What Type of Forklift Should I Buy for My Business Needs?

If you need a forklift for your next job, you need to make sure that you choose the right type of forklift. You’ll have to consider a variety of factors, such as how high and how much the forklift can raise, how big it is, how sensitive the work area is, and if you should rent or buy the machine. 

Picking the appropriate forklift is crucial to a business. It can affect all aspects, including productivity, stock management, operation costs, and employee morale. There are a variety of forklift types on the market, and each one is built to complete certain tasks. 

Interested in learning more? Continue reading and we’ll walk you through what factors to consider and what kind of projects the different types of forklifts are built for. 

Application

The most important consideration when deciding on the appropriate forklift is the intended application and the specifics of the job site. You will have to consider whether you’ll be using the machine outside or inside, if you’ll be working on rough terrain or smooth surfaces, what kind of products you’ll moving, and what lift heights you’ll need. 

Finding the right forklift for the correct application is paramount. There are literally thousands of models from dozens of manufacturers when it comes to modern forklifts. While it might seem overwhelming, fulling understanding the application needs will help you greatly narrow down your search.

Selection

When you’re selecting the appropriate forklift for the job, you’re going to have to think about the lift height, the load capacity, and the fuel type. Let’s go over all of that in more detail below.

Lift Height

Your lift height requirements will determine your machine’s load-carrying capacity. Most forklifts start with a lift height of around eight feet and lift as high as twenty feet. However, some machines can lift much higher than that.

This is why it’s so important to know your height requirements. You’ll also want to consider:

• Any height restrictions that you’ll have to be aware of
• The maximum height that the forklift will need to reach
• The typical lift height

You’ll also have to think about height minimums. If your forklift needs to go through a garage door or under a fixed structure, you’re going to want to make sure that it’s going to fit. 

Load capacity 

If you end up selecting a forklift with a lift capacity maxes out below the requirements of the job, you’re going to run into problems. That’s why it’s necessary that you know:

• The average load weight
• The heaviest load that you’ll be lifting
• The kind of stock that the forklift will be handling
• The width of the loads

The type of load is also important. You’ll also have to know if there are any special attachments that you can add to the forklift to help you work more efficiently.

Fuel Type

There are two fuel options for forklift – internal combustion and electric. Let’s go over how they differ.

Electric

Electric forklifts are powered by big lead-acid batteries. These batteries usually provide power for an eight-hour shift. The biggest advantages of using electric-powered forklifts are that they don’t give off any emissions and are fuel-efficient.

It’s going to be much cheaper to power an electric forklift than one that runs on internal combustions. However, these lifts have higher upfront costs. 

If you intend to buy an electric forklift for a long period of time, then the costs will eventually work in your favor. And because they don’t produce any emissions, they’re pretty much your only option when working indoors. It’s reasons like these that are why the majority of forklift orders are for electric ones. 

If you do end up purchasing a forklift, it’s also crucial that you take it to a reputable forklift repair service when problems occur. 

Internal Combustion

Internal combustion engines can run on diesel, propane, or gasoline. They tend to have higher weight capacities and are quicker to refuel. However, it costs a lot more to refuel these machines. 

Types of Forklifts

Now that we’ve gone over the most important considerations to be aware of, it’s time to go over the different kinds of forklifts.

A hand pallet jack utilizes a hydraulic jack in order to move and raise pallets. The fork separates the wheels in the front and raises the pallet to make clearance to move the pallet around the work area. 

A manual stacker is manned by hand and is meant to handle and lift pallets. These are low-reaching machines that are best for shelving and low-level racking. 

An order picker forklift is built for speed and makes it easy to pick stock. 

Reach trucks are built to be used in narrow spaces. Their two outer legs distribute load weight by using a wheel configuration on two wheels per leg. 

The articulated forklift comes with a fork carriage that moves on a joint. It can swing forward and backward and is also used in narrow spaces. 

As the name implies, a rough terrain lift is best-suited for outdoor conditions. It comes with a pivoted boom and/or a vertical mast. 

Which Type of Forklift Will You Use? 

As we can see, there’s a lot to think about when trying to decide which type of forklift to use. But the more information you have at your disposal, the better prepared you’ll be. Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now feel that you have the tools to make a more confident and informed decision that will make your business more efficient and effective.

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