Tire Types
Cushion tires are generally considered solid tires with no tread pattern. These tires are made for indoor solid and smooth surfaces. There are tread patterns available though, which are more suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are popular on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
Pneumatic tires on the other hand will require air and are designed specifically 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. More often than not, pneumatic tires are utilized in rough terrain environments due to their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother fashion. Many construction sites and agricultural or mining applications depend on these tires in order to make certain the machine could travel as safe and carefully as possible.
Lift height and Lift Capacity
It is important to know the maximum weight and dimensions of the loads you would be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. In addition, you must know the maximum fork height needed to be able to rack or stack the loads. These factors, the lifting height as well as the load size, greatly affect the truck's lifting capacity. A larger size load can move the center of gravity of the vehicle and change the load combination. This reduces the lifting capacity of the machine and affects the load being lifted and the height. Utilizing different attachments can also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
There are many different options of masts available on the market. For example, there are quad, triple, double or single, the numbers indicate how many stages or sections the mast has. In different circumstances, you will not be needed to make any choices since the lift height would dictate the kind of mast you will get, although, in trucks with very high lift heights, you could have a choice.