Lift trucks are used to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads within warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, construction and mining applications. There are 3 basic kinds of forklifts: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive lift trucks.
The motorized forklift models come complete with a motorized drive and in lots of cases have a protected cab or seat in their design in order to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are a different type which are motorized and comprise features like for example cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the vehicle from overturning, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts include safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
When selecting forklifts, important specifications to take into consideration include 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. Other specifications for forklifts include their tire and type of fuel.
Forklifts comprise various fuel options like: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major types of tires used for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires require less maintenance than pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption in general. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires however offer great load-cushioning and drive traction.
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 can have either pneumatic or cushion wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These kinds of forklifts provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
Forklift Class III lift trucks include standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have seated controls and cabs. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Moreover, this class utilizes solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated 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 typically counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with internal combustion or IC or electric engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and consist of rough terrain lift trucks, which are commonly used in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII lift trucks include all employee carriers and burden carriers.