Types of Tires
Cushion tires are generally considered solid tires with no tread pattern. These tires are made for indoor smooth and solid surfaces. There are tread patterns available though, that are more suitable for various surface environments. The cushion tires are common on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
On the other hand, pneumatic tires require air and have been specifically designed for outdoor use on loose surfaces and uneven ground. Pneumatic truck tires have higher ground clearance also. This raises the forklift's center of gravity and really lessens its rated lift capacity. More often than not, pneumatic tires are utilized in rough terrain surroundings due to their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother fashion. Many construction sites and agricultural or mining applications rely on these tires so as to make sure the machinery can travel as safe and carefully as possible.
Lift height and Lift Capacity
It is essential to understand the maximum dimensions and weight of the loads you would be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. Also, you should know the maximum fork height required so as to rack or stack the loads. These factors, the load size and the lifting height, greatly affect the lift capacity of the truck. A larger size load is able to move the center of gravity of the vehicle and change the load combination. This decreases the machine's lifting capacity and affects the height and the load being lifted. Using various attachments can also affect the overall capacity of the truck.
Mast Options
On the market these days are various choices of forklift masts. These include: quad, triple, double and single masts. The number indicated the amount of sections on the mast. In different circumstances, you will not be required to make any choices since the lift height would dictate the type of mast you would get, however, in trucks with very high lift heights, you may have a choice.