The flurry of industry during World War II is known for advancing many key technologies -weapons or otherwise. In fact, there’s one that’s commonplace, yet you’d never suspect: the forklift.
The forklift helped ramp up production for the war effort. Even now, over 75 years later, it continues to be a key component of any warehouse. There’s something else you ought to know about this industry staple: it comes in multiple warehouse forklift types.
Additionally, for those who are specifically looking for forklift parts, paco1.com offers a range of options to ensure the optimal functioning of your equipment. The right forklift parts, when used in conjunction with the best-suited forklifts for the job, can significantly assist workers in meeting the demands of massive post-pandemic quotas. As you read further, we will delve into a detailed exploration of the various types of forklifts designed exclusively for indoor use within warehouses.
Read on as we talk about the types of forklifts used exclusively indoors at warehouses.
Warehouse Forklift Types
There’s likely only one thing you imagine when picturing someone using a forklift. A small, steel cage around an elevated seat. Then two, long prongs that can widen, raise, or lower to carry any load.
That general design is common across all types of forklifts. When indoors, they use two types of fuel: propane and electric. The real difference that sets these machines apart is their classes:
- Class I: full-sized trucks
- Class II: narrow-aisle trucks
- Class III: hand-driven trucks
When you arrange for a forklift rental in Grand Rapids, MI, you’ll need to choose only one. Let’s dig deeper into each class.
Class I Forklifts
These full-sized forklifts have a loading capacity of approximately 8,000 lbs. In order to avoid tipping over, they counterbalance with a heavy battery or engine. Even at full capacity, they can maneuver safely from A to B.
They come in three or four-wheel variants. Three-wheelers can make much tighter turns, at a small cost to stability. Four-wheelers require much more space, ideal for bigger warehouses.
The type of tire they use depends on whether you use it only inside or not. Inside forklifts have cushion tires. The rest have regular threaded ones for rugged, uneven surfaces.
Class II Forklifts
Class II is the perfect mid-ranger. Its load capacity goes all the way up to 5,000 lbs. The extra narrow profile enables operating a forklift through tight warehouses very quickly.
Class II comes in many flavors with wide variability in its attachments:
- Order-picker forklifts
- Side loaders
- Reach forklifts
Class III Forklifts
These are the smallest of the bunch, lacking a cabin for an operator. Instead, a warehouse worker directs it by hand with a jack handle. They’re very similar to unpowered pallet jacks, albeit capable of lifting up to 8,000 lbs.
Also, these forklifts usually cannot reach very high. Their purpose is to raise a load only a small height above the ground – enough to move it. More than anything, they allow an employee to transfer a pallet elsewhere.
Choose the Best Forklifts for Your Warehouse
Warehouse forklift types enable operators to have precision control in any situation. The largest Class I forklift handles heavy loads with wide isles. In smaller, tighter warehouses, a Class II or III is better suited to the task.
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