A telescopic handler is similar to a forklift. It has one telescopic boom which extends forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight situated within the rear. It functions a lot more like a crane than a forklift. The boom can be outfitted with different types of attachments. The most common attachment is pallet forks, but the operator can also attach a lift table, bucket or muck grab. Also called a telehandler, this particular type of machine is normally used in agriculture and industry.
A telehandler is commonly utilized to move loads to and from areas that will be hard for a conventional forklift to access. Telehandlers are commonly used to unload pallets from within a trailer. They are also more handy than a crane for lifting loads onto other high places and rooftops.
There is just one major limitation in using telehandlers. Despite rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom could cause the vehicle to destabilize as it extends. Thus, the lifting capacity lessens when the distance between the front of the wheels and the centre of the load increases.
Telehandlers were developed within England by the Matbro company. Their design was based on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. Initial versions consisted of a centrally mounted boom on the front and a driver's cab on the back section, but nowadays the most common design has a rigid chassis along with a rear mounted boom and side cab.