Pettibone has resurrected the traversing boom with the launch of the Traverse T944X.
The new telehandler, announced during World of Concrete, is the industry’s only new telehandler with an extendable, traversing boom, capable of moving loads by travelling horizontally.
“Our strategy for this redesigned platform was to retain the traditional rock solid Pettibone design we are known for delivering, while providing several modern enhancements,” said Scott Raffaelli, vice president and general manager of Pettibone.
A few years back, manufacturers offered machines equipped with a traversing boom, including Pettibone. However, production ceased due to market demand and the economy.
“For various reasons, we bowed out of that industry for a little while,” said Kyle Rubin, Pettibone’s director of sales and marketing. “We definitely see a void, customers have been asking for it over the years, so we’re bringing that product back. It offers some versatility that no other telehandler has.”
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The T944X offers up to 178 cm of horizontal boom transfer, which allows users to precisely place loads at full lift height through tight openings, without having to coordinate multiple boom functions.
With the Traverse, the specified lift height of 13.56 metres is nearly identical to the landing height. This stands in contrast to a traditional fixed boom pivot, where the true landing height is generally less than the advertised lift height, as operators must account for withdrawing the forks out of the load with enough rearward travel for the fork tips to clear the landing zone. The traversing boom allows for maximum forward reach of 10.9 metres. As well, the telehandler has a maximum load capacity of 4,082 kg.
“The thing to note here is because it’s a traversing unit, it will compete with a larger taller size class unit,” Rubin said. “This puts it in a class of its own, in a situation where you can actually land a load on the fourth floor safely.”
The telehandler is powered by a 74 hp Cummins QSF 3.8 Tier 4 Final diesel engine that features a DOC muffler and requires no diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). The side pod engine offers easy service access while improving curbside visibility and ground clearance of 46 cm. A 117 hp engine option is also available.
“It offers some new benefits as far as serviceability, line of sight and ground clearance,” said Bob Mayo, product manager for Pettibone’s telehandlers. “Those were the three main considerations customers in the market wanted us to focus on.”
Built for use on rough terrain, the unit offers full-time four-wheel-drive with limited-slip front axle differential. Tight steer angle capability provides an turning radius of 4.3 metres. As well, the Dana VDT12000 Powershift transmission offers three speeds, forward and reverse.
For hydraulics, cylinder cushioning has been added to dampen the end of strokes – both extending and retracting – to avoid the wear-and-tear of hard, jarring stops, while also helping prevent the potential spilling of a load. The telehandler also uses a single lift cylinder that improves operator sight lines, and has twin hydraulic lines for tilt and auxiliary plumbing.
The boom overlap has been nearly doubled from previous models to provide smoother operation and reduce contact forces on wear pads. A bottom-mounted external extend cylinder further reduces the load on wear pads by up to 50 per cent. This cylinder location also provides improved service access to internal boom components.
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