Lift trucks are utilized to lift, engage and transport palletized loads within warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, mining and construction applications. There are 3 main types of forklifts: a fork truck, manual drive and motorized 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 complete with a motorized drive and in many cases have a seat or protected cab in their design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another kind that are motorized and comprise features like for instance cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the equipment from tipping over, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models consist of safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or different kinds of hand rails.
When selecting lift trucks, important specifications to take into consideration consist of stroke and lift capacity. 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. Other specifications for lift trucks consist of their fuel type and tire.
Forklifts include various fuel options like: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major types of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires however provide great drive traction and load-cushioning.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. The first class of forklifts, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Usually, rider units are counterbalanced and could have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are utilized for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These types of forklifts provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III lift trucks are either standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are usually counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Additionally, this class utilizes 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 lift trucks, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and consist of rough terrain forklifts, which are usually used in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII lift trucks include all employee carriers and burden carriers.