UK’s first TL43.80HF Telehandler arrives

John Suggitt, who runs construction, storage and farm businesses in East Yorkshire in the UK, has purchased the country’s first Bobcat TL43.80HF telehandler to support the growth of his businesses. The new TL43.80HF was supplied by local Bobcat dealer, Scunthorpe-based AMS Bobcat Limited.

Lifting more with a compact telehandler

With a maximum lift capacity of 4.3 tonne and a maximum lift height of almost 8 m, the TL43.80HF is a new, compact telehandler offering an impressive package, combining several innovative features to take lift capacity, lifting height and breakout force to unprecedented levels for this size of machine.

The combination of compactness and heavy lift capability of the TL43.80HF were key for John Suggitt – he commented: “I was looking for a telehandler that could lift 4 tonne and offer a reach of 7 m, but with the TL43.80HF, I can lift a massive 4.3 tonne with a lifting height approaching 8 m. Being 20 cm shorter than the equivalent 7 m machines on the market, the TL43.80HF also gives me the compactness and productivity I need to work in the tight spaces on site and in my storage facilities.”

A machine to grow into, not out of

John Suggitt continued: “With the TL43.80HF, I have bought a machine that I intend to grow into, not out of. The TL43.80HF has everything I would want in a telehandler and does everything I would expect a machine like this to do.”

Bobcat was able to minimize the dimensions of the TL43.80HF in large part due to the very high stability resulting from a box welded frame, a low load centre, the long wheel base and the new massive rear counterweight. Together with a short turning radius of just 3.71 m, this new Bobcat telehandler is therefore a very manoeuvrable machine, a particularly useful feature when working in confined areas such as those in John Suggitt’s businesses.

John Suggitt added: “The TL43.80HF has reduced overall dimensions, including a width of only 2.30 m and a length of less than 5 m from the rear to the fork face. It has been a fantastic investment for my businesses, combining excellent lifting capability with superb compactness.”

Complementing the compact nature of the TL43.80HF, the rough terrain capability has also been optimised with the incorporation of new heavy duty Dana Spicer axles with limited slip differential and the outstanding tractive force available of up to 90% of the machine weight.

As well as his other businesses, John Suggitt also runs a smallholding with a small show flock of Greyface Dartmoor sheep, which he will use the TL43.80HF to provide feed for in the winter months. The new telehandler will also be a key machine to help in the construction of new stabling and agricultural buildings on the property.

The TL43.80HF is road registered so that it can be driven between John’s different businesses, which include an industrial unit at Beeford, where the TL43.80HF is used to move heavy containers and caravans. The telescopic boom on the new TL43.80HF telehandler is ideal for this application, ensuring that moving and placing heavy items is a simple process.

John also has storage facilities at Frodingham, where he is looking to stockpile building materials delivered on lorries and other vehicles. These will be used in the first planned building development in nearby Kelk, where the TL43.80HF will be a highly versatile lifting machine for moving pallets of bricks, boards and other construction materials around the site.

John Suggitt continued: “Bobcat has a comprehensive range of telehandlers for construction, agriculture and waste handling applications. We purchased the AGRI*** version of the TL43.80HF telehandler, with a number of additional features providing high comfort and productivity.

“The new Bobcat telehandler is fully road certified and with a two-speed transmission and a maximum speed of 40 km/h, it can be driven quickly between locations to do different work. The boom suspension system is a really useful feature for travelling on the roads, keeping the boom stable and preventing it from bouncing over bumps.“

Like all Bobcat telehandlers, the new TL43.80HF Agri is covered by an industry-unique three year/3000 hour warranty as standard. In addition, Bobcat has been running an exceptional three-month promotion through its UK and Ireland dealers, ending on 31^st August 2019, extending the warranty to five years/5000 hours free-of-charge on all Bobcat Ag telescopic loaders purchased in this period.

As an AGRI version, the new TL43.80HF telehandler also includes air conditioning; an automatic fan inverter; a Sears high comfort air suspension seat and premium cab finish (deluxe steering wheel, armrest, aluminium panels); a trailer brake valve and a drawbar coupler tow hitch.