Lift trucks are mobile machines which use 2 forks or prongs in order to place loads into positions that will normally be difficult to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most often, industrial forklifts are used around truck loading docks and train loading docks as well as in warehouse applications. These machines have smaller tires that are designed to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller lift trucks may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain lift truck is designed to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Commonly, they are the great alternative for construction and military applications. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have big pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models can have a telescoping boom, that could lift cargo up and out from the equipment's base or they can use a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
During the year 1946, the rough terrain lift truck emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machinery was utilized around construction locations and was able to lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity could carry 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models that could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
In 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck was introduced with a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in 1962. This model enabled cargo to be placed out from the machine's base both above and below grade.