The Carriage
The carriage is like a typical lift truck because the lifting attachment can be tilted backwards and forwards from its horizontal. The tilt that is possible on this equipment exceeds more than that of the vertical masts. There is a large variety of available lifting attachments, and this positioning ability makes them as effective as possible.
Most telehandlers are capable of tilting forward to a point where the carriage is actually parallel with the ground believe it or not! Furthermore, many units offer rotating carriages also. This enables the operator to radially adjust the lifting attachment. This translates to the load being capable of being tilted forwards and backwards, as well as side to side.
Load Capacity
Figuring out a telehandler's load capacity is a a lot different exercise than it is on a vertical mast model. The capacity of the model is entirely dependent on such things as: boom angle and extension, whether the unit is lifting on outriggers or on rubber tires, and the amount of boom transaction deployed, if this is applicable. Moreover, which lifting attachment plays an important part, as does the wind, the grade the equipment is operating on etc. All of these specifics could be changing regularly and this gives the operator much more information to think about.
Telehandlers will usually have some different load charts available to them, giving them a good reference they could use to know a certain lift's load capacity. Depending on the unit in particular and the boom's configuration, the load capacity could differ by thousands of pounds all together.