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"A full-size telehandler just isn't designed to do loader work," says John Koepf, product manager at Gehl. Some manufacturers actually refer to compact telehandlers as tool carriers and tout the many attachments you can use. Some models can utilize attachments directly, while others can connect to essentially any skid-steer attachment via a universal skid-steer adapter.

The fact that many compacts offer auxiliary hydraulics pumped to the front of the machine also makes the use of attachments such as grapples and augers possible. "When you get into the larger machines with three-stage booms, it's more difficult to plumb the hydraulics to the end so you lose some versatility in those larger units," says Miller. "But with the boom design of the compacts, you can more easily utilize hydraulically controlled attachments." "That ability to use skid-loader attachments really opens up the door," adds Koepf. "If you already own a skid loader, you don't have to go out and buy a whole new series of attachments."

A skid-steer replacement?

Some contractors will even use a compact telehandler in place of a skid-steer loader, especially if they need extra reach for tasks such as lifting spoil into trucks or backfilling along retaining walls.

"Contractors who don't have enough height with their skid loaders are moving to a compact telehandler to gain additional reach," says Koepf.

For example, Gehl's 7810 skid loader has a 12-ft. reach. Many compact telehandlers can easily reach to this height and beyond'up to 18 ft. in the case of Gehl's CT6 model.