Lift trucks are utilized to raise, engage and transport palletized loads in manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, construction and mining applications. There are 3 basic kinds of forklifts: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking at the back of the equipment with manual-drive forklifts.
The motorized forklift models come complete with a motorized drive and in numerous cases have a protected cab or seat in their design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another kind which are motorized and include features like for instance cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the vehicle from overturning, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts include safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or different types of hand rails.
Essential specifications to take into account when choosing lift trucks include lift capacity and stroke. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for forklifts consist of their tire and fuel type.
Different fuel options for forklifts include: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major types of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and need less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption in general. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand offer great drive traction and load-cushioning.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts include electric-motor rider trucks, seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units. Normally, rider units are counterbalanced and could have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These types of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks consist of standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have seated controls and cabs. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Moreover, this class has cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machines would have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with IC or internal combustion or electric engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, which are commonly utilized in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all burden carriers and personnel carriers.