Tire Types
Usually, cushion tires are solid tires that have no tread pattern. They are mostly designed to be utilized on smooth and solid surfaces, normally indoors. There are tread patterns available though, which are more suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are popular on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
Pneumatic tires however will require air and are designed specifically for uneven ground and loose surfaces. The pneumatic tire provides a higher ground clearance over solid tires. This raises the center of gravity of the forklift and greatly reduces its rated lift capacity. Most often, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain surroundings due to their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother fashion. Many construction sites and agricultural or mining applications depend on these tires to be able to make certain the equipment can travel as safe and carefully as possible.
Lift height and Lift Capacity
In order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed, it is essential to understand the maximum dimensions and weight of the loads you will be handling. What's more, you must 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 can move the center of gravity of the vehicle and change the load combination. This decreases the lifting capacity of the equipment and affects the load being lifted and the height. Utilizing various attachments can also affect the overall capacity of the truck.
Mast Options
On the market these days are several different options of forklift masts. These include: quad, triple, double and single masts. The number indicated the amount of sections on the mast. In various circumstances, you would not be required to make any choices because the lift height will dictate the kind of mast you would get, however, in trucks with very high lift heights, you could have an alternative.