Rough Terrain Forklifts

There are actually two categories of lift trucks within the production business, the rough terrain model and the industrial model. Rough terrain forklifts appeared in the 1940’s built predominantly for use on rough roads, ideal for lumberyards and construction sites, providing lifting power when there was no paved surface available.

Typically, the majority of rough terrain lift trucks are run on a propane, diesel or gas powered internal combustion engines with a battery used for power. Some makers are experimenting with rough ground lift trucks that utilize vegetable matter and run from ethanol. Huge pneumatic tires with deep treads distinguish these forklifts to permit them to latch onto the roughest soil type without any slippage or shifting.

The most primitive styles of rough terrain forklifts were able to carry weights of up to 1000 lbs, with blades that could slide underneath the item, jack it a little bit and then transfer it to a different location. After some time on the market, rough terrain vehicles were given supplementary shipping power to about 2000 lbs capacity. In the 1960's telescoping booms were added, allowing them to stack materials much higher than in preceding years. The telescoping design feature is a staple of nearly all rough terrain forklifts nowadays. Present styles are capable of managing well over 4000 lbs due to the continuous improvements through the years. Telescoping capability has also improved with some models achieving a height of 35 feet. Operator safety has also become a focus with several all terrain forklifts currently manufactured are equipped with an enclosed cab for the operator, versus the older open air seating capacity.

The rough terrain forklifts existing today work just as well on covered floors as on unpaved surfaces. These rough terrain forklifts are being marketed for their versatility permitting companies to transport items from outside the plant to the inside or vice versa.

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