Types of Tires
Usually, cushion tires are solid tires which have no tread pattern. They are mostly designed to be used on solid and smooth surfaces, usually indoors. There are tread patterns available however, that are a lot suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are popular on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
However, pneumatic tires need air and have been specially designed for outdoor use on uneven ground and loose surfaces. Pneumatic truck tires have higher ground clearance as well. This raises the center of gravity of the forklift and really lessens its rated lift capacity. Most often, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain environments because of their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother fashion. Many construction sites and agricultural or mining operations rely on these tires so as to make certain the equipment 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 essential to know the maximum weight and dimensions of the loads you will be handling. In addition, you must know the maximum fork height needed in order to rack or stack the loads. These factors, the lifting height and the load size, really affect the lift capacity of the truck. A larger size load is able to move the center of gravity of the vehicle and change the load combination. This decreases the equipment's lifting capacity as well as affects the load being lifted and the height. Utilizing different attachments could also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
There are many different choices of masts available 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 as 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.