Electric Forklifts | Forklift Trucks | Walk Behind Forklifts | Selection Guide:
The average empty pallet weighs approximately 50 pounds. Some weigh in at more than 80 pounds. Choosing an efficient method of gathering and managing pallets can mean the difference between profit and loss–employee safety and hazardous working conditions. And what about full pallets? If not moved properly, you risk product damage and steep drops in quality. When it comes to efficient storage and distribution, the forklift you choose is critical. Its use will save time and money and also prevent needless injuries.
Key Specifications for Electric Forklifts– Lift Height and Weight Capacity
You’ll want to choose the electric forklift that fits in best with your routine and storage set-up. The most basic questions are: How high do you need to lift? & How much weight capacity? Electric forklifts will typically lift up to a maximum of 12 feet or lower and can handle up to 3300 lbs. More than this and you should probably consider a full blown forklift.
Manual Drive or Electric Drive Forklift?
A manual drive forklift is the most economical in terms of purchase price and on-going repair and maintenance. A typical warehouse employee will be able to move a 2000lb pallet on a smooth warehouse floor, although if you will be handling more than 10 pallets/day you should probably consider electric drive.
Electric forklifts will be more expensive to purchase and operate than manual drive forklifts but are better suited to high duty use, use in parking lots, and where the warehouse employees can’t muscle the weight around. Most electric forklifts will all feature forward/reverse variable speeds and safety brakes.
Stabilization Legs
Fork over electric forklifts have the forks lower right on top of the stabilization legs. The advantages of this forklift is that it is less expensive, takes up less space and can maneuver in narrow aisles. The disadvantage is since the forks are directly over the stabilization legs, you cannot pick up a closed bottom pallet directly from the floor; however, this is still an excellent choice for unloading trucks and this disadvantage can be overcome with either open bottom pallets/skids or blocks.
Straddle forklifts allow the forks to lower directly to the floor with the stabilization legs straddling either side of the pallet. Advantages of this design are it allows you to pick up closed bottom pallets directly from the floor. Disadvantages are it is more expensive to purchase/ship and it takes up more space.
Counterbalanced forklifts offer some benefits of both of the previously mentioned styles but with some other drawbacks. Counterbalanced electric forklifts can lift pallets directly off of the floor since there are no stabilization legs to get in the way. The disadvantages are that the weight capacity and lift height will typically be less than the other styles.
