Forklifts are powerful vehicles in the building industry. They come in handy whenever you need to move heavy loads at a warehouse or construction. The market is filled with different types and models to choose from, making it hard for you to finalize a model. To help you out with your selection, we’ve rounded up ten major forklift types and how they can be used. Whether you need to purchase or rent one for your construction site, you can find one that best suits your needs. You can see the selection of safety lights at Forklift Safety Solutions to find suitable work for you. Below the article here you can find the 10 Different Forklift Types.
1. Warehouse Forklift
It is one of the most common and easily recognizable types in the market due to its yellow color; it resembles a golf cart but with twin forks at its front. This type of forklift can be used at places with a massive inventory. They can be used for loading and unloading pallets and balanced items and safely transporting items from delivery.
Some of the most common warehouse forklift models include Komatsu 20BX50, Hyster 36-38T, and Toyota 3-Wheel Electric Forklift. Most types of industrial Forklifts potentially lift 5000 lbs. but there are also some heavy-duty models with capabilities of lifting to 25,000 lbs.
2. Counter Balance Forklift
It is a popular type of lift with forks at its front and weight in the back to counterbalance load weight. They can directly move to the load, thanks to their lack of extending arms. There are only a few selections of counterbalance forklifts:
- 3-Wheel variant: it is ideal for lift works that require turning and maneuvering in circles
- The stand-up counterbalance is easy to hop on and off during lifts.
3. Side Loader
This is a subtype for the warehouse forklift and is mainly found in bulky and heavy manufacturing facilities and steel service centers. The operator needs to stand in a sideways compartment to unload objects and drive up alongside storage racks.
4. Telehandler
Telehandler forklift usually has an extendable arm that is a combination of crane and forklift. The twin forks can move pallets from the ground while attached to the arm and can lift approximately 5500lbs of items from 19ft up in the air. They can come in handy when reaching tight spaces and objects at odd angles.
5. Rough Terrain Forklift
This type is popularly used in outdoor sites and on uneven surfaces. Their unique feature is strongly-built pneumatic tires that help when navigating rocky ground. The one with threaded and oversized tires can provide better balance and stability or safe material transportation in the outdoor setting.
6. Industrial Forklift
Popularly known as a large-capacity forklift, the industrial forklift can lift heavy loads higher off the ground. They offer the combined functions of a telehandler and warehouse forklift’s combined functions but cant work on complicated angles as the telehandler. However, it is only used for specialized tasks as it offers a narrow scope of utility.
7. Pallet Jack
Also popularly known as pump jacks, they are small in size and capable of lifting small loads. They contain a small footprint instead of power, a feature that allows them to fit and lift loads in tight spaces. Some of the popular models of powered pallet jacks include the Vestil Electric pallet truck and the Mighty Lift 20X36 inch Pallet truck.
8. Walkie Stacker
Walkie stackers have a unique appearance and offer a narrow scope of utility. Unlike other forklift types, they don’t have cabs, and its operator has to walk behind the stacker while steering it using some attached handle. It reaches higher grounds compared to a pallet jack and can be used in its place.
9. Reach Fork Truck
This is a warehouse truck majorly used for indoor lifting. Its primary benefit is extending forks and reaching into racks differently and better than standard forklifts. Its open compartment also gives operators greater visibility.
10. Order Picker
Its primary purpose is to pick up and deliver items from storage. They are majorly designed to lift operators to around 32ft to warehouse racks and carry individual units.
Depending on your needs and the machine’s usability, you can choose one of the ten types of forklifts for your lifting work. It is also vital to consider several aspects: the tire composition, height, lift capacity, and fuel type, as they vary in many. Forklifts are valuable vehicles when you pick the right choice according to your need.
