Something To Know When Choosing Fork Lifts

When purchasing Fork lifts it’s important that you pay interest in safety as well as state of the art performance. Lift trucks are available in all shapes and sizes, from the common machines which handle weights of around 5000 lbs, to the very powerful forklifts which can lift more than 35.000 lbs. A common use for the forklift is loading and unloading trucks. This activity doesn’t require a lift truck which can handle loads at great heights. The industrial standard for lift truck capacity is 5000 lbs. For companies which produce identical pallets of products finding one forklift that suits all of their needs isn’t difficult. However, if the size of the loads is variable, the best solution is buying a truck with greater capacity than currently needed. However, if you plan on using your forklift in a warehouse or retail store, it is recommended that you purchase a machine that can reach shelves at more than 30 feet high. Size is also important when buying a forklift with the purpose of using it in a warehouse or store. Standard fork lift trucks can maneuver in 11 feet wide isles whereas for narrower aisles you will need a smaller forklift.Size and capacity aren’t the only things to be considered when selecting a suitable lift truck. It is very important that the tires are appropriate for the environment in which you plan to use your vehicle. Cushion tires, made of solid rubber, are the best choice for an indoor work habitat. For working outdoors and on uneven terrain, pneumatic tires inflated with compressed air are recommended. In some settings, such as lumber yards or recycling facilities where there’s a high risk of bursting regular pneumatic tires, solid pneumatic tires can be used. These tires are more expensive than the other categories, but there’s a very low risk of deterioration on rough terrain. There are two main types of fork lift trucks: electric forklifts and internal combustion forklifts. The electric trucks are powered by an on-board battery. Electric forklifts are especially used indoors and on well-leveled terrain. Probably the most important advantage is that they produce zero emissions as opposed to the internal combustion models which require very good ventilation in order to be used indoors. At a first glance, electric forklifts are more expensive than ones using a traditional engine. However, the cost of operation per hour is lower for the electric models and it compensates for the higher initial price. Two other pluses for the electric lift trucks consist in the fact that they operate quieter and have a longer life span than the internal combustion trucks. On the other hand, internal combustion trucks can handle larger loads and can be operated at greater speeds. These types of trucks run on different varieties of fuels, including diesel, liquid propane gas or compressed natural gas. For some models dual fuel systems are available which enable you to switch between liquid propane gas and gasoline. Fuel costs must also be taken into consideration as they are higher for gasoline and lower for diesel.