If you find yourself needing a forklift to work unloading a truck on a concrete floor, in your small warehouse. Pretty much what you will end up with is a conventional forklift, doesn’t matter if it’s a Battery electric forklift or an LPG, 3-wheel, or 4-wheel. But what about if you need to take a load off the road, maybe you are working in a farming environment, a dirt yard? When it rains will bog a conventional forklift or take it down a dirt track on a building project. The answer is simple you need a Rough Terrain Forklift.
Here’s the biggest difference between a Rough Terrain Forklift and a Conventional Forklift.
Capacities are generally the same
If you need a 2.5T forklift you can certainly get both a rough terrain forklift and a conventional forklift that will both lift the same capacity.
Ground Clearance
Rough terrain forklifts will generally have a higher ground clearance, Which in turn allows for better ground clearance and stops the forklift from getting caught.
Both 4wd and 2wd Drive
Conventional forklifts only come in 2wd. A rough terrain forklift will come in both 2 wd and 4 wd, which just like the difference between a 2wd car and a 4wd car, it will allow for the rough terrain forklift to be driven over a lot rougher terrain.
Standard Mast and Telescopic masts
A masted rough terrain will look similar to a standard 2.5T conventional forklift. A telescopic rough terrain forklift will have a telescopic boom on it similar to a crane. It will also allow for several different attachments that will a very versatile use.
They are a bigger unit
Due to the nature of what they need to do. Rough terrain forklifts generally have a bigger chassis than a conventional forklift. Which in turn makes them have a bigger turning radius. This can provide problems if you only have a limited space in which to use the rough terrain forklift.
They cost more
Without a doubt, a Rough terrain forklift will cost you more to buy and maintain as well. Generally, they can cost 2 or 3 times as much. So if you are looking to buy one for your business or use, then you will need to allow both more capital as well as additional running costs for the forklift over its life.
The other option is to rent the forklift for the period you need it, a Rental rate will no doubt cost you more as well, compared to a conventional forklift.
The licensing requirements are the same
If you are ticketed for a standard forklift the licence requirement is the same for a masted rough terrain forklift. In Australia though this can differ from state to state with Telescopic forklifts, so make sure you talk to the relevant licensing body in your state.
If you are unsure of which type of forklift you need, you can always talk to your local forklift dealer. Generally, a 5 or 10-minute phone consultation can help. They might even need to come out and inspect what it is you need to do, and make suggestions for you.
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