Lift trucks are used in warehousing, manufacturing, construction, mining and material handling applications to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 main types: 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 lift trucks.
The motorized forklift models come equipped with a motorized drive and in lots of cases have a seat or protected cab in their design to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are a different kind that are motorized and include features like for example backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machinery from tipping over, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element like for instance a turntable or different types of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into consideration when selecting forklifts consist of 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 type of fuel.
Different fuel options for forklifts include: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 major kinds of tires used for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand offer great load-cushioning and drive traction.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts include electric-motor rider trucks, seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units. Typically, rider units could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are used for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle environments. These types of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III lift trucks are either walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Moreover, this class uses solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These machines would have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or IC or internal combustion engines.
Lastly, 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 forklifts include all personnel carriers and burden carriers.