Telehandler Mk2 — boom lift with proper outriggers

Telehandler Mk2 exists because Mk1 tipped over when the boom went past 45°. That was a lesson.

The chassis is eight studs wide with a ballasted rear counterweight — 2×2 plate stack, not fancy, but it moves the centre of mass back enough that the boom can extend without wheelieing. Outriggers deploy with a single lever on the right side. They lock with a ratchet pawl so they don’t fold mid-lift.

Boom elevation runs on a LEGO linear actuator (the long one). Gear ratio is 12:20 from the input knob so it’s slow but controllable. Fast inputs snap the boom and throw the load.

The carriage uses a parallelogram linkage so the fork plate stays level from stowed to full extension. Mk1 used a single pivot and the forks dumped gravel everywhere. Not acceptable.

Drive is rear-wheel only — front wheels steer via a HOG on the roof. Turning radius is wide but this is a yard machine, not a go-kart.

Next iteration: swap the static forks for a tilt mechanism. Already sketched the linkage on paper.