There are different forklifts for different work environments, and for different kinds of lifting and moving tasks. The most common type of forklift has a heavy counterweight over the rear tires to balance the load. These lifts usually have solid rubber tires, and are common in factories and warehouses.
If equipped with pneumatic tires, this kind of lift can be used out of doors. Other forklifts raise the operator with the forks, or are operated from a standing position. Hand lifts are operated while walking behind the lift — sometimes they lift the load only a few inches off the ground.
A forklift is any mechanical device, powered by an electric motor or internal combustion engine that is used to move or lift loads. Because of the counterweight over its rear wheels, a forklift is much heavier than a car. Forklift steering is also different from automobile steering. Cars and trucks use their front wheels to steer. But a forklift uses its rear wheels, which allows it to turn in a very tight circle.
But it means that the back end can swing out when turning. Also keep an eye out for your forks and any load you may be carrying. The rear end of the forklift swings in a circle around the front wheels. Most forklifts have a three-point suspension system. The three points are the two front wheels and the pivot point of the rear axle. One major difference between a forklift and a car is stability. Almost all counterbalanced powered industrial trucks have a three-point suspension system.
That is, the vehicle is supported at three points. This is true even if the vehicle has four wheels.
When the points are connected with imaginary lines, this three-point support forms a triangle called the stability triangle. But if the forklift is put in motion, or sits on a sloping surface, its center of gravity shifts. An unloaded forklift can also tip from the weight of the counterbalance, so safe driving is just ask important with an unloaded lift.
Online training from ForkliftCertification. Our Training Kit covers these forklift types:. Online forklift training from FLC saves your business time and money. Employees can take courses anywhere they have Internet access. They can train on their own time. Keep your forklift workers and your business safe with online training from FLC. Five Different Types of Forklifts Most people know what a forklift is and what it does — pull, push, carry, stack, lift, or tier materials.
Basic Forklift Types: Electric vs. Internal Combustion Forklifts are powered by two types of engines — electric and internal combustion IC. Forklift Styles The forklift industry puts forklift types into seven different classes: Class I. Electric motor rider forklifts. These are best suited for loading and unloading tractor-trailers, handling pallets, and other indoor job tasks. They are often seen in food storage, retail, factory, and general warehousing job sites.
Class II. Electric motor narrow aisle forklifts. These are also called reach trucks or order pickers. They are designed for easy maneuverability in tight spaces.
Class III. Electric pallet jacks, stackers, and tow tractors. This class offers rider and walk-behind models. They are good for unloading deliveries and moving loads to a staging area where they can be handled by different types of forklifts. Class IV. Internal combustion cushion tire forklifts.
Designed for indoor use, this class has IC engines that run on diesel fuel, LP gas, gasoline, or natural gas. Class V. Internal combustion pneumatic tire forklifts. In outdoor and in a rough surface, the forks should be a bit higher to prevent from the forks from digging in the ground. Dahman Bluthgen Pundit. Can you use two forklifts to lift a load? Forklifts Working in Tandem. Handling a load with one forklift may not be complicated, but handling a load with two forklifts can be very complicated.
This job required two forklifts and a scissor lift working together in close proximity to each other. Elsi Tallo Pundit. What does cradling the load mean? Carmina Shamsiev Teacher. How do you move the forks on a forklift?
If the forks are rarely adjusted they may be very hard to move. If so, move to the end of the fork and move it from side to side to break it free. Slide the fork to the desired location on the crossbar. Shift the fork slightly until it drops into the notch nearest the desired distance.
Mandeep Rowlinson Supporter. How many types of forklifts are there? The most common forklift on the market. Omkeltoum Hemke Supporter. Do all forklifts have a clutch? Some forklifts also have a clutch , which allows shifting into higher forward gears. The inching pedal gives the operator more control of the forklift in tight places. See Steering, Turning and Changing Direction for more information on using inch pedals. Forklifts are equipped with a parking brake. If your load center is farther out than the load center for maximum lift capacity for your forklift, then your maximum lifting capacity is reduced, potentially dramatically.
The lift truck also has a center of gravity, which shifts once the truck picks up a load. When the load is lifted, the center of gravity moves forward. Care must be taken to maintain the center of gravity within the stability triangle of the forklift by not lifting more than the maximum allowable given the load center.
When working, stability can be best maintained by keeping loads low to the ground and traveling with caution when turning, stopping, and starting. Also, be sure to wear your seatbelt.
One area of particular concern is on ramps, slopes, or otherwise uneven terrain. Never raise a load or turn on an uneven surface.
In such cases, your center of gravity will quickly move outside of the stability triangle. While traveling empty on a ramp, your forks should always point downhill. When carrying a load, your forks should always point toward the top of the ramp, so the load will not fall off. If a forklift starts to tip over while you're operating it, do not try to jump clear of the machine.
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