Rough terrain forklifts have been used for decades to carry heavy, oversized loads over rough terrain. They are the forklifts that you will see used in construction sites or by lumberyards to move lumber or other rough objects around.
When it comes time to choose a rough terrain forklift for your business, consider factors. You should take these considerations into account so you can select rough terrain forklifts that will provide maximum return on investment. We will be discussing those considerations in this article.
What Is A Rough Terrain Forklift?
Rough terrain forklifts have been specifically designed for rough terrain. They are usually four-wheel drive, making them suitable for use on uneven, unplowed ground or rough surfaces.
Rough terrain forklifts can handle inclines and declines of more than 45 degrees. They also have the power to lift loads to six feet high, and they can run at speeds of up to 5mph. Thus, a rough terrain forklift will allow you to transport weighty loads over rough terrain easily.
A rough terrain forklift has five significant parts: transmission, mast assembly, forks, wheels, and pedals/foot controls. The more experience your drivers have with rough terrain forklifts, the better they will handle these key components safely.
This rough terrain forklift is used more often than any other type. It has four drive wheels on uneven surfaces, rough terrain, and concrete or smooth warehouse floors. The rough terrain forklifts -also known as rough terrain lifts- have a single mast for lifting loads between one and three meters high. The rough terrain forklift can reach speeds up to 5 mph, has a load capacity of 4200 kgs, and can lift loads between 0.7m and 3m high, making it one of the most versatile options on the market.
Rough terrains are not paved or concreted, from muddy lanes to country tracks. And this rough terrain forklift makes light work out of moving goods around your business with ease over rough terrains.
Keeping your rough terrain forklifts maintained will ensure that they run at optimum performance for years to come, giving you more time to focus on what you do best- growing your business!
Types Of Rough Terrain Forklifts In Use Today
There are many different types of rough terrain forklifts available on the market today. Let’s take a closer look at each of them:
Telescopic Lattice Mast/Telescopic Boom Lift
It is a rough terrain forklifts with a lattice mast and a telescopic boom for lifting loads between one and three meters high. It has four drive wheels, allowing it to traverse rough terrain easily and smooth surfaces.
Articulated Arm
This rough terrain lift is mounted on a chassis with two drive wheels for increased stability when carrying a load over uneven ground. Articulated arm rough terrain lifts can easily maneuver around rough terrain with ease.
Scissor Lift
The rough terrain scissor lift is a four-wheel-drive forklift that provides excellent stability and traction over rough areas. It is available in 300mm and 400mm mast extensions, giving extra flexibility.
Rough Terrain Order Picker (ROP)
A rough terrain order picker is the best option for picking operations between pallets on rough ground, mainly when speed and accuracy are paramount.
Rough Terrain Straddle Carrier
The rough terrain forklift is the only option when you need to lift and transport materials over the rough ground while preventing any damage from occurring due to shock or vibration. It has four drive wheels, allowing it to traverse rough terrains easily and smooth surfaces. It also has a single mast that can fit with either 100mm or 200mm deck extensions.
How To Choose Your Rough Terrain Forklift?
The rough terrain forklift you choose will depend on the applications on how you will use it. For example, suppose you are carrying out a rough ground picking operation. In that case, an articulated arm rough terrain lift will best suit your needs as they can maneuver around rough terrain with ease.
When choosing, you must consider some key factors. These factors will help you choose the right rough terrain forklift for your business.
Know Your Loads
The rough terrain forklift you choose must handle the size of load it is required to carry out. The loading capacity ranges from one to three tons, ideal for taking most materials that need to be transported across rough surfaces. You may also want to consider buying if this is what your business requires.
Are they lifting a load at around a meter from the ground? Consider rough-terrain scissor lifts as they can easily lift loads between one and two meters.
Know The Terrain You Will Be Operating In
When it comes to rough terrain, you will need to consider the ground surface, the incline of the area, and the weight of your load. In addition, you must choose a rough terrain forklift that has four drive wheels for increased stability when carrying a load.
Make sure that any forklift you choose has a large stable platform so that workers can stand on a solid base while operating it. This platform must also have optimum protection from flying debris not to cause any injuries.
Choose Your Mast Reach
If you operate in rough terrain, consider rough-terrain forklifts with telescopic booms for increased reach and flexibility in transporting materials over rough areas. This rough terrain lift has a single mast for lifting loads between one and three meters high. When choosing this rough terrain lift, you may also need to choose between 300mm or 400mm mast extensions.
Type Of Forklift
Depending on what rough terrain forklift you choose, you may have to consider the type of forks it uses. For rough terrain forklifts, make sure that your rough terrain forklift has 30 x 45mm tines to avoid causing any damage when transporting loads across rough areas. This rough terrain lift is ideal for carrying materials over rough terrains.
Articulate Arm Rough Terrain Lift
This rough terrain lift comprises two drive wheels for increased stability when carrying a load over uneven ground, making this rough-terrain scissor lift ideal for picking operations between pallets to pick applications in either indoor or outdoor conditions. This lift can easily pick up a load of one ton and has a standard deck extension for transporting materials over rough terrain.
This rough terrain scissor lift comes with an adjustable fork length to cater to different pallet heights and a telescopic mast capable of reaching eight meters high when transporting loads between four and twelve tons. This rough terrain scissor lift also has two drive wheels, which help it operate at optimum stability on rough terrain surfaces.
Fast, Flexible, And Safe With Rough Terrain Forklifts
This rough terrain straddle carrier comprises three drive wheels for increased stability when carrying a load over rough terrain. It can carry loads between one and three tons making it ideal for rough ground applications.
This straddle carrier has a single mast with an adjustable length to allow the operator to adjust the reach of this rough terrain forklift according to what material they are transporting over the uneven ground surface. In addition, the load deck on this rough terrain lift can extend, making it ideal for moving longer items over rough terrains.
Different Rough Terrain Forklifts For Different Applications
This heavy-duty rough terrain forklift has two sets of drive wheels, which means that it will have better stability when carrying materials across bumpy ground. In addition, this rough terrain forklift can carry loads up to five tons and operates at a maximum speed of 25km/h, which makes it ideal for rough terrain lift applications that require high speeds.
This rough terrain forklift is designed with a single mast with an adjustable length to allow the operator to adjust the reach of this rough terrain forklift according to what they are transporting over the bumpy ground surface. In addition, the load deck on this rough terrain forklift can also extend, making it ideal for moving longer items over rough conditions.
Know The Types Of Materials You Will Be Transporting
When choosing between materials you will be transporting, you can select rough terrain forklifts, rough terrain scissor lifts, and rough terrain straddle carriers. For example, choose a forklift when carrying items over rough areas and use a rough terrain scissor lift when transporting loads between pallets to pick applications.
Choose a rough terrain straddle carrier when you want to move longer items such as steel drums or wood planks across the bumpy ground.
To sum it all up, these lift equipment trucks can carry materials over rough terrains. There are different rough terrain lifts for rough-ground applications, including rough terrain scissor lifts, rough terrain forklifts, and rough terrain straddle carriers. Ensure the types of items you will be transporting when choosing between these different kinds of rough terrain lift trucks.
