Lift trucks are used within manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, construction and mining applications to lift, engage and transport palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 main types: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the machinery with manual-drive lift trucks.
The motorized forklift models come equipped with a motorized drive and in a lot of cases have a protected cab or seat in their design to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are a different type which are motorized and consist of features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the vehicle from overturning, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element like for instance a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
When choosing forklifts, essential specifications to take into account comprise lift capacity and stroke. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for lift trucks comprise their fuel type and tire.
Forklifts include various fuel options like: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major kinds of tires utilized for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires need less maintenance than pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand provide great load-cushioning and drive traction.
For forklifts, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts incorporate electric-motor rider trucks, seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units. Normally, rider units can have either pneumatic or cushion wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units which are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These types of forklifts provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III forklifts are either walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are usually counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Additionally, this class utilizes cushion or solid tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or IC or internal combustion engines.
Finally, Class VII lift trucks are the perfect choice for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII lift trucks consist of all burden carriers and personnel carriers.