Lift trucks are used to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads in manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, mining and construction applications. There are 3 main kinds of forklifts: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking at the back of the machinery with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are complete with a motorized drive. In numerous instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are another type that are motorized and include features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the vehicle from turning over, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models comprise safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or different types of hand rails.
Essential specifications to take into consideration when choosing lift trucks comprise stroke and lift capacity. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-lowered and the fully-raised lift positions. Lift capacity is the supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for lift trucks include their type of fuel and tire.
Different fuel options for lift trucks consist of: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 basic types of tires for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however provide excellent drive traction and load-cushioning.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Usually, rider units may 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 setting. These kinds of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks include walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are often counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have seated controls and cabs. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Additionally, this class utilizes cushion or solid 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. Similar to Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with IC or internal combustion or electric engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, that are normally utilized in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts include all burden carriers and employee carriers.