Forklifts and telehandlers are on the market

Nov 22, 2023

A buying opportunity opening up for a common staple of the construction world — rough-terrain forklifts and telehandlers. The coming year promises that inventories of both types of lift will continue to swell as new machines finally leave manufacturing floors in droves and move into the hands of eager buyers who will be trading in older lifts.

A staple of construction sites, rough-terrain forklifts and telehandlers provide greater lift and reach capacities than the factory-floor lifts many farmers have bought in the past. Additionally, telehandlers offer the added benefit of being capable of operating with a bucket and of reaching up and out to move loads.

If you are in the market for either machine, be aware that their lift and reach capacities vary greatly by model. As a starting point, the price guide on the next page looks at 5- to 8-year-old lifts with lift capacities of 5,550 to 7,500 pounds. This is the base range of rough-terrain forklifts and telehandlers whose lift abilities can soar up to 25,000 pounds. If you are looking to buy a lift, first figure out the maximum payload you need to elevate.

These lifts do not offer the wide variety of options and accessories that are available in tractors. In fact, the lift might not even have a cab. A fair share of rough-terrain lifts — and to a lesser amount telehandlers — come only with open ROPS. If the machine does have a cab, don't assume it is air-conditioned.

Even the tire options are limited on these machines. Drive tires, like tractor tires, are most often lugged. Occasionally, you will find a lift with turf-like tires. Considering that a forklift in use on a farm will likely run in feedlots, muddy yards, and fields, you should opt for lugged tires.

The one tire option that is unique to these lifts (as compared to tractors) is that they come with traditional pneumatic tires as well as foam-filled and solid versions. Pneumatic tires provide the best traction on any terrain.

Foam-filled tires are more resistant to punctures and provide added stability, but are far heavier than pneumatic types and can cause more wear on the equipment. Solid tires have little cushion, if any, and weigh more than the other varieties. However, that additional weight may provide more balance, allowing your operator to reach higher and farther or lift heavier loads.

Other features to look for include:

Finally, always be sure to know if the telehandler you are interested in buying is sold with a bucket, forks, or with both. A telehandler being sold with a bucket and forks would be an added bonus, as it is not always the case when it comes to used sales.

If you are in the search for either a rough-terrain forklift or telehandler, bear in mind most machines on the used market have been employed on construction sites.

Unlike most farm machines, these lifts have often been worked for a full day five to six days a week. They were often operated by employees, not the owner of the machine. Workers may be more abusive and less concerned with repair and maintenance.

Considering the hard use forklifts or telehandlers receive, be sure to thoroughly inspect these key components before purchasing:

January 25: An online-only sale of trucks, tools, and equipment is set by Kraft Auction Service (kraftauctions.com).

January 28: A large agricultural and construction equipment auction will be held in Delaware, Ohio, by Alex Lyon and Son Auctioneers (lyonauction.com).

January 28: Live Oak Auction (liveoak-auction.com) will hold an equipment consignment auction in Goldthwaite, Texas.

February 2: Polk Auction (polkauction.com) will run two rings for its late model ag and construction auction in New Paris, Indiana.