Lift trucks are utilized in warehousing, manufacturing, construction, mining and material handling applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 main types: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. 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 many cases have a protected cab or seat in their design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another kind which are motorized and consist of features like backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machinery from overturning, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts include safety rails, a rotating element like for instance a turntable or different types of hand rails.
When selecting lift trucks, important specifications to take into account comprise 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. Additional specifications for forklifts consist of their fuel type and tire.
Forklifts comprise various fuel options like: 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. Solid or cushion tires require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand provide excellent drive traction and load-cushioning.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts incorporate electric-motor rider trucks, seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units. Usually, rider units are counterbalanced and could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are utilized for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle environments. These types of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks consist of walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have cabs and seated controls. These kinds of forklifts are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Furthermore, this class has cushion or solid tires.
Class V lift trucks 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 usually counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with internal combustion or IC or electric engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and consist of rough terrain lift trucks, that are usually utilized in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts include all personnel carriers and burden carriers.