Tire Types
Cushion tires are normally considered solid tires with no tread pattern. These tires are designed for indoor solid and smooth surfaces. There are tread patterns available however, which are a lot suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are common on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
Pneumatic tires on the other hand would need air and are designed specially for loose surfaces on uneven ground. The pneumatic tire provides a higher ground clearance over solid tires. This raises the forklift's center of gravity and really lessens its rated lift capacity. Most often, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain environments because of their ability to navigate uneven surfaces in a smoother manner. Lots of agricultural or mining operations and construction sites depend on these tires to be able to make sure the equipment could travel as carefully and safe as possible.
Lift Capacity and Lift Height
It is essential to know the maximum dimensions and weight of the loads you will be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. Furthermore, you must know the maximum fork height required in order to stack or rack the loads. These factors, the lifting height and the load size, greatly affect the lift capacity of the truck. A larger size load is able to move the vehicle's center of gravity and change the load combination. This decreases the lifting capacity of the equipment as well as affects the height and the load being lifted. Using various kinds of attachments can also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
On the market these days are several different choices of forklift masts. These comprise: single, double, triple and quad masts. The number indicated the amount of sections on the mast. In different circumstances, you would not be required to make any choices as the lift height will dictate the type of mast you would get, although, in trucks with really high lift heights, you may have a choice.