Raw Materials
The cab, body, frame and boom of a telescoping boom rough terrain forklift are generally manufactured by a lift truck manufacturer. The most common material utilized for these subassemblies is steel, due to its amazing strength. Sometimes aluminum or steel forgings are also used. It is common for non-metallic materials like nylon plastic blocks to be utilized as guides in the boom assembly. The other components are typically purchased as finished products and the forklift maker installs them.
Pre-assembled purchased products may include some of the following: transmission, seat, engine, axles, hoses, tires and wheels, backup-alarm, lights, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Most often, some materials such as the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are purchased in bulk. These liquids are added as needed once the machinery is assembled and has passed the rigorous testing sessions.
Design
The long and narrow design of the telescoping boom rough terrain forklift is most common, with a set of wheels at the front of the unit and another set located towards the back of the machinery. The boom portion of the model is mounted at the forklift's rear off of a pivot feature that is elevated several feet above the frame's level. Usually, the cab is mounted on the frame structure's left-hand side. Usually, the bottom half of the cab is low and located between the tires. The hydraulic fuel tank and the fuel tank are mounted opposite the cab on the right-hand side. Along the vehicle's center-line, the transmission and the engine are mounted in the frame.
Various manufacturers have contributed their own unique designs beyond this basic configuration. Today, there are many different options offered on the market. Certain units of forklifts use a single hydraulic cylinder in order to elevate the boom, and other units utilize 2 cylinders. Some models utilize a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This particular feature allows the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles in order to allow the equipment to compensate for extreme axle articulation. This is used for example, when the tires on one side of the forklift are located down in a rut and the tires on the other side of the machine are up, situated on a mound of dirt.
Another popular design feature comprises fork attachments which are capable of swinging up to 45 degrees both right and left, in order to allow precise load placement.