Tips for Selecting the Best Forklift to Hire
Different industries and applications require different kinds of forklifts. Forklifts are versatile machines that can handle various tasks, such as lifting, moving, and stacking heavy materials. However, choosing the wrong type of forklift can affect your productivity, safety, and costs. Before you hire a forklift, you need to consider some important factors that will help you make the right decision. These include:
The load capacity: This is the maximum weight that the forklift can lift safely. You need to know how much your typical load weighs and choose a forklift that can handle it without exceeding its capacity. The lift height: This is how high you need to lift your load in order to store it or place it on another surface. You need to measure the height of your storage racks or shelves and choose a forklift that can reach them easily. The surface condition: This is the type of ground where you will use the forklift, such as flat, bumpy, irregular, or inclined. You need to choose a forklift that can cope with the surface without slipping or tipping over. For example, warehouse forklifts have smaller tires and lower ground clearance than rough terrain forklifts.
The energy option: This is what powers the fork lift’s engine, such as electricity, diesel, gasoline, or propane. You need to consider the availability and cost of energy sources and their environmental impact. For example, electric forklifts are quieter and more eco-friendly than internal combustion engine (ICE) forklifts. The mast design: This is the vertical structure that holds the forks and enables them to move vertically. You need to choose a mast that can suit your work space and provide enough visibility for the driver. For example, a duplex mast has two sections that can extend lower than a triplex mast with three sections.
A common type of forklifts to hire is the Manitou Telehandler. This is an adaptable machine that blends the functions of a forklift, a crane, and a boom lift. It has an extendable boom that can stretch forward and upward, enabling it to access high locations and narrow spaces. Some of the perks of hiring a Manitou Telehandler are: It can do multiple tasks with different attachments, such as forks, buckets, winches, jibs, and baskets. You can easily swap between attachments with the quick coupler system.
It is designed for all-terrain performance with large tires, high ground clearance, and a powerful engine. It can operate on irregular, muddy, or sandy surfaces without any trouble. It has a roomy and comfortable cab that offers excellent visibility and ergonomics for the driver. It has a touch screen display that shows all the important information and settings of the machine. It also has a radio remote control that allows the driver to control the machine from outside the cab. Another type of forklift that is commonly used in warehouses is the warehouse forklift. This is a compact machine that has twin forks at the front to lift and move pallets of goods.