JCB Teleskid — Most Versatile Machine in Contractor's Fleet

Thu April 11, 2019
JCB

When he's not working on his family's 300-year-old farm, Mac Hunter is an excavating contractor and owner of Hunter Trucking and Excavation in Topsham, Maine.

His company offers quality excavation, local quarry services, expert equipment moving and complete trucking services.

Unlike many of his competitors, his is essentially a one-man operation, which means Hunter must rely on efficient equipment to save time on projects and run his successful company. He currently utilizes a fleet of around 12 compact machines — including four different compact track loaders, mini-excavators, skid steer loaders and compact wheel loaders.

The Most Versatile Machine In the Fleet

Of these machines, he said the JCB Teleskid is the most versatile and useful for his company's numerous projects and challenges. When using other track loaders, Hunter was always impressed with the variety of tasks he could complete, but he was often frustrated by the lack of reach. When he learned about the JCB Teleskid, the first skid steer or compact track loader with a telescopic boom, he knew he had to have it.

The machine's telescopic boom leverages the company's 40 years of telehandler experience, and allows the Teleskid to lift over 13 ft. — eight percent higher than any skid steer on the market — and reach forward 8 ft. — 60 percent farther than its nearest competitor. It also is the only skid steer that can dig below grade, to a depth of 3 ft. The Teleskid is available as a wheeled skid steer loader or compact track loader, with rated operating capacities of 3,208 lbs. and 3,695 lbs., respectively.

Many Machines In One

Hunter purchased his Teleskid from his local JCB dealer without ever seeing it in person or operating one previously. He said he knew right away that it was the solution to his problems, and he has been extremely impressed from the moment it was delivered. If there was one machine to choose for a variety of tasks, Hunter said it's the Teleskid. He explained that it does things that previously required three machines.

It's as convenient as a compact track loader yet meets his need for a larger wheel loader.

When it comes to loading trucks, which is one of the tasks for which Hunter uses his Teleskid most often, he said there is absolutely no comparison to the equipment he used previously. He's able to load trucks on a job site, in a field, or wherever he happens to be, without needing to build a ramp or find a low spot to park the truck. And he's able to place the load in the center of the trailer, or on the far side of the bed, without having to drive the machine around the truck, which saves him a lot of time.

Hunter said his favorite feature of the Teleskid is its incredible horizontal and vertical reach. While many focus on the machine's unique vertical reach capability, he said he's just as impressed with its ability to reach over objects and obstacles. The extended horizontal reach is particularly helpful during grappling work.

Rapid Attachment Changes

The number of attachments that Hunter uses in his business is extensive and varied. On any given day, Hunter could need to change multiple times between a bucket, brush grapple, log grapple, concrete hopper bucket, forks, crane boom, snow plow, auger or mower. As he often works alone, the Teleskid's quick-hitch saves him a lot of time. The simple design, with one button to release and one to engage, means Hunter can change attachments quickly and without ever leaving his operator's seat.

Easy to Maintain, Easy to Operate

For his one-man operation, simple maintenance and servicing requirements are very important. Hunter said the Teleskid's single-boom design enables easy access to daily inspection points and the entire engine compartment when needed.

The JCB Teleskid also offers customizable settings, which Hunter said has been a "game changer." With the help of his local dealer, he has customized the Teleskid's travel and loader functions and adjusted other control settings to match his specific preferences.

Although Hunter was familiar with JCB before buying his Teleskid, it is the first JCB machine he has owned. He said he's been impressed and will not hesitate to purchase another JCB when the need arises. JCB is truly "ahead of its time," he said.

(This story was reprinted with permission from JCB Teleskid User Review.)

This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.