In the construction machinery sector, telescopic forklifts have long ceased to be merely “forklift substitutes” in the traditional sense. Thanks to the high lifting capacity provided by their telescopic boom structure, the flexibility to quickly switch between various attachments, and their excellent adaptability to complex terrain, they are increasingly replacing small cranes, loaders, and even tow trucks, becoming “all-rounders” in settings such as farms, ranches, construction sites, and municipal maintenance.
As the “operational end-effector” of a telescopic forklift, attachments directly determine what tasks the equipment can perform, the level of efficiency it can achieve, and the scenarios it can adapt to. By quickly swapping out different types of attachments, a single base telescopic forklift can instantly switch functions to perform dozens of different tasks, including fruit tree pruning, fence installation, mowing, concrete mixing, material handling, site towing, and snow removal. This significantly reduces the variety of equipment users need to purchase, lowers equipment idle rates, and saves on space and maintenance costs.
However, when faced with real-world working conditions, customers often have a host of specific and technical questions:
Can a mower be attached? How is the PTO (Power Take-Off) handled?
Is it feasible to customize a chipper for pruning hickory trees?
How high can the machine lift with a mixing bucket? And how much material can it hold?
If I buy one machine with six attachments, will they all fit into a 40-foot high-cube container?
Can a telescopic forklift clear snow while towing a trailer?
These questions are precisely what mark the transition of telescopic forklifts from “general-purpose equipment” to “customized tools.”
On ranches, farms, and large-scale landscaping sites, mowing is a high-frequency, routine task. Many customers wish to mount a mower attachment on the rear of a telescopic forklift and install a power take-off (PTO) and three-point hitch to provide the mower with stable power and enable flexible position adjustment.
However, from an engineering perspective, this requirement is difficult to implement directly on most telescopic forklifts for the following reasons:
Different power take-off locations: Traditional tractors draw power from the rear of the transmission, whereas telescopic forklifts typically use hydrostatic transmission or wet-brake axles. Their chassis structures are compact and lack dedicated power take-off ports;
Structural limitations: Taking high-end brands like Italy’s MERLO as an example, their axles feature wet brakes, and the central chassis area is occupied by hydraulic pumps and cooling systems, leaving no space for a PTO;
High modification costs; if forced modification is attempted, power would need to be drawn from the drive shaft, requiring the installation of a hydraulic pump, control valves, a reservoir, and a cooling system. The cost of such modifications for domestic models is at least 30,000 to 50,000 RMB, and this carries risks such as voiding the machine’s warranty, insufficient cooling, and reduced stability.
At this stage, EPDAS offers adaptation services for non-powered mower attachments to meet the needs of light-duty operations such as basic mowing and site cleanup. Once the new generation of powered conversion systems is officially launched, we will immediately make them available for selection and customization to customers worldwide.
Fruit tree pruning is a critical step in agricultural cultivation for increasing yield, maintaining tree shape, and promoting growth. For tall fruit trees such as hickory trees, traditional manual pruning is limited in reach, inefficient, and poses high safety risks. Therefore, customers wish to install a specialized chipping saw on the front end of a 5-ton, 10-meter telescopic boom forklift to achieve efficient high-altitude pruning and on-site chip disposal.
EPDAS fully supports this customization, provided certain conditions are met. First, the customer must provide the mounting interface dimensions, hydraulic flow requirements, weight, blade diameter, and rotational speed specifications for the chip-cutting saw; Second, hydraulic system compatibility: the flow rate and pressure of the auxiliary hydraulic circuit at the front of the telescopic boom forklift must match the saw’s hydraulic motor, with a flow control valve installed if necessary; third, safety protection requirements—a critical aspect—as pruning at height involves risks of falling branches and rebound, so the attachment must be equipped with a protective guard, and a camera can be installed at the boom tip to assist with operation.
In addition to pecan trees, EPDAS can also customize pruning attachments for various fruit trees such as apple, pear, cherry, and olive trees, as well as pruning and chipping equipment for landscape street trees and ornamental shrubs, covering all pruning needs across agricultural and forestry planting scenarios. Although the initial investment for these customized attachments is relatively high (typically ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 yuan), for professional users, they can increase operational efficiency by more than three times while significantly reducing the risks associated with working at heights. The return on investment is typically achieved within a single growing season.
In farm fencing projects, customers need to unload materials such as posts and brackets from transport vehicles and place them precisely in designated locations. Images provided by the customer indicate a desire to install a specialized frame structure on the front end for clamping or lifting fence posts.
For such applications, EPDAS offers customization services at a relatively low cost, with customization fees typically around 10,000 RMB. This custom fence installation frame is a specialized attachment that mounts directly to the front of a 3-ton telescopic forklift. It not only enables the gripping, lifting, positioning, and alignment of fence posts—allowing a single operator to complete post installation—but is also compatible with fence posts and brackets of various sizes and materials. Its high versatility helps reduce labor costs.
Compared to manual handling and positioning, using this custom attachment boosts the efficiency of a two-person team to the equivalent of 4–5 workers, while significantly reducing the risk of occupational injuries such as lower back strain. A single 3-ton telescopic forklift can perform multiple tasks, truly achieving “one vehicle, multiple uses” and reducing the farm’s overall equipment investment.
Traditional mixing equipment is bulky, difficult to move, and inefficient when relocating. However, combining a specialized mixing bucket with a 3.5-ton telescopic forklift enables integrated operations of “mobile mixing + lifting and pouring + precise unloading,” greatly enhancing construction flexibility for small-scale projects.
Key questions regarding the 3.5-ton telescopic forklift with a mixing bucket center on two points: What is the weight of the mixing bucket itself? And when the bucket is lifted to a height of 7 meters, how much weight can it still hold? Based on our practical experience, the weight of a standard mixing bucket is approximately 800 kg. This weight is not fixed; factors such as the manufacturer, material (steel or wear-resistant steel), and whether it is equipped with a hydraulic motor will all affect the actual weight.
Taking a 3.5-ton telescopic forklift as an example, its maximum lifting capacity typically refers to the rated load when the boom is fully retracted and in a near-vertical position. Once the boom is extended or the lifting height increases, the actual allowable load decreases according to the “load curve chart.”
When lifted to a height of 7 meters, considering the mixer bucket’s own weight of 800 kg, the remaining effective load capacity is approximately 1.5 tons. This means that the sum of the mixer bucket’s weight and the concrete load must not exceed the allowable value on the rated load curve; if the concrete density is estimated at 2.4 tons per cubic meter, 1.5 tons corresponds to approximately 0.625 cubic meters of concrete; In actual operations, it is recommended that customers allow a safety margin of 10%–15% to avoid the risk of overturning.
The load capacity of a telescopic forklift decreases significantly as the boom extends. When performing mixing operations that require loading material into higher formwork or the feed opening of a mixer truck, it is recommended to operate as close to the vehicle body as possible; even within the rated load range, if the ground slope exceeds 3 degrees, the load should be further reduced.
When selecting a telescopic forklift configuration with a mixing bucket, it is essential to not only consider the “maximum lifting capacity” but also request detailed load capacity charts and perform calculations based on the actual working height and the mixing bucket’s own weight. If frequent high-altitude concrete delivery is required, we recommend prioritizing models rated at 4 tons or higher.
In settings such as industrial parks, farms, logistics parks, and docks, customers often require telescopic forklifts to tow fully loaded 7-ton trucks while simultaneously operating front-end attachments (e.g., snow plowing, material handling, or sweeping) to enhance operational efficiency.
EPDAS provides precise solutions based on road conditions and load requirements.
For operations on flat surfaces or around factories and farms, the EPDAS 4007 telescopic forklift fully meets the requirements for towing a fully loaded 7-ton truck. If customers need to tow on slopes, muddy, or soft terrain, EPDAS can recommend higher-tonnage models or customize reinforced towing attachments to enhance traction and grip.
The T4007 supports simultaneous operation of front-end attachments and rear-end towing. For example, a snow plow attachment can be mounted at the front for snow removal while the rear simultaneously tows a truck to transport materials, enabling the simultaneous completion of “snow removal + transportation” and doubling efficiency.
As an export-oriented manufacturer, EPDAS has established a standardized, visual, and highly efficient attachment customization process. Customers provide details such as operational scenarios, host machine models, functional requirements, dimensional parameters, load capacity specifications, destination countries, and certification requirements.
EPDAS operates its own production facilities equipped with CNC cutting, automated welding, and precision assembly equipment. We strictly adhere to international quality standards, with every production step subject to inspection to ensure the precision and strength of the attachments.
Upon completion, attachments undergo load testing, compatibility testing, operational testing, and leak testing to ensure perfect compatibility with the host machine, stable operation, and safety and reliability. Customers may conduct acceptance inspections via remote video or on-site.
EPDAS provides global after-sales support. Attachments are covered by a warranty, and we respond quickly to quality and compatibility issues while offering long-term spare parts supply and technical guidance.
As a professional telescopic forklift manufacturer, EPDAS approaches every step—from customizing agricultural attachments to calculating mixer bucket loads and verifying towing capacity—with “real-world operating conditions” as the starting point. This helps customers avoid selection errors, reduce operational risks, and enhance their return on investment.
We welcome you to communicate directly with the EPDAS technical team. We don’t just provide equipment; we deliver comprehensive solutions based on real-world operating conditions!
