Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The kind of electric truck that is designed to function in narrow aisles is called a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. Typical storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide, adequate space for a counterbalanced lift truck to pivot within the aisle. Nonetheless, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specific types of lift trucks which are capable of tight turns, small, can put away loads without pivoting. The popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The first kinds of narrow-aisle lift trucks manufactured for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks can turn with no trouble within narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the requirement for a large counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These types of trucks work well within a warehouse that is well lit, has clean, even floors, good flow of traffic and ample space for turning.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck includes forks on the side that turn. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage location, the truck's forks turn to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks can come with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.