Fendt has begun its promised roll-out of new telescopic handlers to build on its initial foray into the market with the top-end 5.5-tonne lift, 8.5m Cargo T955.

While that machine is most likely to be seen in bulk grain stores and the like, Fendt’s second model – the Cargo T740 – is more typical of a high-performance farm telehandler in having a lift capacity of four tonnes and a lift height of 7.7m.

Although the newcomer is smaller and lighter than its bulkier sibling, it does share one notable feature – a unique lifting cab that gives the operator a view into a trailer or silage mixer-feeder.

This concept originated with Fendt’s telehandler partner, Sennebogen, a fellow German manufacturer that specialises in materials handling solutions for industrial applications, such as recycling plants and the like.

Mounting a telehandler cab on a substantial steel arm pivoting from over the left side rear wheel enables the operator of the Cargo T740 to go up in the world to an eye height of just over 4m.

It may feel a little precarious at first, but the improvement in all-round visibility, together with the ability to see where the bucket or fork is discharging, is reckoned to boost operator confidence and productivity.

The view ahead – and especially downwards with the cab raised – is interrupted only by a combine-like steering column since there is no conventional ‘dashboard’.

Also, the windscreen extends right down from the cab floor to above the operator’s head, where only a slim cross bar reinforcing the upper front of the cab frame structure interferes with the view to a raised bucket or fork.

Up top, a washer/wiper is designed to keep much of the rectangular roof panel clean to complement the action of the larger front ‘screen wiper, the heated rear window and comprehensive airflow from the air conditioning system in maintaining visibility.

The Cargo T740’s instrument display is mounted on the seat armrest in line with the right-hand cab pillar. It shares the console with membrane buttons for various functions, the safe load indicator, multi-function joystick and steering mode selector.

For added convenience, if a particular a cab working height is used repeatedly it can be recorded in the machine’s control system and recalled instantaneously when required.

Moreover, the hydraulic cylinder that lifts the cab within its range of movement is plumbed-in to an accumulator that provides a degree of suspension, so the operator should get a more comfortable ride and maybe a little less vibration, too, wherever the boom is positioned.

However, there is a penalty for the novel lifting cab feature in terms of weight. While the Cargo T740 weighs in at 9.4 tonnes, the comparable Bobcat TL43.80HF is 1.5 tonnes lighter and the Claas Scorpion 741 Trend weighs 1.8 tonnes less.

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Power is provided by a four-cylinder Cummins engine delivering 136hp at rated speed (the Cargo T955 has 167hp and 171hp at maximum puff), with drive to all four wheels then delivered by a hydrostatic transmission offered in 30kph and 40kph top speed configurations.

Hydraulic resources amount to a generous 170-litre/min from a variable output swash plate pump, which together with suitably-sized cylinders gives the T740 its four tonnes maximum lift capacity, the ability to take 2.6 tonnes to the full height of 7.7m, and to support 1.7 tonnes with the boom level and fully extended.

An enclosed ‘Z’ bar layout for the front-end mechanism tips and crowds attachments with a break-out force of 65kN (the bigger T955 manages 85kN) to dig out compacted yard muck and similarly challenging materials.

The usual multi-mode steering, meanwhile, provides a turning radius of 4.15m in four-wheel circle turning set-up, the ability to scrape alongside walls with crab steering, and to travel on the road with predictable characteristics in two-wheel steer.

Where overall height is critical – for getting in and out of low doorways, for example – the Cargo T740 is available on 400/70 R24 rubberware to squeeze below 2.50m, but where that is not an issue, wider and slightly taller 500/70 R24 boots are available for maximum traction and flotation.

At a glance: Fendt Cargo telehandlers

T740 T955

Lift capacity 4.0t 5.5t

Lift height 7.7m 8.5m

Lift to full height 2.6t 4.85t

Boom level, fully out 1.7t 2.4t

Bucket break-out 65kN 85kN

Hydraulics 170 l/min 200 l/min

Engine Cummins Cummins

Power (rated) 136hp 167hp

Transmission hydro hydro

Turning radius 4.15m 4.80m

Weight 9.4t 11.8t

TopView lifting cab yes yes