Lift trucks are mobile machinery which use 2 prongs or forks in order to place cargo into positions that would normally be hard to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial lift trucks are most commonly utilized around truck and train loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse applications. These machines have smaller tires which are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller forklifts may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain forklift is designed to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal option for construction and military applications. Rough terrain forklifts usually have large pneumatic tires which are normally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying loads up and out from the base of the machinery or they may use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
The rough terrain forklift emerged during the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial equipment was used around construction locations and was able to lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity could carry 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models which could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
In 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck was introduced with a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 35 feet or 11 meters. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in 1962. This specific unit allowed cargo to be placed out from the base of the machine both above and below grade.