Lift trucks are used to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads in manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, mining and construction 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 equipment with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are complete with a motorized drive. In numerous instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design in order to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are a different kind which are motorized and include features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machinery from overturning, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or other kinds 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 forklifts comprise their fuel type and tire.
Different fuel options for lift trucks comprise: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major kinds of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and need less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand offer excellent drive traction and load-cushioning.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. The first class of forklifts, Class I, is either seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units that are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units are counterbalanced and can have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are utilized for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
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 usually counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have seated controls and cabs. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Moreover, this class uses cushion or solid tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Similar to Class IV lift trucks, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Finally, Class VII forklifts 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.