Hitch an extra attraction on modern units
Hitch an extra attraction on modern units
Telehandlers are not just for loading trailers –
they can also tow them. Geoff Ashcroft
takes a look at the growing interest in using
these machines for towing duties and
discovers why it took so long to happen
TELEHANDLERS have become an indispensable tool for many farms, and more than ever are being sold with pick-up hitches to further enhance their versatility.
According to Manitous Chris Morley, about 65% of the firms all wheel steer telehanders are now sold with a pick-up hitch.
"It is less so with the pivot steer machines, simply because of the way the chassis react when towing," he says. "And they are much harder to hitch up."
Like other handler manufacturers, Mr Morley concedes that telehandlers are not the best machine for towing, but the added versatility that a pick-up hitch brings, often avoids the need to involve an extra tractor.
"Whether simply moving trailers around the yard, or for silage contractors needing to move an extra trailer, or for transporting bagged fertilisers to and from fields, a hitch serves to make the telehandler even more useful," he adds.
But there are words of warning for those who want to hitch up and rush off with a fully laden trailer. Those who need to tow trailers on a frequent basis should consult the telehandler manufacturer about the additional stress it places on transmission and hydraulic systems. At the very least, it could require more frequent transmission oil changes and much better cooling capacity.
"We offer a tropical cooling kit, which includes a bigger radiator, for those who want to move trailers over long distances using the telehandler," says Mr Morley. "Torque converters and hydrostatics are not really suited to such tough applications, but it can be achieved with cooling modifications."
According to Mr Morley, Manitou has no limit on the towing capacity of its telehandler range, though he recommends that a trailer-braking valve be fitted with the hitch, to stay legal.
John Deeres Gordon Day offers similar recommendations. "We offer an 8t nominal off-road towing capacity with our handler range," he says. "Over half of our handlers are now sold with a hitch, which says a lot about the level of use many farmers and contractors are trying to achieve."
"More and more people have accepted the role of the telehandler as an all rounder that can do almost as much as a tractor," he says. "About the only things that are missing include a rear three point linkage and pto."
And that is a situation that could soon change with the development of Merlos Multi Farmer concept, which combines a three-point linkage and pto.
Such useful add-ons there now may be for telehandlers, but it is perhaps worth recalling that, until recently, towing trailers with such machines was something of a legal nightmare. And it was all down to a former incorrect taxation category, says Merlos Peter Grant .
"The DVLA couldnt decide which category to put the telehandler into," he says. "It caused a lot of head scratching in the early days – particularly when there was concern that a telehandler used purely for agricultural use looked like being classified as a mobile crane, costing £130/year."
However, those who operated only on private land without the need to travel on a public road, neednt have worried. "You can do what you want with any piece of machinery on your own land, providing of course you do not contravene any warranty conditions," adds Mr Grant.
"Now, telehandlers are classified as agricultural motor vehicles and are exempt from taxation – though they still require an exemption disc which needs to be displayed when being used on public roads," he says. "Anyone who is unsure, should contact their local branch of the NFU."
It is a view echoed by Mike Braithwaite. The former Humberside police sergeant has specialised in agricultural vehicles on the road and now lectures on the subject as an independent traffic law consultant.
"As materials handling equipment is designed for use in agricultural situations, telehandlers are classified like tractors and are exempt from taxation which makes them suited to towing trailers on public roads," explains Mr Braithwaite. "But to stay within the law while towing, any trailer with a gross weight over 750kg must be fitted with braking. *
The majority of new telehandlers are now sold with pick-up hitch facilities, say manufacturers.
Greater versatility for the telehandler – but ensure braking requirements are in place, warns traffic law consultant, Mike Braithwaite.