A telescopic handler, also called a telehandler, teleporter, reach forklift, or zoom boom, is a machine widely used in agriculture and industry.It is somewhat like a forklift but has a boom (telescopic cylinder), making it more a crane than a forklift, with the increased versatility of a single telescopic that can extend forwards and upwards from the vehicle. A telehandler often is a hybrid of the crane and forklift in terms of abilities and size. Telehandlers have several attachments, such as a winch, pallet forks, muck grab, or bucket, and can be used for material handling, digging trenches, personnel elevation, and underground mine baskets.

1. Telehandler Crane Jib
2. Telehandler Vs Crane
3. Telehandler Attachments Jib Crane

How a telehandler beats other lifting machines!

If you’ve been on this site for more than a minute you’ll know that we talk a lot about telehandlers and mobile cranes. So what are these machines, and why are they so awesome?

Firstly, a telehandler is really a specialised mobile crane consisting of a telescopic boom mounted on a self-propelled chassis. It’s bigger than a traditional cherrypicker, but generally smaller than a truck-mounted telescopic crane. Telehandlers combine the best of small-machine maneuverability with big-machine power and reach. Here are 8 reasons why we love working with them: Knockout audacity.

1. On-road and off-road capability

Telehandlers have 4-wheel drive capability, allowing them to be driven to their place of work. They can cover very rough and uneven terrain, something smaller or bigger machines simply can’t. This is very useful in building sites, in agriculture or even in mines.

2. Carry more weight than cherrypickers

Our current mobile crane telehandlers can lift up to 5 tons, but there are new telehandlers on the market that are approaching 40 tons. This is way more capacity than cherrypickers and similar machines.

3. Rotates on its base

Rotating telehandlers like our Magni RTH 5.30 can rotate around their chassis, meaning that the vehicle can be stationary on its outriggers while the top half with the crane rotates 360 degrees. This gives huge advantages in terms of flexibility and accessibility.

Radio-controlled operation of a Magni telehandler from the personnel cage.

4. Radio controlled

Modern telehandlers can actually be operated from outside the cab using a radio-control device. For instance, the operator can get into a personnel cage at the end of the boom and lift himself up to the required position. This is perfect for when very fine positioning is required, such as when working under a bridge or where the end of the boom can’t be seen from the cab.

5. Computerised load calculations

Because telehandlers are so mobile, they can become unstable if their load is to heavy for their reach. Luckily, our telehandlers have onboard computers that work out exactly how much can be carried at different angles and boom extensions. A excel.

6. Takes up less space than truck-mounted cranes

If a larger, truck-mounted crane is sent into a street to do a lamppost repair or lift something onto a building, the whole road has to be blocked off. But a telehandler takes up much less space and gets the job done with minimal disruption. See our story on this.

7. Widest range of standard attachments

Telehandlers get their versatility from the broad range of attachments that fit onto the ends of their booms. You get standard attachments such as forklifts and jibs, and a limitless range of custom attachments built for specific purposes. (PS… we also specialise in custom attachment design and manufacture.)

8. And lastly – they are just so cool!

Yes, we have to say it, our Manitou and Magni telehandlers look way cooler than most other machines out there. Makes you want to go out and buy one to drive around in – the ultimate sandpit toy!

So if you’ve got a job for our telehandlers and want to check out all these advantages for real, give us a call and let’s get the work done!

Liftup Teleporter – telehandler and mobile crane hire in Cape Town and surrounds.

Telehandler Crane Jib

Imperial Crane is excited to introduce the company’s new fleet of Merlo telehandlers, a revolutionary “four-in-one” rotating forklift that has garnered a “huge response” from customers. Imperial is now an official dealer in Louisiana, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Although Imperial Crane has utilized many different brands of telehandlers in its 47 years of business, Merlo’s product stands out from the competition in numerous ways. Merlo is on of the most versatile pieces of equipment which is Best in Class compared to the competition. Merlo’s telehandler is among the first rotating forklifts to feature a side-mount on the engine rather than under the boom. This allows the operator to achieve 360-degree visibility by dropping the boom into a low-profile position, eliminating the obvious safety hazard of blind spots. The Merlo caters to all of your construction needs like excavation, truck loading, lifting and handling loads of tools, supplies and materials or lifting operators to the work area. It is similar in appearance and function to a forklift but is more like a crane, aerial lift, loader, and man lift, with the increased versatility of a single telescopic boom that can extend forwards and upwards from the vehicle. With the use of a telehandler, it reduces job site operating time and cost with its pick and carry capability. If replacement parts are needed, these can be acquired within 48 hours which reduces lost time on the job.

Call and reserve yours today. Available for purchase or rent on a daily, weekly or for long term projects.

Vice President of Equipment Sales | Imperial Crane Services, Inc.

Make	Model	Capacity	Max Lift Height	Maximum Reach	Load Chart
MERLO	P38.13	8,000	41’3”	28’5”
MERLO	45.21 ROTO	8,000	68’2”	59’0”
MERLO	P40.17	10,000	54’8”	41’0”
MERLO	P50.18HM	12,000	58’7”	42’3”
MERLO	P65.14HM	15,000	45’6”	28’9”
MERLO	P120.10	26,000	32’2”	18’4”

Telescoping material handlers are powerful, adaptable, and versatile; these machines are becoming more common on job sites and yards with every passing day. Their adaptability with numerous attachments such as forks, man baskets, buckets, fly-jibs, winches, and more, enable them to replace multiple units which allows contractors to reduce fleet size and increase efficiency and utilization.

Merlo stands out as the leader in the field having invented the rotating telehandlers in 1990, and having many other firsts in the industry such as moving away from rear mounted engines to side mounted engines, improving cooling and serviceability.

Telehandler Vs Crane

Telehandler Attachments Jib Crane

GIVE US A CALL TO SCHEDULE A DEMO OR RENT ONE TODAY!