Lift trucks are mobile machinery which utilize 2 forks or prongs to be able to place cargo into positions which would usually be hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial lift trucks are most commonly utilized around truck and train loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires which are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks 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 lift truck is engineered to be operated on unpaved and rough surfaces. Usually, they are the ideal alternative for military and construction applications. Rough terrain forklifts usually have large pneumatic tires that are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying cargo up and out from the base of the machinery or they could use a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain forklift emerged during the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machine was utilized around construction locations and can raise to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can carry 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models that can lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
During the year 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 22.5 feet or 7 meters or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in 1962. This unit allowed cargo to be positioned out from the base of the machine both above and below grade.