Tire Types
Generally, cushion tires are solid tires which have no tread pattern. They are mostly designed to be used on solid and smooth surfaces, typically indoors. There are tread patterns available however, which are a lot suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are popular on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
On the other hand, pneumatic tires require air and have been specifically made for outdoor use on uneven ground and loose surfaces. Pneumatic truck tires have higher ground clearance as well. This raises the center of gravity of the forklift and greatly reduces its rated lift capacity. More often than not, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain surroundings due to their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother fashion. Many construction sites and mining or agricultural operations rely on these tires in order to make certain the machinery can travel as safe and carefully as possible.
Lift Capacity and Lift Height
It is essential to know the maximum weight and dimensions of the loads you will be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. As well, you must know the maximum fork height required so as to stack or rack the loads. These factors, the load size and the lifting height, greatly affect the lift capacity of the truck. A bigger size load is able to move the vehicle's center of gravity and change the load combination. This decreases the lifting capacity of the machine as well as affects the height and the load being lifted. Utilizing different types of attachments could also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
On the market nowadays are various choices 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 needed to make any choices because the lift height would dictate the type of mast you will get, although, in trucks with very high lift heights, you may have a choice.