Head to head
JCB 270T against JCB 2TS-7T Teleskid
The JCB 2TS-7T Teleskid saves $5,490; the JCB 270T carries 649 lb more once both are rated the same way; the JCB 270T moves 5.4 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | JCB 270T | JCB 2TS-7T Teleskid |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $75,490 | $70,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 2,723 lbs | 2,096 lbs |
| Rated at | 34% of tipping load | 34% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 7,990 lbs | 6,138 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 2,797 lbs | 2,148 lbs |
| Engine power | 74 hp | 74 hp |
| Engine | JCB EcoMAX | JCB by Kohler 2.5L |
| Auxiliary flow | 24 GPM | 18.6 GPM |
| Lift height | 125 in | 144 in |
| Operating weight | 11,003 lbs | 9,914 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Radial Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | Yes |
| High flow available | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | Yes |
| Self-levelling available | Yes | Yes |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
JCB 270T
- The 4.4L EcoMAX makes 295 lb-ft of torque from just 1,200 rpm, so it lugs through heavy digging without downshifting drama.
- A 24 GPM standard circuit - bigger than most competitors' base flow - runs many attachments without paying for the 31.7 GPM high-flow option.
- The Hi-Viz boom design and low rear deck give a genuine 270-degree view, reducing spotter dependence on busy sites.
- The pressurized cab is one of the largest in the class with a 7-inch touchscreen, reverse camera, and adjustable joystick response.
- Vertical lift with a 125-inch hinge pin height places pallets and loads over high truck sides cleanly.
- At 11,003 lbs it's one of the heaviest machines in its capacity class, which complicates towing and turf work alike.
- JCB's compact equipment dealer coverage is spotty in parts of the US, so support quality depends heavily on your local dealer.
- Only one entry door on the left side means obstructions on that side can lock you out of the cab.
- The 74 hp rating, while torquey, leaves it giving up peak horsepower to 100+ hp rivals for high-flow mulching duty.
- Purchase price runs high for the capacity - you're paying a premium for the safety and visibility engineering.
- Proprietary parts and the EcoMAX engine are unfamiliar territory for many independent shops, stretching repair timelines.
JCB 2TS-7T Teleskid
- The telescopic boom is a genuine one-of-a-kind in the small platform class - 12'0" of lift height and 7 feet of forward reach let it load high-sided trucks and stack bales no conventional CTL this size can touch.
- It digs 2 feet below grade with the boom extended, so light trenching, footing cleanup, and loading out of pits happen without bringing in an excavator.
- The 74 hp JCB by Kohler engine needs no DPF or DEF, eliminating regen downtime and emissions fluid costs entirely.
- JCB claims 20% more breakout force than similarly sized machines, and owners confirm it digs harder than its footprint suggests.
- The cab is 47% larger than competitor small-platform machines, with climate control and switchable ISO/H-pattern controls.
- Capacity drops from 2,096 lbs retracted to 1,140 lbs at full boom extension, so the headline reach comes with real load limits.
- At 9,914 lbs it's heavy for a 2,100 lb capacity machine - conventional CTLs lift the same for thousands of pounds less weight and money.
- The telescopic boom adds wear points - extension pads, internal hoses, and a sliding section - that conventional fixed booms simply don't have.
- Standard 18.6 GPM auxiliary flow is modest, and you'll want the optional 29.4 GPM high-flow for hungry attachments.
- JCB's compact dealer network is thinner than Bobcat's or Cat's in much of the U.S., which matters for a specialized boom needing dealer service.
- Around $70,000 to start, it costs notably more than conventional CTLs with similar rated capacity.
- The left-side door is the only entry point, so obstructions on that side lock the operator out.