Every telehandler attachment, from a bucket to a telehandler tow hitch, connects through the quick hitch at the end of the boom, also called the carriage or headstock. Most manufacturers use their own design, so an attachment made for one make often won't fit another without the right brackets. This guide explains the main types, how to identify yours and what to send us, so the attachment you order fits first time. If you need to adapt an attachment you already own, see our telehandler brackets.
How a Telehandler Quick Hitch Works
The operator picks up the attachment using the boom and carriage tilt, then locks it in place with a locking pin. There are two kinds of hitch:
- Mechanical: the operator puts the locking pin in by hand and secures it with a retaining pin.
- Hydraulic: the locking pin is engaged from the cab.
Either way, the attachment's brackets have to match the carriage exactly, or the attachment won't lock on properly.
Common Telehandler Carriage Types
| Carriage | Found on | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| JCB Q-Fit | Most JCB Loadall telehandlers | Some smaller Loadalls use a separate compact carriage, and attachments for one won't fit the other |
| Manitou | Manitou telehandlers | Manitou's own pattern |
| Merlo | Merlo telehandlers | Merlo's own pattern, with hook-type forks on a fixed bar |
| Cat | Cat telehandlers such as the TH62 | Brackets made to suit the model |
| Matbro | Matbro telehandlers | Brackets made to suit the model |
| ITA fork carriage | JCB Teletruk (TLT) | Takes forklift-style class 2 or class 3 attachments rather than telehandler brackets |
We can supply brackets for these makes and more. Some telehandlers are built by one manufacturer and sold under another's name, so the carriage may match the company that built the machine rather than the badge on the side. Designs also change over the years, which is why we always ask for your model and year.
How to Identify Your Quick Hitch
- Find the make, model, serial number and year on the machine's model plate or in the operator's manual.
- Look at how attachments hook onto the top of the carriage and how they're locked at the bottom.
- Note whether the locking pin goes in by hand or is engaged hydraulically from the cab.
- Take clear photos of the carriage from the front and side, plus close-ups of the hooks and locking pins.
- If you run hydraulic attachments, count the auxiliary hydraulic services at the boom head and note the coupling type.
What to Measure
If you can, measure these in millimetres and send them with your photos:
- The overall width of the carriage.
- The distance between the top hooks or pins, centre to centre.
- The diameter of the top pins or bar.
- The height from the top pins down to the locking pin holes.
- The diameter of the locking pins.
If you're not sure which dimension we mean, send a photo with a tape measure in shot.
Fork Carriages and ITA Classes
Some telehandlers run forklift-style ITA hook-type forks on a fork carriage, and the JCB Teletruk takes attachments such as our JCB Teletruk buckets the same way. ITA carriages come in classes set by ISO 2328, measured by the carriage height from the top of the upper bar to the bottom of the lower bar:
| ITA class | Carriage height | Capacity range |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | 407mm | 1000kg to 2500kg |
| Class 3 | 508mm | 2501kg to 4999kg |
| Class 4 | 635mm | 5000kg to 8000kg |
Our telehandler pallet fork carriage lets you run ITA class 2, 3 or 4 forks on your telehandler, and there are versions for JCB bar-type forks on a floating 50mm or 57mm bar and for Merlo hook-type forks on a fixed bar. Your forks stay on their own headstock, so you can swap between forks and other attachments without fitting and removing tines.
Weld-On or Bolt-On Brackets?
If you want an attachment to fit a different telehandler, or your existing brackets are worn, new brackets are often the answer.
| Weld-on brackets | Bolt-on brackets | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixing | Permanent and rigid | Removable |
| Best for | Attachments that will stay with one machine | Mixed fleets and hire equipment that moves between machines |
Our telehandler brackets are made in the UK to suit your make and model, in weld-on or bolt-on form. Use them to fit existing buckets, forks and bespoke attachments to a different telehandler, or to replace worn brackets.
Check the Lock Every Time
An attachment that isn't properly locked on can fall off. Industry guidance on telehandlers warns that attachments can come off if the manual locking pin is left out or a hydraulic locking pin doesn't fully engage, and says operators should get out of the cab to physically check the quick hitch is securely locked before starting work with a newly fitted attachment.
- Check both sides of the carriage, not just the side you can see from the seat.
- Make sure the retaining pin is in place on a mechanical hitch.
- Look for worn hooks, pins and bushes, and replace worn brackets before they cause a problem.
Telehandler Quick Hitch FAQs
Are telehandler quick hitches universal?
No. Most manufacturers use their own design, and some have changed designs over the years, so always check your make, model and year before ordering an attachment.
Can I fit an attachment from one make of telehandler to another?
Often, yes, by fitting brackets made for the second machine. Send us details of the attachment and both machines and we'll tell you what's possible.
What is a JCB Q-Fit carriage?
It's the carriage JCB uses on most of its Loadall telehandlers. Some smaller Loadalls use a separate compact carriage, so tell us your exact model when you order.
Can I run tractor implements on my telehandler?
With an adapter, yes. Our telehandler to 3 point linkage adapters let you run three point linkage implements such as post knockers, buck rakes and mowers from your telehandler.
Is an excavator quick hitch the same?
No. Excavator quick hitches are a separate system, with manual, springlock and hydraulic types. Read excavator quick hitch types explained if you run excavators too.
Get the Right Fit
Send us your make, model, year and a photo of your carriage when you request a quote, and we'll match the brackets to your machine. See our telehandler brackets and telehandler pallet fork carriage, read how to choose a telehandler bucket, or browse our telehandler buckets and all our telehandler attachments.
