Telescopic handlers are somewhat like forklifts. It possesses one telescopic boom which extends both forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight within the rear. It works a lot more like a crane than a forklift. The boom could be equipped with a variety of attachments. The most popular attachment is pallet forks, but the operator could also attach a muck grab, lift table or bucket. Also called a telehandler, this type of machine is usually used in industry and agriculture.
When it is difficult for a conventional forklift to access places, a telehandler is commonly used to transport loads. Telehandlers are normally utilized to unload pallets from in a trailer. They are also more handy compared to a crane for lifting loads onto other high places and rooftops.
There is only one major limitation in utilizing telehandlers. Despite counterweights at the rear, the weight-bearing boom could cause the vehicle to destabilize as it extends. Hence, the lifting capacity lessens when the distance between the front of the wheels and the centre of the load increases.
Telehandlers were developed in England by the Matbro company. Their design was based on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. First models had a centrally mounted boom on the front and a driver's cab on the rear section, but today the most common design has a strong chassis along with a rear mounted boom and side cab.