JLG telehandler gets to work down on the farm

Away from the construction sites, Shane Barnette, owner of Southern Mud, a fluid disposal company that serves the oil and gas fields, has found a new use for the telehandler.

Mr. Barnette also grows alfalfa hay in Northern Kansas and was looking for a suitable vehicle for loading, unloading and stacking the 2,000 lb (900 kg) bales of hay in a warehouse. David Black, fleet manager for local rental firm Volvo Rents, suggested he try a telehandler for size.

The result: Mr Barnette is now the proud owner of a JLG Model G5-18A Super Compact Telehandler.

The JLG Model G5-18A that Barnette purchased had a 5,500-lb (2.5-tonne) maximum lift capacity so it can easily lift one or even two of the bales at one time. It also features a lifting height of up to 18 ft (5.5 m) with a maximum forward reach of 10-ft 11in (3.3 m). Plus, it has a tight 126-in (3.2 m) turning radius so it could move and stack the bales inside the warehouse where vertical support beams restricted movement.

Said Mr. Barnette: “If it wasn’t for David Black of Volvo Rents and his knowledge of what equipment was available, we would probably still be trying to use the tractor to move the bales and do other work. I’ve never had a piece of equipment that’s as versatile and works as well as the G5 JLG telehandler and we’re finding new uses for it every day.”

The JLG G5-18A has proved so successful that Mr. Barnette is now looking at acquiring a second model for use on the Southern Mud site.