Used Cushion Tire Forklift Massachusetts - Most forklifts are classified by the kind of work they do and some are classified by their type of tires. The two types of tire classification for forklifts are:
1. Cushion; and
2. Pneumatic.
It is vital to note that there are benefits and drawbacks to both types of forklift tires; cushion and pneumatic. The cushion tire benefits and drawbacks can only be understood in the context of what the pneumatic tire offers in terms of forklift operation.
Forklift Tire Classifications
Cushion Tires
Cushion tires are made up of either smooth or treaded solid rubber and are designed around a metal ring or baseband. Cushion tires cost less to make and are easier to take care of. Cushion tires have been designed to work on smooth surfaces such as interior loading docks and warehouse floors. Cushion tires are also better suited to applications in tight spaces. This is because they offer a turning radius that allows for movement around tight corners. Forklifts that use cushion tires can be lower to the ground compared to pneumatic tire models and the increase in vertical clearance is welcome for many applications. It is important to note that cushion tires do not offer as much traction compared to pneumatic models and this is noticeable on wet locations and outdoor surfaces.
There are many jobs suitable for cushion tire forklifts such as unloading shipments, transporting items to and from the loading areas, order picking, unloading inventory and more.
Pneumatic Tires
Pneumatic tires are mainly utilized on uneven surfaces and rougher terrain. These tires fall into two categories: standard air pneumatic or solid resilient pneumatic.
The main difference with these categories is that the standard air pneumatic tires consist of a layered rubber design filled with air and the solid resilient pneumatic type is made completely out of rubber.
Pneumatic tire forklifts are good options for work that takes place outdoors on unpaved ground. The solid resilient pneumatic forklift tires are best used in areas such as lumber yards or junkyards and construction sites where there may be sharp metal items on the ground which could puncture the tires.
Benefits of Cushion Tire Forklifts
Cushion tire forklifts can be used inside and outside on smooth surfaces. The forklift designed for use with cushion tires, is intended to be used mostly indoors, with some limited outdoor use. Warehousing applications and manufacturing facilities often rely on cushion tire forklifts. Warehousing and narrow aisles and tight locations all rely on the benefits of cushion tire forklifts.
Some benefits of using a cushion tire forklift over a pneumatic tire forklift are:
1) Maneuverability
Most cushion tire forklifts intended for indoor use are electric, which means they are usually smaller and more maneuverable because they do not required the extra room needed to accommodate the larger internal combustion engine.
2) Lower Clearance
Indoor cushion tire forklifts have lower clearance compared to pneumatic models; allowing the machine to travel easier through doorways and around lights or sprinkler obstacles.
3) Durability
With little to no risk of a tire puncture, cushion forklift models are easy to maintain and ultra-durable.
4) Quiet
Cushion tire forklifts do not use an internal combustion engine and instead rely on a battery or fuel cell, making them significantly quieter than their propane or diesel cousins.
5) Environmentally Friendly
Powered by electricity instead of relying on an internal combustion engine enables cushion tire forklifts to make zero dangerous emissions.
Forklift Tire Choice
The forklift frame typically depicts whether a cushion tire or a pneumatic tire will be utilized. The forklifts’ lifting capacity and frame are specific to the axles and tires in the design. Forklift manufacturers create models that safely operate with certain tires and wheels, typically pneumatic tires or cushion tires. Because of this, it is more useful to choose the best forklift type, considering the type of tires the forklift will require and how it fits the job application, rather than attempting to modify the forklift by choosing the right tire for the application.
Workplace Applications
Suitable Work Applications for Cushion Tires
Cushion tire forklifts are usually the best option for many workplace applications. If there is moderate use of the forklift outside on smooth surfaces and the majority of the lifting, loading and transporting will be occurring inside on smooth floors, a cushion tire model is an excellent tool.
Forklifts fitted with cushion tires often have a smaller frame and sit much lower to the ground than forklifts fitted with pneumatic tires. Cushion tire models can fit through doorways easier and avoid overhead obstacles. It is important to note that cushion tire forklifts showcase less ground clearance and the machine may get caught up on exterior obstacles if the ground is uneven. To combat this issue, the cushion tire forklift can be fitted with traction tires on the front. Tires that offer traction will perform better on wet surfaces, rough terrain, packed gravel and asphalt. These tires are not recommended for travelling on grass or dirt. Traction tires are utilized on the opposite sides, the steer and drive axles.
The smaller turning radius on the cushion tire forklifts is one of their main advantages. This makes cushion tire forklifts ideal for warehouses and manufacturing facilities that have less space. Warehouses that utilize a narrow aisle layout will especially benefit from the smaller turning radius of cushion tire forklifts. Cushion tire forklifts are also less expensive and are more readily available than pneumatic tire forklifts.
Suitable Work Applications for Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
Outdoor applications working on gravel benefit from pneumatic tire forklift models thanks to the air in their tires. Pneumatic tires can also be used inside but do not provide the advantages of low clearance, maneuverability or small turning radius. Of course, they are often powered by internal combustion engine so do produce harmful emissions which are not recommended for normal indoor use. Pneumatic tire forklifts are longer and wider than cushion tire forklifts which is why they are primarily used outdoors.
There are two kinds of pneumatic tires; the air-filled pneumatic tire is less expensive than the solid pneumatic tire. The solid pneumatic tire has no air inside and is made from solid rubber. This design makes the tire stronger against punctures or gouges. Outdoor areas including lumber yards and scrap yards that feature copious amounts of metal debris and nails often rely on solid pneumatic tires. Air pneumatic tires work great outside on gravel and asphalt applications. The main issue with air pneumatic tires is their ability to become gouged or punctured. Because of this, it is necessary to make sure the work area is free of any sharp objects before using forklift fitted with air pneumatic tires at that site. Operator fatigue and discomfort can be traced to the bounciness of air-filled tires. Therefore, many air pneumatic tire forklift users prefer to foam fill their tires. Much less bouncy than air-filled pneumatic tires, the solid pneumatic forklift tires provide the operator with a smoother ride. Foam filling is also used to help prevent flat tires. Filling an air pneumatic tire with foam usually takes approximately 3 days to fill and cure.
Difference in Load Capacity
The load capacity of cushion tire forklifts and pneumatic tire forklifts are about equal. Some electric powered cushion tire forklifts do have lift limits. However, cushion and pneumatic tire forklifts can basically be obtained with just about any load capacity. There are numerous load capacities ranging from less than 2000 pounds to more than 200,000 pounds.
Cushion Tire Forklift PDF
