Bobcat TL38.70HF Agri Expert telescopic handler 2023 Review

Telescopic handlers, or loaders, are becoming more commonplace in the agriculture industry – particularly in hay operations, where they often outperform the conventional wheel loader or tractor.

When it comes to lifting, moving and stacking items such as hay bales and bags of sand, a telescopic handler can do the job faster and handle heights a lot better.

American brand Bobcat cut its teeth in skid-steer and compact-track loaders but has diversified its portfolio over the years to now include a wide range of heavy equipment such as tractors, excavators and telescopic handlers.

A couple of years ago, Bobcat decided to hit the refresh button on a range of its equipment including compact loaders and telescopic handlers, focusing on comfort and productivity improvements on its updated machines.

The new Bobcat R-series telehandlers arrived in Australia in the latter half of 2022 and we were invited by Australian distributor, Clark Equipment, to have a look at the new Bobcat TL38.70HF (High-Flow) Agri Expert telehandler from the new R-series.

Unlike its overseas counterparts, the Bobcat R-series telehandlers for the Australian market run a Tier-3 compliant Perkins diesel engine, which means no DPF systems and associated costs to run up the maintenance bill.

The TL38.70HF Agri Expert has a power output of 130hp. A standout feature of this particular model is its high hydraulic flow of 190l/min, as opposed to 100l/min on a standard flow machine.

What this means is much faster response times and more powerful breakout to ensure the job gets done quickly and efficiently, whether it be stacking hay bales or loading a feed mixer.

The machine carries Bobcat’s signature box-welded frame design and a shielded bottom plate to protect all the vital components of the machine.

With the Agri Expert configuration, customers get a set of bigger tyres with a width of 460mm, as opposed to 400mm on other models.

The Bobcat TL38.70HF boasts a maximum lift height of 7m and a maximum lifting capacity of 3.8 tonnes.

Its generous lift height of 7m makes all the difference when moving bales around or stacking them, with front end loaders on tractors not even able to lift half that height.

Its fast-flow hydraulics are evident when operating the machine, such as when extending or retracting the boom, opening and closing a bale grab or crowding the bucket.

At max flow, it only takes around five seconds for the boom to extend or retract, while three seconds tops is all it takes to operate the attachment.

However, if operators wish to take things down a notch and work with precision rather than speed, they can easily adjust the speed of the boom or attachment movements.

Operators can adjust the speed of the boom via the Smart Handling System (SHS), while the auxiliary flow adjustment controls the attachment movement speed.

Lifting heavy loads at heights can be dangerous, especially if the operator does not have sufficient experience with such tasks, but Bobcat claims its TL38.70HF Agri Expert is loaded with safety features to allow operators to lift and load with confidence.

A load monitoring system in the cab tells operators how much they are lifting to capacity, so they know to not push the limits.

As we were not able to test the machine with a load, we were not able to comment on the machine’s load-handling capabilities.

The machine has a low centre of gravity and heavy counterweight that ensures it is firmly rooted to the ground even when dealing with heavy loads with boom in the air.

A protective grill up top gives that extra bit of protection from potential falling objects, in addition to the ROPS- and FOPS-certified cab.

One of the major upgrades Bobcat has made to the R-series telescopic handlers is the cabin, which could be someone’s ‘office’ for hours on end. Therefore, Bobcat set out to design a cab that provides ultimate comfort and numerous niceties so operators can spend long days in the cabin and not be weighed down by fatigue.

The cab is placed nice and low so entry via a wide-opening door is easy. The steering wheel with knob makes maneuvering the machine a breeze, and its position is adjustable. An air suspension seat comes standard in the TL38.70HF Agri Expert, and is adjustable to suit the size and height of the operator.

Vision around the machine is excellent, with large clear glass panels on all sides of the machine, including the door.

On the right of the operator’s seat, within easy reach of the right arm, is the all-in-one Smart joystick that controls almost all functions of the machine, including forward and reverse, boom control and attachment control. Two unique functions available on this Agri Expert model is the bucket shake and boom float functions, both of which are also controllable using the smart joystick. More on those functions a bit later.

Also to the right is a keypad with several keys allowing for activation or deactivation of machine functions such as LED lights, wipers, park brake, SHS and more.

A 5-inch LCD display with navigation jog shuttle gives operators all machine operating parameters at a glance, and lets them see camera views, set attachment functions, control boom speed and more.

The TL38.70HF comes with a feather-touch shuttle lever for quick and easy switching between forward and reverse.

A strong air-conditioning system on the very hot day that we tested the machine was a welcome feature, and one that operators will certainly appreciate when working through the scorching Australian summer.

Speaking of which, a sun visor above the operator comes standard on the R-series telehandlers and is adjustable in two positions for further comfort and protection.

The TL38.70HF model we tested also features a rear-view camera, a phone holder, a lunchbox and Bluetooth radio.

The Bobcat R-series telehandlers have been designed to be easy to drive. Maneuvering the machine was easy and controlling the boom and attachment was as simple as pressing a few buttons on the joystick and pulling the joystick back or pushing it forwards.

It may take an inexperienced operator some time to get used to the controls and understand how to operate the machine effectively, but once they have spent a bit of time in the seat, they’ll be up and going in no time.

There are three drive modes available on this model that we tested, which are two-wheel, four-wheel and crab steering. This gives operators the versatility to drive the machine in different terrains, or navigate tricky areas or tight spots, which is where crab steer can come in handy.

Another great feature on the TL38.70HF is the semi-automatic wheel alignment, which automatically realigns the wheels whenever operators switch between driving modes.

For increased versatility, the machine can be used with a variety of attachments such as bale grabs, buckets and pallet forks to handle different types of material.

As mentioned previously, this TL38.70HF that we tested has a bucket shake and boom float function which makes an operator’s life that bit easier.

When activated via the smart joystick, the bucket shake function shakes the bucket so its contents are completely emptied into the mixer, truck, or whatever the telehandler is unloading into.

The boom float function makes the boom float just above the ground to follow the ground contours; ideal for jobs like loading or even clearing snow.

Maintenance of the telehandler has also been made simple, with access to the engine and major maintenance points all grouped to one side of the machine.

While it was a shame we were not able to put the machine through the wringer and test its ability to handle loads, we were suitably impressed with its smoothness of operation, ease of operation and, most of all, its super-fast response time.

Time is money in any operation, not just in farming, so an efficient machine like the Bobcat TL38.70HF Agri Expert will make for a fantastic addition to any farmer’s existing fleet.