Forklifts are one of the most adaptable vehicles available to builders. Forklifts can securely carry goods that people cannot, making them vital on every job site, whether you need to transport large cargo in a warehouse or construction site in Wichita.
It might be tough to choose the best forklift because there are so many different kinds and models to choose from. Whether you want to rent or buy a forklift for your next project, this guide will help you pick the best forklift for your needs by explaining the various forklift kinds, their benefits, and common forklift models.
In this blog, our experts at Trinity Sales & Rental in Wichita, KS, will go through and discuss the most common forklift types and what they’re used for. The ten most frequent varieties of forklifts are shown below.
- Warehouse Forklift
- Counterbalance Forklift
- Side Loader
- Pallet Jack
- Walkie Stacker
- Telehandler
- Order Picker
- Reach Fork Truck
- Heavy-Duty Forklift
- Rough Terrain Forklift
All Type Of Forklifts
Warehouse Forklift
The warehouse forklift is the most well-known type of lift vehicle. It has the appearance of a golf cart, with twin prongs emerging from the front. This forklift is most typically seen at a warehouse with a huge inventory since it is great for loading and unloading pallets and transporting items to and from delivery trucks.
The Hyster 36-38T, Komatsu 20 BX50 Hyster, and Toyota 3-Wheel Electric Forklift are among the most well-known warehouse forklift models. Most commercial forklifts can handle 5,000 pounds, but some heavy-duty versions may carry up to 25,000 pounds. Counterbalance Forklifts and Side Loaders are two types of warehouse forklifts.
Notable Feature: Trucks have a payload capacity ranging from 1 to 5 tons.
Application: Ideal for short-distance lifting and transportation.
Counterbalance Forklift
The counterbalance forklift is a typical lift that has prongs in the front and weight in the rear to maintain the load’s weight. Counterbalance forklifts do not have extending arms, allowing them to go directly to the load.
There are several kinds of counterbalance forklifts. The 3-wheel model is suited for situations when the operator must turn and navigate in circles. Operators may quickly hop on and off the stand-up counterbalance forklift between loads.
Notable Feature: Back-mounted weight that aids in load balancing.
Application: Circular movement in some situations is required.
Side Loader
Side loaders, a type of warehouse forklift, are commonly seen in steel service centers and industrial plants with big and bulky products. While a side loader unloads things, the controller stands in a sideways compartment.
Side load forklifts can simply drive in beside racks and load and unload without needing to turn due to their sideways function. This enables them to go through narrow hallways and handle long materials like timber and pipes.
Notable Feature: The compartment travels sideways in the direction of the load.
Application: Lifting heavy and lengthy materials such as pipes and lumber.
Pallet Jack
Pallet jacks are highly specialized machines. Because of their diminutive size, these forklifts also referred to as pump trucks, are incapable of lifting heavy loads. Pallet jacks feature a compact footprint in exchange for power, enabling them to slide into the smallest areas and raise small weights in tight quarters. While you give up power and flexibility, the cost of purchasing and renting a pallet jack is considerably cheaper.
Notable Feature: Small size, manual or battery operation.
Application: Pallet maneuvering in confined areas and across long distances.
Walkie Stacker
Walkie stackers are different in look and usefulness. These handling trucks, unlike traditional forklifts, lack cabs. Instead, the operator goes behind the stacker and guides it using a handle attached to the machine. These machines lack power, maneuverability, and speed, but they are ideal for situations that demand a bigger pallet jack.The walkie stacker has a far higher reach than normal pallet jacks.
Notable Feature: Because of the design, the driver must follow the truck behind him.
Application: Pallets can be moved to greater heights than a pallet jack can.
Telehandler
The telehandler, also termed a telescopic forklift or a reach forklift, is a crane and forklift hybrid with a boom and extensible arm. The arm’s twin prongs are used to pull pallets off the ground. A basic telehandler can hoist 5,500 pounds of goods up to 19 feet in the air and is ideal for reaching tight areas at difficult angles.
Notable Feature: Boom with articulation and extendable arm attachment.
Application: Lifting loads from the ground to higher heights.
Order Picker
An order picker is a walkie stacker subtype used to select and transport products from storage. These devices, which can reach heights of up to 32 feet, are meant to raise workers to storage racks and transport individual components.
Because they can pick individual products without bringing down complete pallets, they shine in client order warehouses and storage facilities. Their adaptable design allows them to handle anything ranging in size from auto components to furnishings.
Notable Feature: There is no pallet handling, and the operator window is open.
Application: Piece-picking machines and storage inventory uses.
Reach Fork Truck
The reach forklift is a warehouse vehicle that is mostly used for inside labor. Its main strength is the capacity to extend its prongs outside the container and access warehouse shelves in ways that regular forklifts cannot. It also includes an open chamber that allows the operator to see more clearly.Reach trucks, while good for interior use, are not appropriate for outside operations due to their low bottom clearance.
Notable Feature: The forks stretch forward, and the legs stabilize.
Applications: Quick and precise pallet selection in interior conditions.
Heavy-Duty Forklift
The warehouse forklift and telehandler abilities are combined in the heavy-duty forklift, also called as a big-capacity forklift. While it cannot reach tough angles like a telehandler, it can carry bigger objects higher off the ground than a warehouse forklift.
The heavy-duty forklift can lift 30,000 pounds, but it should only be used for specialized jobs. This limits its breadth in comparison to the telehandler and warehouse forklift.
Notable Feature: Hydraulic levers offer a good mix of reach and force.
Application: Transporting big weights for industrial use.
Rough Terrain Forklift
The rough terrain forklift, also known as a straight mast forklift, is built primarily for outdoor worksites with uneven ground. While we don’t have too many mountains or steep terrain in Kansas, these trucks have larger and threaded pneumatic tires that provide improved balance and stability for transporting cargo on rough terrain. You certainly won’t need one if you perform most of your work inside, but rough terrain forklifts are necessary for outdoor applications and building sites.
Notable Feature: Solid build with bigger tires and a reinforced cage cab.
Application: Outdoor tasks in rough, rocky terrain.
Forklift Dimensions
The size of forklifts varies according to their use. Despite their versatility, you’ll need the correct size for the job.
Standard forklifts range in width from 4 to 7 feet and in length from 8 to 10 feet. Outdoor or rough terrain forklifts can be longer than 10 feet, although narrow aisle forklifts such as walkie stackers and side loaders can be as short as 5 feet. However, if you are utilizing a forklift in a warehouse, you must consider the aisle width. To successfully turn, maneuver, and carry pallets, standard counterbalance forklifts require lanes typically 13 feet wide.
Most forklifts can reach heights of 10 to 15 feet, however specialized forklifts, such as the telehandler, may reach heights of up to 55 feet, depending on the telehandler size you select.
Forklift Components
While size is crucial, the design of a forklift allows it to carry an astounding amount of weight. The most important aspects of a forklift to consider are its lift capability, load center, and stability. Forklifts differ in their skills in each category, which must be considered while selecting one.
- Load center: The distance between the forks and the center of gravity of the load; fluctuates according to the load weight, lift angle, and tilt angle.
- Stability triangle: The region beneath the forklift that keeps the vehicle’s center of gravity stable and prevents it from tipping over.
- Lift capacity: The maximum amount of weight that a forklift can safely carry while staying stable.
What are the different Forklift types?
Forklifts are also classified and grouped accordingly. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines seven forklift classifications based on their fuel type and application. Forklift operators must be knowledgeable of the required forklift safety measures for each type and be qualified to operate each kind of forklift.
Class I: Electric Motor Rider Forklifts
Class, I forklifts are powered by electric motors. These forklifts are perfect for loading and unloading tractor-trailers, carrying pallets, and a number of other uses in sectors spanning from food storage and retail to manufacturing and general warehousing.
Class, I forklifts are substantially quieter and emit no pollutants since they are charged by an electric battery, making them an ideal choice for interior applications. Class, I forklift batteries also serve as a counterbalance to help sustain lifting capability.
Class II: Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Trucks (Reach Forklifts, Order Pickers)
Class II forklifts are electric units with limited aisles. Class II forklifts, as the name implies, are intended for mobility, allowing them to work in small places and narrow aisles. This type of forklift is ideal for selecting and storing products, and these trucks allow customers to add racking capacity without extending their present warehouse.
Class III: Electric Motor Hand Forklift (Pallet Jacks, Stackers, and Tow Tractors)
Electric pallet jacks, stackers, and tow tractors are examples of Class III equipment. This sort of equipment is available in both rider and walk-along (“walkie”) varieties and is ideal for emptying deliveries and transporting items to a holding area where other types of forklifts can take them.
Class IV: Internal Combustion Cushion Tire Forklifts
Class IV forklifts are cushion tire vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine. This type of sit-down forklift is intended for indoor use only. Internal combustion (IC) engines that operate on diesel fuel, LP gas, gasoline, or compressed natural gas power Class IV forklifts. Their sturdy, cushioned tires give a pleasant ride on interior floors and are puncture-proof because they are not air-filled.
Class V: Internal Combustion Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
Class V forklifts are pneumatic tire vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine. This class of forklifts is comparable to Class IV but is mainly intended for outdoor operation. These forklifts are extremely tough and are perfect for use in lumberyards, construction sites, and other outdoor settings.
Class VI: Electric/IC Engine Tow Tractors
Electric and internal combustion engine tow tractors are examples of Class VI equipment. These devices are mostly used for towing rather than lifting. These trucks are perfect for airports, but they are also often employed in manufacturing lines.
Class VII: Rough Terrain Forklifts
Rough terrain vehicles are classified as Class VII forklifts. Trucks in this class have big, tractor-style tires and are virtually entirely powered by diesel engines for outdoor use on rough terrain. Class VII trucks are most typically utilized to transport construction materials to elevated work locations like lumberyards or construction sites.
How to Select IC (gas-powered) vs. Electric Forklifts:
Choosing between an internal combustion forklift and an electric forklift for your purpose might be a difficult challenge. Here are some high-level factors to consider while deciding between a gas-powered and an electric-powered forklift:
Benefits of Electric Forklift
- Usually require less maintenance than I/C forklifts.
- Quieter, with fewer emissions noises
- There are no fuel-storage requirements.
- A charging station is required.
- There are no tailpipe emissions.
- The lifespan is determined by the application, use, and maintenance.
- A better choice for tiny, constrained spaces
Benefits of Internal Combustion Forklift
- Use gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas, or liquid propane gas to power your vehicle.
- Primarily used outside, but may be utilized in some inside applications in moderation.
- Can function in a variety of surroundings
- There are no batteries to charge.
- Toyota’s IC Forklift series can lift more than 51,000 pounds.
- The lifespan is determined by the application, use, and maintenance.
- Noise levels meet or exceed ANSI B56.1 requirements.
Allow a professional Forklift dealer to assist you in making the right option between an electric and an IC forklift. Our forklift specialists will work directly with your company to discover the best solution(s) to any difficulties you may be encountering.
How to Select a Forklift
To ensure that your chosen equipment functions effectively and safely, consider the following parameters when selecting a forklift that best matches your project:
- Ascertain the capacity. How much weight must you lift?
- Determine the stability of the job location. Can the forklift be supported by the ground?
- Determine the height of the space. Is your forklift able to travel through gaps?
- Choose the appropriate fuel type. Do you require battery or gas power?
- Examine the landscape. Is the surface smooth or textured?
Forklift models differ in various ways, from fuel type and tire material to lift capability and height, and it is critical to examine these considerations when choosing a model. Forklifts are key players on any job site because of their capacity to lift and carry goods of varied sizes.
Your one-stop Shop for Construction Rental Equipment
Trinity Sales and Rental offers a variety of equipment, including single-man lifts and 185-foot boom lifts. Skid steers, mini excavators, generators, light towers, compressors, golf carts, utility vehicles, telehandlers, forklifts, and other equipment are available from us.
We offer a comprehensive range of services for renting, buying, and selling equipment. For scissors, boom, and forklifts, we provide training on parts and safety compliance. We’ve pushed ourselves to address more inquiries as consumers have done so. We’re conveniently located at 2225 S West St, Wichita, KS 67213. Visit us today or call us at 316-942-5555.
