Telehandlers

Bobcat TL43.80HF vs JCB 542-70

Bobcat TL43.80HF

Bobcat

View model →

JCB 542-70

JCB

Data: manufacturers and Bobcat's comparison tests. Does your experience say otherwise? Tell us ↓

Technical data

Parameter	Bobcat TL43.80HF	JCB 542-70
Capacity and weight
Operating weight kg	8,180	8,300
Max. lift capacity kg	4,300	4,200
Capacity at max. height kg	1,800 at 7,520 mm	2,500 at 7,010 mm
Capacity at max. forward reach kg	1,600	1,575
Working range
Max. lift height mm	7,520	7,010
Max. forward reach mm	4,022	3,760
Bucket dump angle at full height °	51	52
Fork crowd angle °	17	12
Engine
Engine	Bobcat D34, 101 kW / 135 hp	JCB, 97 kW / 130 hp
Transmission	hydrostatic, auto-shift, dynamic and soft modes	torque converter powershift, 6 gears (4–6 automatic)
Dimensions
Door opening (width × height) cm	104 × 153	98 × 143

The table combines manufacturers' data and measurements from Bobcat's comparison tests (12-2024).

Tested configurations: Bobcat TL43.80HF Agri****, JCB 542-70 Agri Super.

— means the manufacturer does not publish this figure.

What the table shows

Loading test: 111 / 84 m³ per hour at 9.98 / 10.51 l/h — 11.12 / 8.01 m³ per litre of fuel.
At 7 m height the usable forward reach is 1.40 / 0.48 m.
Maximum capacity 4,300 / 4,200 kg; maximum lift height 7.52 / 7.01 m; at maximum forward reach 1,600 / 1,575 kg with 26 cm more reach.
The 542-70 carries more at full height (2,500 kg at 7.01 m / 1,800 kg at 7.52 m), and its dump angle is 1° steeper; fork crowd angle 17° / 12°.
Engine 101 / 97 kW; hydrostatic drive / torque-converter powershift.

What it means on the job

Loading 1,000 m³ — for example 50 trailers of 20 m³

At the rates measured in Bobcat's loading test: about 9 hours and 90 litres of fuel with the TL43.80HF, 11.9 hours and 125 litres with the 542-70.

Calculation: 1,000 ÷ 111 = 9.0 h; 1,000 ÷ 11.12 = 90 l · 1,000 ÷ 84 = 11.9 h; 1,000 ÷ 8.01 = 125 l

Stacking bales 7 m high

At 7 m height the TL43.80HF has 1.40 m of usable forward reach, the 542-70 0.48 m: at that height the 542-70 cannot set a pallet or bale down beyond its front.

Downhill with a loaded trailer

The TL43.80HF's hydrostatic drive brakes the machine through the transmission. The 542-70's torque converter lets it roll on slopes, so the service brakes take the load.

Pallets across a rough yard

Fork crowd angle is 17° on the TL43.80HF and 12° on the 542-70: the forks tilt back 5° more to keep the load on over bumps.

Calculation: 17° − 12° = 5°

Closer look: notes from Bobcat's comparison test

Measurements and notes come from Bobcat's comparison tests (12-2024), in which both machines did the same jobs. These figures are not in the manufacturers' brochures. “Operator's opinion” is the personal impression of the operator who worked in the test: it is subjective, and your experience may differ.

Working area

Bobcat TL43.80HFLarger working area: 4 300 kg maximum capacity, 7.52 m lift height, 1.40 m usable reach at 7 m.

JCB 542-704 200 kg maximum capacity and 2 500 kg at full height (7.01 m); at 7 m the usable forward reach is 0.48 m.

What it affects: Usable reach at height decides whether a load can be placed on top of a stack or into a trailer, not only lifted.

Transmission and brakes

Bobcat TL43.80HFHydrostatic transmission with auto-shift and dynamic/soft modes. Eco mode as standard. The hydrostatic drive holds the machine on slopes.

Operator's opinionsubjectiveDirection changes came without jolts.

JCB 542-70Torque converter powershift with 6 gears, gears 4–6 shift automatically, no drive modes. Eco mode optional. The machine rolls back on slopes, so the service brakes do more of the work.

Operator's opinionsubjectiveThe 5–6 shift was abrupt, and forward/reverse changes jolted the machine, spilling material from the bucket.

What it affects: In loading work the machine changes direction hundreds of times an hour; smooth reversing keeps material in the bucket and reduces wear.

Cab and joystick

Bobcat TL43.80HFColour-coded controls and a view on all sides. Single joystick worked from the wrist, with proportional rollers and integrated forward/neutral/reverse, fully electronic.

JCB 542-70Many buttons without colour coding, clearly arranged; wide side view from the high seat.

Operator's opinionsubjectiveA large part of the joystick travel produced no movement, which made precise boom control harder.

Entry and underbody

Bobcat TL43.80HFLarge door (104 × 153 cm) with a glazed lower part. Fully closed, armoured underbody plate for farm work.

Bobcat TL43.80HF — Underbody — Underbody

JCB 542-70Smaller door (98 × 143 cm) and high entry steps. Underbody fully protected with removable covers.

Bucket and fork angles

Bobcat TL43.80HFDump angle 51° at full height. Fork crowd angle 17°. Auxiliary flow management in both directions and boom speed fine-tuning from the joystick as standard.

Bobcat TL43.80HF — Fork crowd angle — Fork crowd angle

JCB 542-70Dump angle 52°. Fork crowd angle 12°. Flow management available, boom speed not adjustable.

JCB 542-70 — Fork crowd angle — Fork crowd angle

What it affects: A steep dump angle empties the bucket without shaking; a larger crowd angle keeps loads on the forks on rough ground.

Bobcat test results

	Bobcat TL43.80HF	JCB 542-70
Bucket volume	888 l	822 l
Material loaded per hour	111 m³	84 m³
Fuel used per hour	9.98 l	10.51 l
Material per litre of fuel	11.12 m³	8.01 m³

Tested configurations: TL43.80HF Agri****, JCB 542-70 Agri Super.

What it affects: Fuel per hour tells you what the machine burns; fuel per cubic metre loaded tells you what the work costs. That figure and cycles per hour set the fuel and machine hours per job — your operating cost.

Bobcat comparison test: both machines did the same job with the same material. Results are indicative — they depend on the operator, the material and the site.

Photos: Bobcat comparison tests. JCB 542-70 overview photo: JCB.