Tire Types
Normally, cushion tires are solid tires which have no tread pattern. They are mainly made to be utilized on smooth and solid surfaces, usually indoors. There are tread patterns available however, that are more 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 particularly designed for outdoor use on uneven ground and loose surfaces. Pneumatic truck tires have higher ground clearance too. This raises the forklift's center of gravity and greatly lessens its rated lift capacity. More often than not, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain environments due to their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother manner. Numerous construction sites and mining or agricultural operations rely on these tires so as to make certain the machinery could travel as safe and carefully as possible.
Lift Capacity and Lift Height
In order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed, it is important to know the maximum weight and dimensions of the loads you would be handling. Moreover, you will have to know the maximum fork height needed so as to rack or stack the loads. These factors, the lifting height and the load size, really affect the truck's lifting capacity. A larger size load is able to move the center of gravity of the vehicle and change the load combination. This decreases the lifting capacity of the machine and affects the load being lifted and the height. Using various types of attachments could also affect the overall capacity of the truck.
Mast Options
There are many different choices of masts offered on the market. For instance, there are single, double, triple and quad, the numbers indicate how many stages or sections the mast has. In a variety of circumstances, you would not be required to make any choices because the lift height will dictate the type of mast you would get, although, in trucks with very high lift heights, you may have an option.