There are two standard kinds of lift trucks, models which run on gas and those that run on electricity:
Internal Combustion Lift trucks: The Internal Combustion forklift would run on fuels such as liquid propane, gas, compressed natural gas or CNG or diesel. Gas powered units are best suited for outdoor use because they produce gases and pollutants which are harmful to workers and pedestrians. Gas units are also suitable to be utilized in bad weather and in the rain. These models could carry weights around 15,000 to 35,000 pounds. Because of the maintenance and fuel expenses, the gas powered models are more costly to utilize compared to models which run on electricity, although, they cost a lot less up front than electric powered models. Units that run on liquid propane are the right choice to be utilized in indoor applications.
Electric Lift Trucks: The electric lift truck units are powered by very big batteries that must be recharged. The equipments do not create any polluting air emissions as these units do not burn any fuel. They are the best alternative for warehouses and indoor applications. In addition, electric lift trucks are a lot quieter to run than other models and they do not require any fuel storage units. Amongst the downsides of electric powered models is that they are unable to lift cargo over 15,000 pounds and therefore, have a slower acceleration compared to gasoline powered units.
Forklifts are specially made to quickly and easily transport heavy loads with ease. As the case with nearly all kinds of machinery, unfortunately, lift truck mishaps do occur regularly. There are specific safety rules that should be followed in order to keep everyone safe. The most vital problem is recruiting a qualified operator, who can show you a valid forklift license.
On the market today, there are numerous different types of forklifts available. Choosing which one is right for your specific requirements will be based on the kinds of loads that you have to transport, what kind of environment your machine will need to operate in, for instance, outdoors or indoors or both. When you know your particular requirements, it would be really easy to match up to the best kind of forklift. When you understand your needs precisely you could make a correct decision.
One more great way to get first hand experience on the different lift truck units is the try renting your lift truck. This will also enable you to see all the possible choices available to you. This is a cheaper way to determine if the type of equipment you have chosen can keep up with you on the job site.