What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Forklift
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. Some of the key factors that you should take into account before hiring a forklift are:
The load size: This is how heavy your usual load is and how much the forklift can support without risking its balance or efficiency. You should opt for a forklift that has sufficient capacity to handle your load securely. 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 ground quality: This is the kind of terrain where you will drive the forklift, such as level, rough, uneven, or steep. You need to choose a forklift that can deal with the ground without skidding or tilting. For example, rough terrain forklifts have bigger tires and higher ground clearance than warehouse 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 frequent type of forklifts for hire is the Manitou Telehandler. This is a flexible machine that combines the features of a forklift, a crane, and a boom lift. It has a telescopic boom that can extend forward and upward, allowing it to reach high places and tight spaces. Some of the perks of hiring a Manitou Telehandler are: It can handle various tasks with different accessories, such as forks, buckets, winches, jibs, and baskets. You can quickly change between accessories with the fast 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 frequently 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.