Tire Types
Cushion tires are usually considered solid tires with no tread pattern. These tires are made for indoor solid and smooth surfaces. There are tread patterns available however, which are a lot suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are popular on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
Pneumatic tires on the other hand will need air and are made particularly for uneven ground and loose surfaces. The pneumatic tire provides a higher ground clearance over solid tires. This raises the forklift's center of gravity and greatly reduces its rated lift capacity. More often than not, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain surroundings because of their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother manner. A lot of mining or agricultural operations and construction sites rely on these tires so as to make certain the machinery can travel as safe and carefully as possible.
Lift height and Lift Capacity
It is essential to know the maximum dimensions and weight of the loads you will be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. Also, you should know the maximum fork height required in order to stack or rack the loads. These factors, the lifting height as well as the load size, really affect the truck's lifting capacity. A bigger size load can move the center of gravity of the vehicle and change the load combination. This decreases the lifting capacity of the machine as well as affects the height and the load being lifted. Using different types of attachments can also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
On the market these days are several different options of forklift masts. These consist of: quad, triple, double and single masts. The number indicated the amount of sections on the mast. In a variety of circumstances, you would not be needed to make any choices because the lift height will dictate the type of mast you will get, although, in trucks with really high lift heights, you can have an alternative.