Lift trucks are used to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads in warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, construction and mining applications. There are 3 main kinds of forklifts: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are complete with a motorized drive. In many instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another kind which are motorized and consist of features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the vehicle from overturning, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts comprise safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or different kinds of hand rails.
When selecting forklifts, important specifications to take into consideration consist of lift capacity and stroke. 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 include their fuel type and tire.
Different fuel options for lift trucks include: 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: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and require less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand provide excellent 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 which are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units are counterbalanced and may have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are used for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle environments. These models offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III lift trucks are either standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have seated controls and cabs. These types of forklifts are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Additionally, this class uses cushion or solid tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Similar to Class IV forklifts, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, that are normally used in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all burden carriers and personnel carriers.