Lift trucks are utilized to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads in warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, construction and mining applications. There are 3 basic types of lift trucks: a fork truck, manual drive and motorized drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking at the back of the machinery with manual-drive forklifts.
The motorized forklift models come complete with a motorized drive and in lots of cases have a protected cab or seat in their design to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are another kind that are motorized and comprise features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the equipment from overturning, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts include safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or other types of hand rails.
When choosing lift trucks, important specifications to take into consideration comprise stroke and lift capacity. 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. Additional specifications for lift trucks comprise their tire and type of fuel.
Forklifts comprise various fuel options like: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires for operating forklifts and fork trucks: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however provide great drive traction and load-cushioning.
There are 7 classes of forklifts. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units that are electric-motor rider trucks. Typically, rider units may have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III lift trucks are either standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are often 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 uses cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These equipment will have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are normally counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks 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 include all burden carriers and personnel carriers.