Joystick system key to Gehl Telescopic Handler

A new joystick control system in 2672 Gehl’s RS5-19 Telescopic Handler received rave reviews during customer testing and will increasingly be utilised in the company’s product line, an official said at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017.

With the new system, all functions are controlled with one hand – including forward/neutral/reverse; up and down fork movements; and rotation.

Gehl recently tested the “single control system” with a group of 700 rental influencers. “They unanimously said it was by far the easiest to operate they had seen,” said Eric Burkhammer, vice president of North American operations for 2106 Manitou Group, the parent company of Gehl.

Some of the test operators had not previously run a telescopic handler but they, too, were successful.

With the new system, operators are always able to keep one hand on the steering wheel. Burkhammer was at the demonstration and also noticed that operators never looked down at their control hand. “That’s how intuitive the system is,” he said.

The control will make its way into other upcoming products, Burkhammer added.

The RS5-19 has a rate lift capacity of 2495 kg, gross power of 50 kW and maximum lift height of 5.8 metres.