Tire Types
Generally, cushion tires are solid tires which have no tread pattern. They are mostly designed to be used on solid and smooth surfaces, usually indoors. There are tread patterns available though, which are more suitable for various surface environments. The cushion tires are common on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
Pneumatic tires however would require air and are designed specially 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 lessens its rated lift capacity. Most often, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain surroundings due to their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother fashion. Numerous construction sites and agricultural or mining operations rely on these tires in order to make certain the machinery could travel as carefully and safe as possible.
Lift Capacity and Lift Height
It is essential to understand the maximum dimensions and weight of the loads you will be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. Moreover, you should know the maximum fork height required so as to stack or rack the loads. These factors, the load size and the lifting height, really affect the truck's lifting capacity. A larger size load could 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 can also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
On the market today are various options of forklift masts. These consist of: quad, triple, double and single masts. The number indicated the amount of sections on the mast. In various circumstances, you would not be needed to make any choices since the lift height would dictate the type of mast you would get, although, in trucks with very high lift heights, you can have a choice.