Tire Types
Cushion tires are usually considered solid tires with no tread pattern. These tires are designed for indoor solid and smooth surfaces. There are tread patterns available though, which are more suitable for various surface environments. The cushion tires are popular on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
However, pneumatic tires need air and have been specially made for outdoor use on loose surfaces and uneven ground. Pneumatic truck tires have higher ground clearance also. This raises the forklift's center of gravity and really lessens its rated lift capacity. More often than not, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain environments because of their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother manner. Many agricultural or mining operations and construction sites depend on these tires in order to make certain the equipment could travel as safe and carefully as possible.
Lift height and Lift Capacity
It is important to know the maximum weight and dimensions of the loads you would be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. As well, you would have to know the maximum fork height required in order to stack or rack the loads. These factors, the lifting height as well as the load size, really affect the lift capacity of the truck. A larger size load could move the center of gravity of the vehicle and change the load combination. This decreases the equipment's lifting capacity as well as affects the load being lifted and the height. Utilizing different types of attachments could also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
On the market these days are various options of forklift masts. These comprise: quad, triple, double and single masts. The number indicated the amount of sections on the mast. In various circumstances, you would not be required to make any choices because the lift height will dictate the kind of mast you will get, although, in trucks with really high lift heights, you could have an alternative.