Alberta, Canada | Wondering if anyone has run a Merlo telehandler? Thoughts on them? My New Holland dealer picked them up recently and is going full throttle with them, really eager to have every farmer in the area running one or more.
Test drove some at the dealers yard last week, dealer is sending a couple out when we have time to try them out.
The multi-farmer ( http://www.merlo.it/e_prodotti/multifarmer.htm ) is the reason we went to look at them, as it has a direct drive (mechanical) PTO (115 Hp I believe) and 3pt hitch, plus 3 rear remotes. But for our needs, it's too small of a machine (6,600lb lift capacity).
The TurboFarmer ( http://www.merlo.it/e_prodotti/turbofarmer.htm ) is what the dealer is selling the most of, and has a 9,038lb lift capacity, but only a 95 Hp hydraulic PTO, and I don't believe a 3pt hitch.
The Panoramic ( http://www.merlo.it/e_prodotti/P55_9CS.htm ) is by far my favorite, both because its a much bigger machine (12,100lb lift capacity), and it seems much more refined, especially in the cab.
Dad and I were quite convinced that a telehandler had no place on our farm, simply not built strong enough, with one huge weak point (the boom). But after seeing these in person, they look pretty promising, much stronger than both dad's Caterpillar TH and Manitou rotary TH/crane which he has for his construction business. One thing I liked was what Merlo calls a "Ring of Steel" which is a 7" diameter solid steel tubing that goes around the whole machine to protect it from impact. The whole thing is quite primitive, with a lot of idiot proof functions built in (ie, if you overload it, it stops you. you have to either over-ride it by pressing the button, or it'll slowly retract the boom to a safe operating level).
So... anyone?
Edited by JoshA 8/4/2010 11:43
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The Internet | I have used a couple of Merlo's, 10 years ago now (eek). They were both new demo machine and were good. Loads of grunt and I like the hydro transmission. That ring of steel is a load of marketing guff, just don't reverse into stuff, then you won't have to worry about breaking bits off it. The controls weren't as smooth as a JCB at the time and our 2007 Manitou LSU controls are much better.
I have been using telehandlers for 20 years and have yet to encounter boom problems and some of them have been absolutely hammered by idiots. They are NOT however digging machines, they are loaders/material handlers. The highways people use them for loading salt and they will have worked 24/7 for weeks last winter. I have been on farms with relatively large sugar beet areas, all loaded with a telehandler and it was flat out all day (I was driving it) pushing the stack up as it came in and loading it onto trucks at the same time. The loaders stood it better than I did.
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| They are becoming very common around here. Pretty much every road/bridge/building construction sites around here have a telehandler on site, and more than 90% of them are Merlo. No Cat, no Manitou, few JCBs, pretty much all Merlo. Service is pretty good, importer is based no far from here. They have over 500 running already in Quebec and Ontario. I really like the design of the Panoramic, and the Deutz engine is a big plus in my opinion. 
Edited by canadian farmer 8/4/2010 17:06
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Merlo (Telehandlers with PTO & 3pt hitch)
