JCB 2TS-7T Teleskid vs JCB 300

JCB

JCB 2TS-7T Teleskid

$70,000

4.2★ (85)

JCB

$67,000

4.4★ (95)

Quick take: The JCB 300 costs $3,000 less; the JCB 300 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,186 vs 2,096 lbs).

✓The telescopic boom is a genuine one-of-a-kind in the small platform class - 11'10" 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 side-entry door and single-arm PowerBoom mean operators never climb over the attachment, and visibility around the machine is far better than twin-arm designs.
✓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.
✓JCB's Smoothride boom suspension keeps loads in the bucket over rough ground, a real benefit when carrying material at reach.
✓One machine replaces several: it forklifts, loads, digs, and reaches, which is why rental fleets and small farms gravitate to it.

✗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.
✗Resale is a question mark because the used market for telescopic-boom skid steers is small and niche.

✓The side-entry door means operators never climb over the attachment or under a raised boom - on a 3,000 lb-class machine handling heavy loads, that's a meaningful safety edge every shift.
✓The single-arm PowerBoom eliminates the right-side arm for roughly 60% better visibility, and the one-piece boom stays tight and rattle-free after hard hours.
✓At 3,186 lbs of rated capacity it's JCB's strongest wheeled skid steer, comfortably handling brick packs, seed pallets, and full concrete mixing duties.
✓The 74 hp EcoMAX diesel meets Tier 4 Final with no DPF and no DEF - no regen cycles, no emissions fluid, and less aftertreatment plumbing to fail out of warranty.
✓Vertical lift geometry keeps the load path straight up for clean truck loading at full height with minimal drift over the side.
✓A 23.8 GPM standard circuit with an optional high-flow package up to 33 GPM runs demanding attachments like cold planers and snow blowers.
✓Two-speed travel tops out around 12.4 mph, which is genuinely fast for ground-to-ground moves on large sites.
✓The pressurized cab is among the biggest in the industry with available A/C and heat plus switchable ISO/H-pattern controls.

✗Traditional buyers remain skeptical of the single-boom design, which can narrow the buyer pool when it's time to sell.
✗JCB's compact-equipment dealer network is thinner than Bobcat's, Cat's, or Deere's in much of rural America, slowing parts and service.
✗At 9,288 lbs it needs a serious trailer and truck - this is not a machine you tow behind a half-ton.
✗74 hp is modest for a 3,000 lb-class machine, and rivals like the Bobcat S86 offer notably more engine power in the same weight class.
✗Resale values trail the big four brands because the used market for single-arm machines is smaller.
✗The left-side door is the only entry, so tight parking against that side locks the operator out.
✗Wheels limit it in mud and soft ground where the tracked 300T keeps working - and the track version costs a hefty premium.
✗High-flow hydraulics cost extra, so the attachment-heavy buyers this machine targets end up paying above the base price.