Manitou has a new high-reach, high capacity telehandler in its armoury.

With more and more expected of loaders, especially where straw stacking and field clearance is concerned, the French firm has developed an ag-spec machine to suit those users where lift height is a key concern.

The MLT-1035 has a maximum capacity of 3.5t and will lift a 2t load to a lofty 9.6m, making it an ideal machine for baling contractors and straw merchants.

Its beefed-up three stage boom is borrowed from the company’s construction machines, as is the chassis levelling system. This setup uses a hydraulic ram to pivot the front axle, giving 10deg of slope correction to both left and right.

Muscle is provided by a 101hp Perkins four-pot turbo driving a 4F x 4R manual-shift torque-converter transmission. Rather than using a conventional steering-column lever, the shuttle reverser is controller by a switch on the firm’s unusual mushroom-topped joystick.

This integrates all the loader controls and allows simultaneous, proportional operation of all hydraulic functions, including auxiliary services and boom extend/retract. 110litres/min oil flow is provided by a variable displacement Rexroth piston pump.

The cab has also been revised. Retaining the same frame as existing machines, the interior trim has been smartened up, a new dash is in place and the switchgear has been improved.

Air-conditioning is standard, as are hydraulic attachment locking pins, reversible cooling-fan, pick-up hitch and trailer brakes.

So it’s a high capacity, high-spec machine with a hefty pricetag – it lists at a gulp-inducing £51,325.