Rough Terrain Forklifts
When you need power and precision to help with those tough jobs, rough terrain forklifts provide the solution. Available in many types, they are capable of handling a variety of weights and, operated safely, can hold their own even on extremely rough and uneven surfaces.
A rough terrain fork lift is a big piece of equipment. It is also a big investment, especially if you run a small business that has to work hard to make a profit. While you probably need your new forklift yesterday, it is well worth taking some time to consider the options and prices before rushing in to buy.
Make sure you know all the costs involved before making a commitment to buy rough terrain forklifts. There may be hidden costs or additional fees when you buy from one fork lift provider that does not apply with another. Ask about the type of service that will be available for the type of fork lift you are thinking of buying. If you don’t think this service will be sufficient for your needs, or if it will not be available during your usual business hours, try another provider.
Another question to ask when buying rough terrain forklifts is whether the forklift dealer you are considering is an authorized reseller. This can make a difference to your warrant and can also affect the access you have to parts and support for your fork lift. Try to contact clients who have already bought forklifts from the same dealer and check that they were satisfied with the product and service. All these precautions take a little time now, but still save a lot of time and trouble in the future.
Forklifts can be powered by electricity or internal combustion. For rough terrain forklifts, internal combustion is the choice. This is because they work outdoors where conditions such as rain make electricity unsafe, and also because they usually handle large loads. Anything over 15,000 lbs requires internal combustion power. With the help of internal combustion power, rough terrain forklifts also have the speed and acceleration frequently needed in large work areas such as construction sites.
Various types of fuel can be used for rough terrain forklifts. These include liquid propane, compressed natural gas, diesel fuel or gasoline. Fork lift operators usually make a choice based on both cost and the type of vehicles they are already operating. If you have storage facilities for one type of fuel you would be better to continue using that same type of fuel for your rough terrain forklift, rather than having to create separate storage facilities. If you don’t operate any other forklift equipment, you may prefer to make a fuel choice based on cost. Gasoline costs are usually the highest, and diesel the lowest for rough terrain forklifts. While the need to provide them with fuel makes rough terrain forklifts more costly to run than electric forklifts, they cost less to buy as well as being faster and tougher for outdoor work.
Telescopic rough terrain forklifts offer clever solutions combined with easy operation and excellent lifting ability. With their telescopic boom attachments they can carry out a number of different maneuvers involving different types of loads. The versatility of the telescopic lift truck and its ability to work efficiently in hard-to-access areas in all types of weather make it a favorite with operators.
The telescopic lift truck operates as a mobile lifting plant. Lifting loads such as bricks or sand up and down is no trouble for a telescopic lift truck. In industries such as mining and construction, they are invaluable. Rather than using the usual method of lifting by fork, the telescopic lift truck is equipped with a telescopic boom that can in turn be equipped with various attachments depending on the type of load.
Steering modes on a telescopic lift truck can include two wheel, four wheel and crab. Combined with their exceptional lifting ability and ground clearance capacity, this ensures that they provide a maximum performance for whatever jobs they are required to do. When considering a telescopic lift truck, ask about the variety of other features they can incorporate. Just a few of these include shaft mounted floating forks, joystick controls, instrument and warning lights, automatic load leveling system and even a deluxe suspension seat for the comfort of the operator.
When you need a mobile lifting plant complete with a lifting attachment, a telehandler is just the tool for the job. Designed for the type of work involved in anything from construction to landscaping, a telehandler can take on both large and small projects with equal ease. Adding to the type of versatility expected from rough terrain forklifts, a telehandler has the ability to work in small places using a number of different types of attachments that can replace its forks.
As well as taking over some of the jobs that once had to be handled less easily by rough terrain forklifts, the telehandler is also now being used for crane work on some construction sites. It has the advantage of being able to lift weights higher while allowing the operator good control and machine balance. This, and the fact that visibility to the forks is better, results in an increased safety factor in the work place.
Flexibility is another advantage of the telehandler. Some models give the operator the ability to switch tools quickly, resulting in an overall improvement in productivity on the site. There is also greater flexibility with a telehandler because of the ability to place the load without needing to move the machine, thanks to such features as rotate and side shift carriages.
There are various considerations to take into account when buying rough terrain forklifts. As well as getting the fork lift with the capacity that is right for the job, you should check its features to make sure you are getting the machine you want with the options you require. This may cost a little more but can make a significant difference to the overall productivity and operating safety of your rough terrain forklift.
For example, pneumatic tires are known to be better for rough terrain forklifts compared with the cushion tires used for indoor operations, but you then have a choice between pneumatic tires and solid pneumatic tires. Made of rubber and inflated with compressed air, pneumatic tires give rough terrain forklifts the capabilities they need. Because by their nature they are usually required to work on uneven ground, rough terrain forklifts need the good cushioning and traction provided by pneumatic tires. If your rough terrain forklift will be working on ground that is even more unsafe, with material such as broken glass posing a risk to tires, you may prefer to use the solid pneumatic tires. Containing no air, these are made of solid rubber to prevent damage to the tires. While the solid pneumatic tires usually cost more, you may decide they will be more suitable for the type of work your rough terrain forklift will be doing.
There are various attachments you can consider buying with your rough terrain forklift. Among these are side shifts, allowing loads to be placed more precisely because they enable the operator to move the load from one side to another without having to move the fork lift. Tilt masts are among the other attachments that can be purchased. These make it much easier to load the forklift on uneven ground. They also improve stability, an important safety factor that is worth taking into consideration.
Ask your rough terrain forklift provider about other attachments that may improve its operation. Whether or not you need some of these attachments will depend on the type of material you want your rough terrain forklift to handle. Tongs that can pick up 55-gallon drums and flat panels that make it easy to lift objects that have not been placed on pallets are just a couple of the attachments available for fork lifts.
Other safety features should also be considered by buyers of rough terrain forklifts. Most fork lift vehicles have such standard safety features as flashing amber lights and back-up beepers. Less obvious but also important for forklifts are ergonomic inclusions such as adjustable seats and controls designed for easy operation, resulting in happier operators and fewer injury risks.
Rough terrain forklifts are big investments. For this reason, before making a firm decision about buying a fork lift you should test it thoroughly to ensure it has the quality and capacity you need. One way to do this is to rent the type of fork lift you are considering buying and use it for a couple of months. This will give you the time and opportunity to try it out without making a permanent commitment. If you want to try out a few different makes and models you can do this a few times until you find the rough terrain forklift that is right for you.
Even if you know exactly what you want, in the same way that you wouldn’t buy a car without trying it out first you should take the time to put the rough terrain forklift through testing. Ask the dealer if you can use the fork lift for at least a day before you make your decision. You and whoever else will be operating the rough terrain forklift need to work with it for quite a few hours to find out whether it is the forklift you want. Checking the controls and attachments, deciding whether you need any of the optional extras and just getting the feel of the forklift are among the most important factors in the decision-making process. Make the most of the opportunity to try out your forklift before arriving at that decision.
If something goes wrong with your rough terrain forklifts your business will probably suffer. A fork lift costs a lot to buy and to operate, and to have it sitting idle can make a difference to your income; for this reason you will need to know that service is available immediately if you need it.
This means you should choose your rough terrain forklift dealer carefully. When doing your initial shopping around for a forklift, you will get an impression of the type of service you can expect and, you will want to consider whether or not you have a rapport with the dealer. If you leave a message, even the amount of time that dealers take to get back to you will give you an indication of their reliability.
Make sure your dealer will do on-site service if you need it, and find out if there is a guaranteed response time for breakdowns. If you know someone who has already done business with the dealer from whom you are considering buying your forklift, ask them whether they have been happy with the service when they have needed it. Another important piece of information you can obtain from customers is whether they would be happy to buy from the same dealer again. An enthusiastic, positive response will tell you a lot about the dealer and the service you can expect to receive.
If you look after your rough terrain forklift, it will look after you in return. This means doing some basic maintenance work yourself, as well as ensuring your dealer will provide on-site service when required. Like cars, forklifts benefit from some tender loving care and common sense upkeep. If you provide this care and upkeep you will reap the benefits by experiencing fewer problems and receiving longer service from your rough terrain forklifts.
Having some basic knowledge of cars and how to look after them will give you a head start if this is your first rough terrain forklift, as some of its needs are similar to those of a car. Keeping the fork lift clean and doing some regular and necessary ‘housekeeping’ tasks such as clearing dirt from the axles and wheels will prolong its life and usefulness. Your rough terrain forklift needs regular oil changes as well as hydraulic inspection and lubrication. While you probably won’t have the time or experience to do some of this maintenance work, making sure the work is carried out when it is necessary will help your forklift last longer.