Raw Materials
The telescoping boom rough terrain forklift's body, cab, frame and boom are generally made by a forklift maker. Steel is the most popular materials used to make these because they have incredible strength. At times aluminum or steel forgings are utilized also. It is common for non-metallic materials like for instance nylon plastic blocks to be used as guides in the boom assembly. The other parts are normally purchased as finished products and the lift truck manufacturer installs them.
Some of the pre-assembled bought products consist of the seat, transmission, axles, engine, tires, wheels and hoses, backup-alarm, lights, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Normally, 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 meticulous 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 situated towards the rear of the machine. The boom portion of the model is mounted at the back of the forklift off of a pivot feature which is raised a few feet above the level of the frame. Generally, the cab is mounted on the left-hand side of the frame structure. Typically, the cab's bottom half is low and located between the tires. The hydraulic fuel tank and the fuel tank are mounted on the right-hand side, opposite the cab. Along the vehicle's center-line, the engine and the transmission are mounted within the frame.
Beyond this basic configuration, various manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market now, there are many different options offered. Some units of forklifts utilize a single hydraulic cylinder to be able to elevate the boom, and other models make use of 2 cylinders. Several models use a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This feature allows the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles in order to allow the machine to compensate for extreme axle articulation. For example, this is utilized when the tires on one side of the forklift are located down in a rut and the tires on the other side of the equipment are up, situated on a mound of dirt.
Another common design feature comprises fork attachments which are capable of swinging up to 45 degrees both right and left, in order to enable precise load placement.