The lift truck is a mobile equipment which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to carry and place cargo into positions that will be usually hard to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most commonly, industrial lift trucks are utilized around train loading docks and truck loading docks along with in warehouse operations. These machinery have smaller tires that are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Usually, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller lift trucks 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 unpaved and rough surfaces. Usually, they are the ideal alternative for construction and military operation. Rough terrain forklifts generally have big pneumatic tires that are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models can have a telescoping boom, which could carry loads up and out from the equipment's base or they can use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying cargo 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 first machine was utilized around construction locations and can lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which can raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
During the year 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during 1962. This particular unit allowed cargo to be positioned out from the equipment's base both below and above grade.