The forklift is a mobile equipment which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to carry and place cargo into positions that will be usually difficult to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most commonly, industrial forklifts are utilized around train loading docks and truck loading docks as well as in warehouse operations. These machinery have smaller tires which are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
Smaller lift trucks may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain lift truck is engineered to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Usually, they are the great choice for construction and military applications. Rough terrain forklifts usually have large pneumatic tires that are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models can have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying cargo up and out from the machine's base or they could utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
During the year 1946, the rough terrain lift truck emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machine was utilized around construction locations and can lift to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which can raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
The first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in 1962. This model enabled loads to be placed out from the equipment's base both below and above grade.