ForConstructionPros.com

A telehandler is most often used to lift and place materials at a distance other equipment can't readily reach. The one you select for your job needs to match the weight of the material to the height and reach capabilities of the machine.

That sounds fairly basic. Yet, ensuring the right combination of lift capacity and reach for the application is not. A mismatch can prove detrimental to the equipment, to the load and to anyone in the vicinity of the lift.

"Overloading or operating beyond the restrictions of the load chart can have severe ramifications, including dropping the load and/or tipping the telehandler over, or even causing permanent structural damage," says Luke Webber, product manager, Genie Industries. "For the safety of the operator and everyone on the jobsite, it is essential to understand the maximum lifting requirements in advance and select a telehandler designed to handle the expected loads and how high and how far you will be lifting or placing them."

Monitor center of gravity
A telehandler is susceptible to tipping due to overloading/extending because the center of gravity is constantly changing.

"As you raise the boom, the center of gravity will raise higher above the ground," says Steve Kirst, telehandler product manager, Mustang Mfg. "And because it's moving through an arc, the higher you raise the boom, the more the center of gravity shifts toward the back of the machine."