Types of Tires
Cushion tires are usually considered solid tires with no tread pattern. These tires are made for indoor smooth and solid surfaces. There are tread patterns available though, that are more suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are common on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
Pneumatic tires on the other hand will need air and are made specifically for uneven ground and loose surfaces. The pneumatic tire provides a higher ground clearance over solid tires. This raises the center of gravity of the forklift and greatly reduces its rated lift capacity. More often than not, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain surroundings due to their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother manner. Many construction sites and agricultural or mining operations rely on these tires so as to make certain the machine can travel as carefully and safe as possible.
Lift Capacity and Lift Height
In order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed, it is important to understand the maximum dimensions and weight of the loads you would be handling. Moreover, you should know the maximum fork height needed so as to rack or stack the loads. These factors, the load size as well as the lifting height, really affect the lift capacity of the truck. A larger size load can move the vehicle's center of gravity and change the load combination. This decreases the machine's lifting capacity and affects the height and the load being lifted. Using different attachments could also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
On the market today are several different options of forklift masts. These include: single, double, triple and quad masts. The number indicated the amount of sections on the mast. In different circumstances, you will not be required to make any choices since the lift height will dictate the kind of mast you will get, although, in trucks with very high lift heights, you may have an option.