Knowing the different sizes of forklifts
What should I know for my warehouse or workshop?
Forklifts are one of the great innovations in the material handling industry.
It can lift, move and carry heavy loads more efficiently. Due to its capacity, it has become indispensable in any type of job or warehouse.
Forklift size guide
Forklifts vary in size depending on their use. Although it can perform different tasks that manual handling cannot, you need to understand the proper size for your intended application.
Dimensions such as overall height, maximum fork height, folded height, overall length and fork length must also be taken into account.
If the application is primarily outdoors, the rough terrain forklift is the ideal type of forklift for the job, its length is greater than 10 feet and it can lift a much heavier load.
Rough terrain forklifts are great for the type of handling job, such as docks, harbors, logging, and construction sites.
If the application is pallet racking, narrow aisle machine types such as standing stackers and side loaders are perfect for fitting between aisles and can be only 5 feet long.
Another aspect to take into account for this type of application is the lifting height that the forks can reach.
The standard lift height is between 10 and 15 feet.
Knowing the maximum height of the frame is important in determining the lift height that the forklift should have.
Buying a forklift with too short a lift height will make you buy another. Choosing a forklift with the proper lift height to suit your application can definitely save you the hassle.
Forklift capacity chart
If the forklift is intended for the warehouse configuration, it is crucial to know the aisle width to determine what size forklift is ideal for the current configuration.
If you intend to purchase a standard counterbalanced forklift, the aisle width must be at least 12 feet in order to safely and efficiently maneuver the truck and move pallets.
When choosing a forklift, you need to know how the forklift will be used. Forklifts differ in many ways, such as the fuel they run on, lift capacity, fork height, wheel size, pallet dimensions, etc.
When buying a forklift, it is very important to consider these factors as well, which will affect the monthly maintenance and fuel budget.
Forklift Fork Dimensions
They are an integral part of the forklift and ensuring you are using the correct ones and that they are in good condition is essential to both the safety of personnel, but also the forklift and the load.