Head to head
JCB 3TS-8T Teleskid against JCB 3TS-8W Teleskid
The JCB 3TS-8W Teleskid saves $12,410; only the JCB 3TS-8T Teleskid runs tracks, so their advertised capacities are not measured the same way; only the JCB 3TS-8T Teleskid runs rubber tracks.
These two are rated differently on purpose. A wheeled skid steer is rated at half its tipping load and a track loader at 35 per cent, because the track machine holds back more reserve. So the capacity rows below are not a like-for-like contest, and the tipping load row is the closer thing to one.
| Spec | JCB 3TS-8T Teleskid | JCB 3TS-8W Teleskid |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $92,000 | $79,590 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 3,695 lbs | 3,208 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 10,558 lbs | 6,418 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,695 lbs | 3,209 lbs |
| Engine power | 74 hp | 74 hp |
| Engine | JCB EcoMAX | JCB EcoMAX |
| Auxiliary flow | 24 GPM | 24 GPM |
| Lift height | 159 in | 159 in |
| Operating weight | 12,615 lbs | 9,859 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | No |
| 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 3TS-8T Teleskid
- The telescopic boom is genuinely unique — 13'3" of lift height and 8 feet of forward reach let it stack bales two-high, load feed mixers, and reach across trailers in ways no conventional skid steer can.
- The side-entry door means operators never crawl over the attachment or under a raised boom, and owners call it a game-changing safety and convenience feature after living with front-entry machines.
- It can dig 3 feet below grade with the boom extended, letting it backfill from one side of a trench or unload from a single trailer side — party tricks that replace a second machine on some jobs.
- The JCB EcoMAX engine hits 74 hp without a DPF or DEF, so there are no regen interruptions or fluid top-offs, which owners burned by emissions headaches specifically appreciate.
- The single-arm PowerBoom is made of high-tensile steel with a huge cross-section, and JCB's decades of backhoe and telehandler experience show in the boom's rigidity.
- Visibility is exceptional — with no right-side boom arm and a big glass area, operators report a 60% better view than conventional twin-arm skid steers.
- The US Marine Corps selected the Teleskid for its Multi-Terrain Loader program, a durability endorsement owners like to cite.
- Capacity at full extension drops to around 1,600 lb, and buyers expecting to lift heavy pallets at maximum reach are consistently disappointed — the big rated number only applies with the boom retracted.
- At around $92,000 it costs flagship-CTL money, and forum users repeatedly question whether the reach justifies the price unless you truly need it weekly.
- The single-side boom concentrates weight on one side, and operators cutting grades report the machine leaning toward the boom side until they adapt.
- The telescoping boom adds wear points, and JCB has revised the boom design over the years to address slop and wear at the extension points.
- Some owners report quality-control irritations like A/C and sensor faults that took multiple dealer visits to resolve.
- At over 12,600 lb it's the heaviest machine in its class, requiring a serious truck and trailer to move between jobs.
JCB 3TS-8W Teleskid
- The 13'3" lift height and 8 feet of forward reach are unmatched by any wheeled skid steer - it loads high-sided grain trucks, stacks bales three-high, and reaches across trailers like a small telehandler.
- It digs 3 feet below grade with the boom extended, something no conventional skid steer can do, covering light trenching and pit-loading without an excavator.
- The single-arm PowerBoom and side-entry door mean operators never climb over the attachment, and the 270-degree field of vision beats any twin-arm rival.
- The 74 hp JCB EcoMAX diesel needs no DPF or DEF, so no regen cycles interrupt work and there's no emissions fluid to manage.
- Wheels make it cheaper to buy and run than the tracked 3TS-8T - no undercarriage to wear out - while keeping the same telescopic boom capability.
- The cab is roughly 33% larger than the class average with standard climate control and switchable ISO/H-pattern controls.
- Capacity drops from 3,208 lbs retracted to 1,300 lbs at full extension, so the boom's headline reach carries real load limits.
- Wheels sacrifice the flotation and muddy-ground capability of the tracked 3TS-8T, limiting it on soft sites and torn-up dirt.
- At 9,859 lbs it's heavy for a wheeled machine of this capacity, pushing trailer requirements up compared to conventional skid steers.
- Around $80,000 to start, it costs substantially more than conventional wheeled skid steers with similar lift capacity.
- JCB's compact-equipment dealer network is thinner than Bobcat's or Cat's across rural America, and the specialized boom really wants dealer service.
- The left-side door is the only entry, so parking tight on that side locks you out of the cab.