Telescopic rod

A telescopic rod comprising a plurality of rod sections which are mounted so as to be telescopically axially slidable relative to each other between an extended position and a retracted position, the rod sections including a first outermost rod section, a last inner rod section, and at least one rod section between the outermost rod section and the inner rod section, a multistage piston-cylinder unit with a plurality of stages having outer surfaces, the piston-cylinder unit being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the piston-cylinder unit being connected to the outermost rod section and to the inner rod section, the rod sections having base portions with inner peripheries, a radially adjustable abutment being mounted on the inner periphery of the base portion of the at least one rod section between the outermost rod section and the inner rod section, the radially adjustable abutment being directed toward the outer surfaces of a stage of the piston-cylinder unit when the piston-cylinder unit is in the extended position thereof, so that the radially adjustable abutment contacts the piston-cylinder unit when the piston-cylinder unit yields radially under load, further comprising stationary abutments mounted on the outermost rod section and on the inner rod section, the stationary abutments being located adjacent the outer surfaces of the stages of the piston-cylinder unit when the piston-cylinder unit is in the extended position thereof.