Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The type of electric truck which is made to operate within narrow aisles is known as a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle because standard storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. However, narrow aisles could be around 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specific types of lift trucks which are capable of tight turns, small, could put away loads without pivoting. The popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks manufactured for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks can turn without difficulty within narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the need for a big counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These kinds of trucks work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, good flow of traffic and enough space for turning.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load could face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage location, the truck's forks turn to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and next smoothly deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks can come with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.