Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The type of electric truck which is made to operate in narrow aisles is called a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. A counterbalanced lift truck could turn in the aisle as typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is adequate space. Then again, narrow aisles could be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specific lift truck models that are small, capable of tight turns, and able to put away loads without turning. The popular types of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse use. These small trucks could easily turn in narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a huge counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms can hinder access to the storage rack because the truck cannot get near enough. These types of trucks really work well in a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, good traffic flow and ample turning space.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck turn to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.