Tire Types
Cushion tires are generally considered solid tires with no tread pattern. These tires are designed for indoor smooth and solid surfaces. There are tread patterns available though, which are a lot suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are common on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
Pneumatic tires however will require air and are designed particularly 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 utilized in rough terrain environments because of their ability to navigate uneven surfaces in a smoother manner. Many construction sites and mining or agricultural operations depend on these tires so as to make sure the machine is able to travel as carefully and safe as possible.
Lift height and Lift Capacity
In order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed, it is vital to know the maximum weight and dimensions of the loads you will be handling. As well, you must know the maximum fork height required in order to stack or rack the loads. These factors, the load size and the lifting height, greatly affect the truck's lifting capacity. A bigger size load could move the vehicle's center of gravity and change the load combination. This decreases the lifting capacity of the equipment and affects the height and the load being lifted. Utilizing various kinds of attachments can also affect the overall capacity of the truck.
Mast Options
On the market nowadays are several different options of forklift masts. These consist of: quad, triple, double and single masts. The number indicated the amount of sections on the mast. In different circumstances, you will not be required to make any choices as the lift height will dictate the type of mast you would get, however, in trucks with really high lift heights, you can have an option.