Tire Types
Usually, cushion tires are solid tires which have no tread pattern. They are mostly made to be utilized on solid and smooth surfaces, normally indoors. There are tread patterns available though, which are a lot suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are common on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
On the other hand, pneumatic tires need air and have been specially designed for outdoor use on loose surfaces and uneven ground. Pneumatic truck tires have higher ground clearance too. This raises the forklift's center of gravity and greatly reduces its rated lift capacity. Most often, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain environments due to their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother manner. Many construction sites and agricultural or mining operations rely on these tires in order to make certain the machine can travel as carefully and safe as possible.
Lift Capacity and Lift Height
It is important to understand the maximum weight and dimensions of the loads you would be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. Furthermore, you should know the maximum fork height required to be able to rack or stack the loads. These factors, the lifting height and the load size, greatly affect the truck's lifting capacity. A larger size load is able to move the vehicle's center of gravity and change the load combination. This reduces the lifting capacity of the machine as well as affects the height and the load being lifted. Using different kinds of attachments can also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
On the market today 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 different circumstances, you would not be needed to make any choices because the lift height will dictate the type of mast you would get, although, in trucks with really high lift heights, you could have an option.