Lift trucks are mobile equipment which utilize 2 forks or prongs to be able to place loads into positions that will normally be hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial forklifts are most often used around train and truck loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse operation. These equipment have smaller tires that are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
Smaller forklifts may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain lift truck is engineered to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Commonly, they are the great option for construction and military applications. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have big pneumatic tires that are generally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models can have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying loads up and out from the equipment's base or they could utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged during the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial equipment was utilized around construction locations and was able to lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity could carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that could lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
In the year 1958, the original 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 very first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in the year 1962. This specific unit enabled loads to be positioned out from the machine's base both below and above grade.