Telehandler Hire in the South Hams: What They’re Used For and When You Need One

If you’ve looked at the plant hire options and started wondering what a telehandler actually does and whether your project needs one, this is for you. Telehandlers are one of those pieces of equipment that many people haven’t used before, but once you’ve had one on site for a job that needed it, you understand immediately why they exist.

What Is a Telehandler?

A telehandler — short for telescopic handler — is a lifting and handling machine with an extendable boom arm. Think of it as a cross between a forklift and a crane: it can pick up palletised loads and move them horizontally like a forklift, but it can also extend its boom to lift material to height — roof level, first floor, above a wall — in a way a forklift simply can’t.

They run on four wheels, making them mobile on site in a way that a crane is not, and most can be fitted with a range of attachments — pallet forks, buckets, platforms, hooks — that extend their usefulness to different types of work.

What Are Telehandlers Used For?

In the South Hams specifically, the most common use cases we see are:

• Barn conversions and rural building projects — getting roofing materials, timber beams, blocks and heavy loads to height on rural sites where a crane would be impractical
• Farm and agricultural work — moving large hay bales, palletised feeds and materials, or handling heavy awkward loads that would require multiple people otherwise
• Self-build projects — for a self-builder managing their own site, a telehandler dramatically reduces the effort and danger involved in handling heavy materials
• Roofing and scaffolding material — getting materials to roof level quickly and safely
• Off-loading deliveries — large material deliveries to rural sites often arrive on curtainsider trucks without their own crane. A telehandler on site solves this
• Ground clearance and bulk handling — with the right bucket attachment, telehandlers can move significant quantities of bulk material

Key Specifications to Know

When comparing telehandlers for hire, the two figures that matter most are lift capacity (the maximum weight the machine can lift, typically expressed in tonnes) and maximum lift height (the highest the boom can reach at maximum extension). These are inversely related — a machine can usually lift more weight at shorter reach than at full extension.

We can advise on the right specification for your specific lifts when you contact us. It’s always worth knowing the heaviest load you need to move and the maximum height you need to reach before you call.

Operating a Telehandler

Unlike mini excavators, which many confident operators use without formal certification on private land, telehandlers involve significant lift capacity and height — which means the risk profile is higher. For commercial and site use, CPCS or NPORS certification is strongly recommended and typically required by principal contractors. If you’re considering operating a telehandler without prior experience, please discuss this with us when you call — we can advise on the right course of action.

Hire a Telehandler in the South Hams

Call us on 01752 922535 or email hire@olympushiresouthhams.co.uk to discuss your project and check availability. Delivery covers the South Hams area from our Ivybridge base.

📞 01752 922535 | hire@olympushiresouthhams.co.ukMon–Fri 7:30–5pm | Sat 8–10am