Focus On: Genie Telehandlers

Welcome to the second installation in our "Focus On" series. This time around we're skipping a few size ranges and presenting something from the other end of the spectrum from the Crown WP 3000. Today we're going to talk about the Genie Telehandler; more specifically the more common end of the range, the GTH-636 and the GTH-844.

As a brand with a long history (started in 1966) the Genie name even survived the acquisition of the company by Terex Corporation in 2002. The bright blue units are recognizable around the world on work sites and yards, safely lifting workers and materials to new heights. Terex brought telehandlers under the Genie brand, and the rest is history!

One of the best parts about the Genie Telehandler is that it's designed to handle the rough terrain of the average construction site. By default they ship with air filled industrial pneumatic tires, but if flats are a concern you can get them shipped with foam-filled or solid tires to make your ride practically bomb-proof (if a little bouncy). Because of this you can depend on them even in a roughly finished yard environment or on a local job-site, adding some additional versatility to your operations. Instead of expensive paving to keep your yard forklift friendly (tolerating their low ground clearances and small tires) you can reinvest in expanding your operations and improving other infrastructure.

A wide variety of attachments increase versatility even more. Rotating, Quick Attach carriages let you and your operators accurately place loads where needed even on uneven surfaces. The Quick Attach functionality even lets you rapidly swap attachments between machines if you have more than one, ensuring you'll always have the right tool with the right reach. Add to that options for fully enclosed cabs (including air conditioning!) and you'll have a machine that your operators love to operate year round in comfort and efficiency.

First up is the Genie GTH-636

Reaching a maximum lift height of 36 ft. (10.97m) and taking with it a load of up to 5000 lb (2268 kg), the GTH-636 beats only the compact GTH-5519 in lift and reach capacity. With more than double the reach of its smaller cousin however, the GTH-636 is still the standard to beat for a versatile unit. Taking 1500 lb (680 kg) to a full forward reach of nearly 22 ft (21 ft 11 in / 6.68 m), it can pick from awkwardly located storage racking or transports and accurately place materials where they need to be with a minimum of moving the telehandler itself. The chassis itself is designed to level out grade differences of up to 10 degrees, again expanding where you can work with your machine.

Next up is the Genie GTH-636

Bigger than the GTH-636 in basically every way, the GTH-844 will lift your business just shy of 44 feet ( 43 ft 10 in / 13.36 m). Capable of carrying a full 6000 lb (2722 kg) to that level it expands on its smaller sibling's extended lift capacity by a third, letting you take 2000 lb (907 kg) just over 28 ft (28 ft 2 in / 8.59 m) at full reach. A redesigned frame makes it narrower than most other machines in its class, and lets your transport it without having to worry about added wide load costs. Part of that redesign also included a rework of the axles, improving the GTH-844's already impressive handling.

Built with use in mind these units both feature side mounted engines and high pivot booms, both of which contribute to improved visability for their operators. With sight-lines only obscured near the unit itself, the added safety this design lends can be a literal life-saver in a busy yard. Just like we want to keep our people safe, an increasing concern these days is the wider environment as well. With the same Tier 4 EPA emission compliance as the smaller GTH-636 this unit also helps you save on costs by eliminating or drastically reducing DEF usage while improving your environmental footprint. More and more being able to brand yourself as environmentally friendly can help you stand out of the pack among potential customers, and by reducing particle and Nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 95% going green with Genie not only helps the planet, it will help your bottom line!

A little earlier we mentioned some of the options (cabs, tires, and carriages) but the extra tools Genie offers don't end there. The cabs themselves range from completely open to completely enclosed with heaters, wipers, and defrosters for us here in the north. AC for those baking summers will give your operators a special appreciation for how much you care, and dual-stick controls will give them an even greater degree of control. Multiple widths of carriage and lengths of fork let you handle an even wider range of loads, and a variety of lights and beacons work to keep your unit visible (including turn signals and rear tail lights). Proximity alarms let the world know when it gets too close. Just like the cab heater, we all know the importance of a block heater (especially for a unit that sits outside through the cold nights), and Genie (unlike some car companies) doesn't pretend otherwise, so that's an option too!

Lastly: Genies don't stop there. The bigger siblings in the series the GTH-1056 and GTH-1256 both boast massive 56 ft (17.32 m) lift heights and 42 ft (12.80 m) reaches, differing chiefly in their load capacities. If you need serious heft with a little less reach, the powerhouse GTH-1544 may be more your size, and if you need a real "Go-Anywhere" the Compact GTH-5519 might just fit your operation.

That's about all we have time for today, so we hope this has raised your awareness a little on the versatility and effectiveness a good telehandler could bring to your business. As always if you have any questions you can Get In Contact with one of our CSS Team Members to get a more detailed introduction to these types of units, and get professional insight into upgrading your operation with Genie.