A sweeper keeps yards, site roads, car parks and farm tracks clear of mud, gravel, dust and leaves, and a telehandler is an ideal machine to run one. There are three main types, and the right one depends on what you're sweeping, whether you need to collect the debris and what hydraulics your machine has. This guide compares them so you can choose from our telehandler sweepers with confidence.
The Three Types at a Glance
| Type | How it works | Needs auxiliary hydraulics? | Our model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push broom | Pushes debris into a pile for collection | No | Telehandler sweeper, 1525mm to 2440mm wide |
| Bucket brush | A powered brush that fits onto the bucket you already own | Yes, 20 to 100 litres per minute | Telehandler bucket brush, for 6ft to 8ft 6in buckets |
| Collector sweeper | Sweeps debris into its own tipping hopper | Yes, unless you add the diesel power pack | Multi Sweep 500, 2.2m wide |
Push Broom
A push broom is the simplest option. It mounts on the quick hitch and pushes, with no hydraulics or moving parts, so there's nothing to connect and very little to maintain. Our telehandler sweeper has 11 rows of 280mm polypropylene bristles under a 4mm powder-coated steel hood, in 1525mm, 1830mm and 2440mm widths. An optional magnet bar picks up nails, screws and other metal before they puncture tyres.
It gathers debris into a pile rather than collecting it, so you'll need to load the pile into a bucket or skip afterwards. Choose it for mud, gravel, leaves and light snow on yards, farm tracks and site roads.
Bucket Brush
A bucket brush fits onto the bucket you already have and turns it into a hydraulic sweeper, so you don't need a dedicated sweeper frame. Our telehandler bucket brush has a galvanised frame and a polypropylene brush that runs in either direction, and comes in six sizes for buckets from 6ft to 8ft 6in wide, with brackets and pipework included. It needs an auxiliary hydraulic service at the boom head, with an oil flow of 20 to 100 litres per minute at up to 250 bar.
It suits farms and yards where the telehandler spends most of its time with a bucket on, and it stands upright for storage when it's off the bucket.
Collector Sweeper
A collector sweeper picks up as it goes, so the surface is left clean and there's no pile to deal with. The Multi Sweep 500 sweeps a 2.2m path into a 416 litre hopper that tips hydraulically, and a gravity water spray keeps the dust down. It mounts on pallet forks with a hand-latch lock, so it suits telehandlers and forklifts running forks. It runs off your machine's auxiliary hydraulics, or from an optional diesel power pack if your machine doesn't have them, and you can add a poly or wire kerb brush on one or both sides.
Choose it for car parks, site roads, industrial estates and anywhere you need to collect debris rather than just move it.
What Your Telehandler Needs
- Push broom: quick hitch brackets to suit your machine, and nothing else.
- Bucket brush: a bucket from 6ft to 8ft 6in wide and an auxiliary hydraulic service giving 20 to 100 litres per minute.
- Collector sweeper: pallet forks, plus auxiliary hydraulics unless you choose the diesel power pack.
Not sure what's on your machine? Our guide to telehandler quick hitch types explains what to look for and what to send us.
What Width Do You Need?
A sweeper at least as wide as your telehandler's tyres means you're always driving on ground you've just swept, which matters most on mud. Go wider for open yards and car parks, where fewer passes save time, and narrower for tight access roads and buildings. Our push broom comes in 1525mm, 1830mm and 2440mm widths, the Multi Sweep 500 sweeps 2.2m, and a kerb brush helps it reach right into the edges.
Sweeping Safely and Keeping Dust Down
- HSE advises avoiding dry sweeping where possible on construction sites, because dry brushing can push large amounts of dust into the air. Damp dusty surfaces down first, or use a sweeper with a water spray.
- Sweep at a slow, steady speed and let the bristles do the work. Pressing the brush down hard wears it quickly without cleaning any better.
- Keep people well clear while you sweep.
- Watch for kerbs, drains and manhole covers that can catch the brush or hood.
- If you sweep the public road at a site entrance, follow your site's traffic management plan.
Telehandler Sweeper FAQs
Can a telehandler sweeper clear snow?
A push broom handles light snow. For anything heavier, a snow plough does a better job. Our guide on how to clear snow with a forklift covers the basics.
Do I need hydraulics to run a sweeper?
Not for a push broom. A bucket brush needs an auxiliary hydraulic service, and so does the Multi Sweep 500 unless you add its diesel power pack.
Can I use the same sweeper on a forklift?
The Multi Sweep 500 mounts on pallet forks, so it suits forklifts as well as telehandlers. For smaller machines, see our forklift sweepers.
Which sweeper is cheapest to run?
A push broom, because it has no moving parts or hydraulics. The brush is the main part that wears.
Browse Telehandler Sweepers
Compare all three in our telehandler sweepers range, or request a quote with your telehandler make, model and the hydraulic services you have. For technique tips, read how to sweep a yard. Moving the pile afterwards? See our telehandler buckets and telehandler skips, or read how to choose a telehandler skip. You can also browse all our telehandler attachments.
