Defining Rough Terrain Forklifts

Some confusion persists across material handling operations concerning the proper surfaces for forklift usage and how to select the appropriate forklift for your operation. The preliminary question of whether to select pneumatic or cushion tires for your forklift is generally determined by whether primary usage will occur indoors or outdoors.

But if you need a rough terrain forklift, your choice is about more than just tire selection. Pneumatic tire forklifts are engineered for outdoor use, but Pneumatic Tire Forklifts are distinct from rough terrain forklifts. Pneumatic tires on your forklift allow you to travel on uneven outdoor surfaces that are generally flat in nature. This includes surfaces like asphalt, concrete in parking lots, and hard packed dirt often found in lumberyards and building material suppliers.

Rough terrain forklifts, on the other hand, come equipped with all-wheel drive functionality and large floatation tires. They are used in natural environments and disturbed surface construction sites. It should be noted that OSHA makes clear that, just because a forklift is categorized as rough terrain, it does not mean it can be used on any surface.

Rough terrain forklifts come in a variety of shapes and sizes:

• High-capacity rough terrain forklifts are engineered for primarily heavy-duty surface applications such as forestry.

• Telescopic boom forklifts with rough terrain treatment are often used in construction sites with heavy loads.

• Portable, self-propelled rough terrain forklifts are used for more mobile need applications where the forklift is attached to a carrier on the back of a truck or trailer and then used at a job site (such as a construction or building site) to deliver items from the truck to the job site.

Rough Terrain forklifts can help you meet a wide variety of construction site logistics challenges. Contact a Toyota Forklift dealer to discuss your various material handling options.