulic weight). |
| Clamp | Handling irregular loads (logs, pipes, bales). | 5–15% capacity decrease (varies by clamp type). |
| Broom | Site cleanup (debris, snow removal). | Heavy; typically used at low heights. |
| Snow Plow | Winter snow clearing. | Similar to buckets; reduced lift capacity. |
| Concrete Bucket | Pouring concrete at elevated levels (e.g., slabs). | Strict weight limits (concrete is dense). |
| Log Grapple | Forestry applications (grabbing/logging). | Significant reduction (dynamic forces). |
The use of attachments can have an impact on the lifting capacity of a telehandler. On the one hand, attachments have their own weight, which increases the load on the equipment. On the other hand, the way attachments are installed may change the load center and stability of the equipment. For example, installing a longer boom will increase the reach of the equipment, thereby reducing the ability to lift weight. Therefore, when selecting attachments, you need to consider their impact on lifting capacity to ensure that the equipment can still be operated safely when attachments are used.
| Brand | Model | Price | Notes |
| Genie | Genie GTH-5519 | $33000 – $57900 | Maximum lift height 19 ft. Maximum lift weight 5500 lbs |
| Genie | Genie GTH – 636 | $34500 – $54900 | Maximum lift height 36 feet, maximum lift weight 6000 lbs |
| Genie | Genie GTH – 1544 | $65000 | Maximum lift height 44 feet, maximum lift weight 15,000 lbs |
| JCB | JCB 509 – 42 | $38500 – $47500 | Maximum lift height 42 feet, maximum lift weight 9000 lbs |
| JCB | JCB 525 – 60 | $37500 – $131276 | Maximum lifting height 60 feet, maximum lifting weight 5,512 lbs. approx. |
| JCB | JCB 542 – 70 Agri Plus | $174900 | / |
| Manitou | Manitou MT1740 | ￥349000 | Used equipment, dead weight 11,400 kg, min. height 2100 mm, etc. |
| Manitou | Manitou MRT 2660 | / | Rated load 6000kg, max. lifting height 25.9m etc. |
When choosing a telehandler, “how high” and “how much” must be precisely matched with the project requirements. From compact storage and handling to heavy steel lifting, different models have their own advantages and disadvantages in height, load and stability. In practice, project requirements, load lifting charts and other factors need to be taken into account to ensure that the equipment operates in a safe and efficient manner. At the same time the use of attachments and the characteristics of different manufacturers and models also provide us with more references when selecting and using telescopic boom forklifts. If you need to further optimize the equipment configuration, you can contact our professional engineers to customize the solution for you!
