Tire Types
Cushion tires are normally considered solid tires with no tread pattern. These tires are made for indoor smooth and solid surfaces. There are tread patterns available though, which are a lot suitable for various surface environments. The cushion tires are common on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
On the other hand, pneumatic tires need air and have been specially made for outdoor use on uneven ground and loose surfaces. Pneumatic truck tires have higher ground clearance also. This raises the center of gravity of the forklift and really reduces its rated lift capacity. More often than not, pneumatic tires are utilized in rough terrain surroundings because of their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother fashion. Lots of mining or agricultural operations and construction sites rely on these tires so as to make certain the machine can travel as carefully and safe as possible.
Lift height and Lift Capacity
It is vital to understand the maximum weight and dimensions of the loads you will be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. As well, you must know the maximum fork height required in order to rack or stack the loads. These factors, the lifting height and the load size, greatly affect the lift capacity of the truck. A bigger size load could move the vehicle's center of gravity and change the load combination. This decreases the lifting capacity of the machine and affects the load being lifted and the height. Using different kinds of attachments can also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
On the market these days are several different options of forklift masts. These include: single, double, triple and quad masts. The number indicated the amount of sections on the mast. In a variety of circumstances, you would not be required to make any choices as the lift height would dictate the kind of mast you would get, although, in trucks with really high lift heights, you can have a choice.