Forklifts
In construction, material handling, manufacturing and warehousing applications, forklifts are usually used to move and lift palletized loads. With manual-drive forklifts, the travel or load movement is either powered manually or walk-behind. Motorized drive forklifts have a motorized drive. In many kinds of forklifts, the forklift has a protected cab or seat for the driver. Fork trucks include features like cabs, and backup alarms and are additionally motorized. Various types of forklifts are counterbalanced in order to prevent the vehicle from tipping over. Other models come outfitted with safety rails, or a rotating element like for example a hand rail or a turntable.
Other specifications that are vital to think about when selecting a forklift are the lift capacity and stroke. Lift capacity is defined as the supportable, maximum load or force. Stroke is defined as the difference between fully lowered and completely raised lift positions.
Several of the other vital specifications for the forklift include fuel type and tire type. The available fuel choices are: LP or liquid propane, natural gas, compressed natural gas or CNG, electricity, diesel, gasoline or propane.
There are two basic types of tires for fork trucks and forklifts: solid and pneumatic. The solid or cushion tires require less maintenance than pneumatic tires and do not puncture easily. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires offer great drive traction and load-cushioning. At the end of the day, cushion or solid tires offer less shock absorption.
Class VII forklifts are usually designed to be used on rough terrain. These types of equipment are normally utilized in construction, agriculture and in logging environments. Last of all, Class VIII forklifts include all personnel and burden carriers. Dual Fuel lift trucks typically fit in this class.