Lift trucks are mobile machinery that utilize 2 prongs or forks to be able to place loads into positions that would usually be difficult to reach. Usually, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial forklifts are most commonly used around truck and train loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse operation. These machines have smaller tires that are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Normally, 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 rough and unpaved surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal option for construction and military operation. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have large pneumatic tires that are usually powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units can have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying loads up and out from the equipment's base or they can utilize a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
The rough terrain forklift emerged in the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machine was utilized around construction locations and can lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available units that could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
In the year 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck 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 unit allowed loads to be positioned out from the machine's base both below and above grade.