Forklifts are one of the most versatile vehicles for builders. Whether you need to move heavy loads in a warehouse or construction site, forklifts can safely lift objects that humans cannot, making them indispensable on any job site.
Since there is a wide selection of styles and models available, it can be difficult to select the best forklift. Whether you’re looking to rent a forklift or purchase one for your next project, our guide covers the different forklift types, their benefits and popular forklift models to help you choose the right forklift for your needs.
Below we’ll cover the most popular forklift types on the market, what they’re used for and popular models and manufacturers.
- Warehouse Forklift
- Side Loader
- Counterbalance Forklift
- Telehandler
- Heavy-Duty Forklift
- Rough Terrain Forklift
- Pallet Jack
- Walkie Stacker
- Order Picker
- Reach Fork Truck
Warehouse Forklift
The warehouse forklift is the most recognizable type of lift truck. It resembles a golf cart with twin forks extending from the front. You’ll most often use this forklift in a facility with many items in inventory, as it’s great for loading and unloading pallets and transporting items to and from delivery vehicles.
Some of the most popular warehouse forklift models include the Hyster 36-38T, Komatsu 20 BX50 Hyster and the Toyota 3-Wheel Electric Forklift. Most industrial forklifts can lift 5,000 pounds of weight, but some heavy-duty models are capable of elevating up to 25,000 pounds. Warehouse forklifts have a few subtypes, including side loaders and counterbalance forklifts.
Key Feature: Trucks have a loading capacity of 1-5 tons
Uses: Best for raising and transporting items over short distances
Side Loader
A subtype of the warehouse forklift, side loaders are usually found in steel service centers and manufacturing facilities with heavy and bulky items. The operator stands in a sideways compartment while a side loader unloads objects. Due to its sideways operation, side load forklifts can easily drive up alongside racks and load and unload without having to turn. This makes them suitable for navigating narrow aisles and handling long loads like timber and pipes.
Toyota, Raymond, Yale and Hyundai are some of the top brand manufacturers of side loaders.
Key Feature: Sideways compartment that moves in the direction of the load
Uses: Lifting heavy and long items like pipes and timber
Counterbalance Forklift
The counterbalance forklift is a popular lift that features forks in the front and a weight in the back to counterbalance the weight of the load. Counterbalance forklifts have no extending arms, giving them the ability to move directly to the load.
There are a few different types of counterbalance forklifts. The 3-wheel variant is ideal for situations requiring the operator to turn and maneuver in circles. The stand-up counterbalance forklift allows operators to easily hop on and off between loads. Popular manufacturers include Mitsubishi, Toyota and Crown.
Key Feature: Back-mounted weight that helps balance loads
Uses: Situations where circle maneuvering is necessary
Telehandler
Also known as a telescopic forklift or a reach forklift, the telehandler is a combination of a crane and forklift with a boom and extendable arm. The twin forks attached to the arm are used to move pallets off the ground. A standard telehandler is capable of lifting 5,500 lbs of materials up to 19 feet in the air, and is great for reaching into tight spaces and odd angles.
Because of their growing popularity, manufacturers like JCB, Genie, Bobcat, Haulotte and Caterpillar produce a variety of high-quality telehandlers. Models like the JLG 1644 are adept at larger capacity jobs, while other models can lift loads up to 55 feet high.
Key Feature: Extendable arm attachment and articulating boom
Uses: Lifting loads off the ground to higher elevations
Heavy-Duty Forklift
The heavy-duty forklift — also called a large capacity forklift — combines the functionalities of a warehouse forklift with a telehandler. While it can’t reach difficult angles the way a telehandler can, it is capable of lifting heavier loads much higher off the ground than a warehouse forklift. The heavy-duty forklift starts with a 30,000-lb maximum lift, but you should only need such power on specialized jobs. This makes it narrow in scope compared to the telehandler and warehouse forklift.
There are 20 popular heavy-duty forklift manufacturers on the market. Big names include NACCO Industries and Mitsubishi, and some of the popular models boast an impressive capacity of 36,000 lbs.
Key Feature: Hydraulic levers combine a balance of reach and power
Uses: Transporting heavy loads for industrial applications
Rough Terrain Forklift
Also known as a straight mast forklift, the rough terrain forklift is designed specifically for outdoor job sites with uneven surfaces. These trucks have sturdy pneumatic tires that are oversized and threaded, giving them better balance and stability to safely transport materials on rocky ground. You likely won’t need one if you do most of your work indoors, but rough terrain forklifts are a must for outdoor applications and construction sites.
Popular models include the JCB 950 and CASE 588H with four-wheel drive options. Another major perk of rough terrain forklifts is that they can lift heavier loads — most models have a capacity of 6,000 lbs or 8,000 lbs.
Key Feature: Sturdy design with oversized tires and a reinforced cage cab
Uses: Outdoor jobs with uneven, rocky ground
Pallet Jack
Pallet jacks are specialized in nature. Also known as pump trucks, these forklifts aren’t capable of lifting large loads due to their small size. In exchange for power, pallet jacks have a small footprint, allowing them to fit into the tightest spaces and lift small loads in tight quarters. While you sacrifice power and maneuverability, a pallet jack’s acquisition and renting costs are much lower.
Popular pallet jack models include the Mighty Lift 20 x 36 Inch Pallet Truck and Vestil Electric Pallet Truck. Buyers or renters can choose between manual pallet jacks and electric pallet jacks.
Key Feature: Compact size, powered manually or with a battery
Uses: Maneuvering pallets in tight spaces and over long distances
Walkie Stacker
Walkie stackers are unique in appearance and specific in utility. Unlike other forklifts, these material handling vehicles don’t have cabs. Instead, the operator walks behind the stacker and steers it by using an attached handle. These units lack power, maneuverability and speed but are ideal for situations where you need a taller pallet jack. The walkie stacker reaches much higher off the ground than traditional pallet jacks.
Current walkie stacker forklift manufacturers include Hyster, Jungheinrich and Toyota. Toyota’s 6BWC20 is ideal for 4,000-lb loads, while Jungeinrich’s EMC 110 is suited for narrow aisles.
Key Feature: Unique design requires the operator to walk behind the truck
Uses: Maneuvering pallets to greater heights than is possible with a pallet jack
Order Picker
An order picker is a subtype of the walkie stacker, used to pick and deliver materials from storage. Reaching heights of up to 32 feet, these machines are designed to lift operators up to warehouse racks and carry individual units. They excel in customer order warehouses and storage facilities since they can pick individual units without having to bring down full pallets. Their versatile design means they can handle items of various sizes, from auto parts to furniture.
Key Feature: Open operator window and no pallet handling
Uses: Piece-picking units and warehouse inventory applications
Reach Fork Truck
The reach forklift is a warehouse truck used mainly for indoor work. Its key ability is to extend its forks beyond the compartment and reach into warehouse racks in a way that standard forklifts cannot. It also features an open compartment that allows the operator to have greater visibility. While excellent for indoor use, reach trucks are not suitable for outdoor work due to their minimal undercarriage clearance.
UniCarriers, Clark Materials and Yale manufacture some of the most high-quality reach forklifts.
Key Feature: Stabilizing legs and forward extending forks
Uses: Quick and precise pallet picking in indoor environments
Forklift Classifications
Forklifts are also organized based on their classification. There are seven forklift classes outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that describe their fuel option and use. Forklift operators must be aware of the necessary forklift safety practices for each classification and be certified on each class of forklift to operate it.
The different forklift classifications are:
Class I – Electric Motor Ride Truck
- Fuel Type: Electric
- Use: Indoor settings where air quality is a concern
Class II – Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Truck
- Fuel Type: Battery
- Use: Moving inventory in narrow or tight spaces
Class III – Electric Motor Hand Truck
- Fuel Type: Battery
- Use: Quickly unloading delivery trucks across short distances
Class IV – Internal Combustion Engine With Cushion Tires
- Fuel Type: Gas or diesel
- Use: Low-clearance situations
Class V – Internal Combustion Engine Trucks With Pneumatic Tires
- Fuel Type: Gas or diesel
- Use: Indoor and outdoor with rough surfaces
Class VI – Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors
- Fuel Type: Battery, gas or diesel
- Use: Hauling or towing loads
Class VII – Rough Terrain Forklift Truck
- Fuel Type: Gas or diesel
- Use: Construction sites, uneven ground, high-elevation lifting
Forklift Sizes
Forklifts range in size depending on their function. Although they are versatile machines, you’ll need the right size for the job.
Standard forklifts generally measure between 4 and 7 feet wide and from 8 to 10 feet long. Outdoor or rough terrain forklifts can be greater than 10 feet in length, while narrow aisle forklifts like walkie stackers and side loaders can measure less than 5 feet. However, if you are using a forklift in a warehouse setting, it’s important to consider the aisle width. Standard counterbalance forklifts require aisles of approximately 13 feet wide to effectively turn, navigate and move pallets.
Another measurement to consider is height. Most standard forklifts can reach heights between 10 and 15 feet, but special forklifts like the telehandler can lift as high as 55 feet depending on the telehandler size you select.
Elements of a Forklift
While size plays an important role, a forklift’s design allows it to carry an impressive amount of weight. The key elements of a forklift to consider include its lift capacity, load center and stability. Forklifts have varying abilities in each category that must be taken into account when choosing one.
- Lift capacity: The amount of weight a forklift can carry safely while remaining stable
- Load center: The distance from the forks to the load’s center of gravity; varies depending on the load weight, lift angle and tilt angle
- Stability triangle: The area under the forklift that maintains the center of gravity and prevents the vehicle from tipping over
How to Choose A Forklift
When choosing a forklift that best fits your project, you’ll need to consider the following criteria to make sure your selected equipment performs efficiently and safely:
- Determine the capacity. How much weight do you need to lift?
- Calculate the job site’s stability. Can the ground sustain the forklift?
- Measure the space’s height. Can your forklift pass through openings?
- Select the correct fuel type. Do you need battery power or gas?
- Analyze the terrain. Is the surface smooth or uneven?
Forklift types vary in several aspects, from their fuel type and tire composition to their lift capacity and height, and it’s important to consider these factors when selecting a model. With their ability to lift and transport materials of various sizes, forklifts are valuable players on any job site.
