There are many types of forklifts and it’s important to get the right one for the right job.
Here are your options…
Warehouse Forklift
The most well-known sort of lift vehicle is the warehouse forklift. It looks like a golf cart with twin prongs protruding from the front. This forklift is most commonly used at a facility with a large inventory, since it is excellent for loading and unloading pallets and carrying things to and from delivery trucks.
Front Loader
Side loaders, a sort of warehouse forklift, are commonly seen in steel services and industrial plants with big and bulky products (Forklift That Moves Sideways – Forklift Reviews (forkliftrivews.com)). While the side loader unloads things, the operator works in a sideways compartment. Side load forklifts can simply drive in beside racks , load and unload without having to turn owing to its sideways operation. This allows them to navigate small corridors and handle lengthy items such as lumber and pipes.
Forklift with Counterbalance
A common lift is the counterbalance forklift, which has prongs front and a weight in the rear to counterbalance that weight of the cargo. Counterbalance forklifts do not have extending arms, allowing them to travel directly to the load.
Telehandler
The telehandler, also referred to as a telescopic forklift and a reach forklift, is a crane and forklift hybrid with a boom and extensible arm. Pallets are lifted off the ground using the arm’s dual prongs. A basic telehandler can hoist 5,500 pounds of goods up to 19 feet above the ground and is ideal for getting into tight areas at strange angles.
Forklift, Heavy Duty
The heavy-duty forklift, also known as a big capacity forklift, combines warehouse forklift and telehandler functions. While it cannot reach difficult angles like a telehandler, it can carry bigger objects higher off from the ground than that of a warehouse forklift. The heavy-duty forklift has a maximum lift capacity of 30,000 pounds, but you should only use it for specific tasks. This limits its breadth in comparison to the telehandler or warehouse forklift.
Rough Terrain Forklift
The rough terrain forklift, also referred to as a straight boom forklift, is built primarily for exterior job sites with uneven ground. Click here for further definition of a forklift boom. These trucks have larger and threaded pneumatic tires that provide improved balance and stability for transporting products on difficult terrain. If you perform most of the work indoors, you won’t need one, however rugged terrain forklifts are essential for exterior applications and building sites.
Another significant advantage of difficult terrain forklifts is their ability to handle greater loads – most models have a capability of 6,000 lbs to 8,000 lbs.
Pallet Jack
Pallet jacks are highly specialized machines. Because of their diminutive size, these forklifts, also referred as pump trucks, are incapable of lifting heavy loads. Pallet jacks feature a compact footprint in order to gain power, allowing it to fit into the smallest areas and raise small weights in tight quarters. While you give up power and flexibility, the cost of purchasing and renting a pallet jack is substantially cheaper.
Walkie Stacker
Walkie stackers are distinct in look and usefulness. These material handling trucks, unlike regular forklifts, do not have cabs. Instead, the operator goes in behind the stacker and guides it using a handle attached to the machine. These devices lack power, mobility, and speed, but they are perfect for circumstances when a larger pallet jack is required. The walkie stacker can reach significantly higher than standard pallet jacks.
Order Picker
The order picker is just a walkie stacker subtype that is used to select and transport products from storage. These devices, which can reach up to a height of 32 feet, are meant to raise operators up onto warehouse racks and transport individual components. Because they can select individual products without bringing down complete pallets, they flourish in client order warehousing and storage facilities, and Sun Equipment often has several in stock. Because of their adaptability, they can handle things ranging in size from car parts to furniture.
Reach Truck
The reach lift is a logistic vehicle that is mostly used for inside labor. Its main strength is the capacity to extend its prongs outside the compartments and reach inside warehouse racks in ways that regular forklifts cannot. It also has an open chamber that gives the operator more vision. Reach trucks, while good for interior use, are not appropriate for outside operations due to their low undercarriage clearance.