The main reason for this upsize is that the Elite Series machine was also the only telehandler in our lineup to have a longitudinally mounted engine (which did offer up some unexpected benefits). Another ‘only’ is that it was the sole machine to have a left-hand shuttle in cab and the sole powershift transmission, giving us plenty to delve into.
Engine
A large, one piece, wide-opening side panel houses the longitudinal-mounted 146hp, 4.5L FPT engine. This is the same as in the T6 Series Tractors and employs ECOBlue HI-eSCR technology to be Tier 4B compliant, and importantly, this allows for lengthy 600-hour service intervals.
The FPT engines have established a fantastic reputation in New Zealand and in my opinion have proven to be the most reliable out of any of the manufacturers. Not only does this reliability give you piece of mind, if something does go wrong, this makes sourcing parts for the engine particularly, but also other cab components, much easier as they’re not specific to just the telehandler.
Another benefit of the longitudinal-mounted engine is that the main radiator can be mounted at the top rear of the engine bay. This keeps it out of the dust, muck and debris coming from the front wheel (like all other machines). Despite this, the hydraulic fan reverses every six minutes and runs for 15 seconds clearing the engine, oil coolers and intercooler cooling package. The same cycle is repeated by two electrical fans to clean air-con, fuel cooler and transmission radiators, which are on a hinged swingout door to allow access to engine components behind – all great features.
Transmission
New Holland has stuck with its powershift transmission to minimise any power loss that can be a symptom of a full hydrostatic transmission. In this case the engine flywheel is yoked to a heavy-duty 280mm torque convertor which then sends the smoothed power to the 6×3 transmission. For functionality, it has three modes: Manual, Semi-Auto Mode (operates between gears 2–4 and is perfect for loading trailers or for silage loading, yard work etc), and lastly Full-Auto Mode (active between gears 2-6 for jobs such as collecting bales from the paddock or transport). Speaking of transport, 40km/hr is the max transport speed. When in transport mode (manually activated), this automatically locks the boom functions and prevents the operator from activating 4WS or crab steer modes allowing front axle steering – a nice way not to get crossed up on the road. When you get back to the yard, the auto alignment feature ensures you’re on the straight and narrow in between modes.
In terms of hydraulic performance, the New Holland TH 7.42 Elite has a variable displacement piston pump with a maximum output of 140 L/min. This allows high flow rates at all engine speeds, but can also close down when there’s no demand on the system. Engine power can then be diverted to the transmission for transport or climbing a silage stack for example.
Boom and Headstock
Twin U-shaped robot welded boom sections make up the hardware side of the boom, with a couple of nifty little features I liked. Ram end-stroke dampers mean you don’t get a large thud when the boom retracts right in. Speaking of the boom retracting, a dust protection system keeps the grease and wax on the boom, protected from large debris and the bulk of the dust, kicked off by a clever brush type setup. The headstock itself on our test machine had a Manitou hitch, although Q-fit and other options are available from factory. The third and fourth service option and high flow return are mounted up on the gooseneck. This offers a nice clean curve with the Z-bar setup well protected and is designed so there’s no room for material to sit on/in it. For releasing pressure for changing implements, a relief pressure switch is mounted on the top of the front right-hand mud guard, placed for easy access as you leave the cab.
Axles and frame
The H-shaped ladder chassis forms the structural integrity of the machine, with ground clearance sitting at 415mm and designed for a 40/60 weight distribution. This is a little strange when compared to the sweet spot of a 50:50 weight distribution in tractor terms, but for the New Holland, with its longer chassis (thanks to the engine layout), this also eliminates the need for bolt-on counterweights, offering superior stability and traction.
The clever features don’t stop there either, with the ‘opposed’ lifting geometry where the main lift ram is under the boom, while the self-levelling ram faces rearward near the hinge point. As the boom israised, the cylinders extend in opposite directions, improving control.
In terms of axles, the New Holland has full time 4WD, sealed wet disc brakes on both axles, as well as front and rear limited slip diffs which require minimal maintenance. Our test machine had the rear pick up hitch. In my opinion, with its simple diverter switch from front third/fourth service to the rear spool and the cable unlatch, of all the telehandlers, this was the easiest to use. The hydraulic trailer brake circuit is linked to the brakes. The parking brake can be manually engaged by shuttle lever (the same as the CNH tractors) or via a dash-mounted switch. Alternatively, it can be done automatically when the engine is switched off.
Operator environment
The ‘360-degree vision cab’ is the catchy marketing name for the new series that has been designed with a wide, deep front screen and slim pillars. Ten LED work lights take care of night work, while additional side lighting on the right-hand side (facing backwards down below the two piece mirror) gives additional visibility down the side of the machine, which is usually the trickiest spot to achieve.
In terms of usability, a 7-inch InfoView LCD display with a combination of digital and dial display covers machine vitals. The integrated electronic joystick mounted on the seat armrest covers gear selection, forward/reverse shuttle, transmission de-clutch, boom and 3rd service functions (all operated from the joystick).
Summary
For me personally, I found the New Holland TH 7.42 Elite to be the easiest to drive out of all of telehandlers in our showcase; contributing to this was the mechanical feel of the transmission. This was the only telehandler with left hand shuttle, and the boom toggles on the joystick were boom in/out on the nearer toggle, with the third function on the window side. Again, this was the sole machine with this configuration and simple muscle memory in terms of operating, this setup made me the most comfortable. Don’t let the larger stature fool you, the outer turning radius was equally as manoeuvrable as the others but with the added stability benefits.
Top 5
- Longitudinally mounted engine, same as in T6 series tractors, easy maintenance access and 600hr intervals
- The longer chassis to support the engine configuration allows for a 40/60 weight distribution for better stability without compromising turning circle
- 360-degree vision cab, 10 LED work lights, 7-inch display and seat mounted joystick
- 6×3 powershift transmission with torques converter, two auto shifting functions and left-hand shuttle
- Large 500/70R24 tyres offer 415mm ground clearance, full-time 4WD, LSD locks and sealed wet disc brakes