JCB Debuts Its Most Powerful Compact Track Loader and Teleskid

JCB has raised the performance ceiling for compact loaders with the launch of its new 400T compact track loader and 4TS Teleskid, unveiled at the Farm Progress Show. Both machines bring a significant jump in power, moving from the 74-hp threshold of past models to a 109-horsepower, 4.4-liter EcoMax engine paired with higher hydraulic flow and torque.

The upgrade answers years of customer demand for more push power, flow, and attachment capability. “The consistent feedback was … we need more horsepower, more hydraulic flow, more push power,” said Lee Tice, JCB Product Manager. “That’s what really prompted this.”

Power and Performance

The 400T and 4TS share a rated operating capacity of around 4,000 pounds and deliver 41 gallons per minute of hydraulic flow at 4,000 psi. With 380 foot-pounds of torque, JCB claims they now lead the segment on raw pulling and lifting strength.

Both models can dig three feet below grade, while maintaining a compact footprint—6.5 feet wide and about 6 feet high. To meet Tier 4 Final emissions standards, JCB added DEF and DPF systems, which required extending the undercarriage and redesigning the engine bay with a new cooling package.

The upgraded cooling system was tested in high-heat environments from Texas to Nevada, designed to eliminate the need for auxiliary coolers when running demanding attachments such as mulchers and snowblowers.

The Teleskid Advantage

The 4TS builds on JCB’s unique Teleskid design, which adds a telescopic boom capable of 15 feet of lift height and 8 feet of forward reach. That capability, combined with tracks, positions it as a two-in-one solution that could replace compact telehandlers on certain jobsites.

Unlike previous models, the 4TS can now deliver maximum hydraulic flow even when the boom is extended—ideal for land clearing or forestry applications. Operators could, for instance, extend a mulching head up a tree and work down efficiently.

JCB also tackled a common customer complaint: boom drift. On the 3TS, extended booms with heavy loads would gradually descend. The 4TS introduces a new hydraulic system and valve body that minimize drift and improve load stability.

Smoother, Smarter Operation

Both machines introduce refinements to JCB’s Smooth Ride system. Operators can now engage manual Smooth Ride on the fly, without lowering the boom, or rely on Auto Smooth Ride, which activates at preset speeds. “It really makes it effortless for the operator doing repetitive applications,” Tice noted.

Additional features include:

• Hill Hold for safer operation on slopes.
• Multiple hydraulic flow modes (standard, high, and two “super flow” levels).
• Side-entry cab design carried over from the 3TS, with upgraded touchscreen menus.
• Enclosed quick-hitch system compatible with competitor attachments.
• Premium LED lighting for extended work hours.

Choosing Between the 400T and 4TS

While the 400T offers the traditional fixed-boom design, the 4TS Teleskid adds versatility. “It’s the best of both worlds,” Tice said. “The 4TS does everything the 400T does, plus the telescopic boom.”

Production is underway at JCB’s Savannah, Georgia plant, with preorders already filling the 2025 pipeline and stretching into 2026.

“We think we’ve got a good balance of performance and machine size here,” Tice added. “This is going to be really popular.”