Tire Types
Cushion tires are generally considered solid tires with no tread pattern. These tires are made for indoor solid and smooth surfaces. There are tread patterns available though, 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 require air and have been particularly made for outdoor use on uneven ground and loose surfaces. Pneumatic truck tires have higher ground clearance too. This raises the forklift's center of gravity and really reduces its rated lift capacity. More often than not, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain environments due to their ability to navigate uneven surfaces in a smoother fashion. Many agricultural or mining operations and construction sites depend on these tires so as to make sure the equipment can travel as carefully and safe as possible.
Lift Capacity and Lift Height
It is essential to understand the maximum weight and dimensions of the loads you would be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. Also, you must know the maximum fork height needed to be able to rack or stack the loads. These factors, the lifting height and the load size, really affect the truck's lifting capacity. A larger size load can move the vehicle's center of gravity and change the load combination. This decreases the lifting capacity of the machine as well as affects the height and the load being lifted. Utilizing various kinds of attachments can also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
On the market today are various choices of forklift masts. These comprise: single, double, triple and quad masts. The number indicated the amount of sections on the mast. In a variety of circumstances, you will not be needed to make any choices because 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.