Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The type of electric truck that is designed to function within narrow aisles is referred to as a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. Standard storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide, adequate space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn within the aisle. Nonetheless, narrow aisles can be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space requires specific types of lift trucks that are small, capable of tight turns, could put away loads without turning. The common types of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be developed for warehouse applications. These small trucks can turn without problems within narrow aisles as their design has eliminated the requirement for a huge counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The downside of this design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get near enough. These trucks work well inside a warehouse that is well lit, has clean, even floors, good flow of traffic and ample space for turning.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design consists of forks on the side that pivot. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load could face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck pivot to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then smoothly deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.