Raw Materials
The telescoping boom rough terrain forklift's cab, body, frame and boom are usually made by a forklift manufacturer. Steel is the most common materials utilized to make these as they have amazing strength. At times aluminum or steel forgings are utilized too. It is common for non-metallic materials like nylon plastic blocks to be utilized as guides within the boom assembly. The other components are typically purchased as finished products and the lift truck maker installs them.
Pre-assembled purchased products may include several of the following: seat, transmission, axles, engine, hoses, tires and wheels, backup-alarm, lights, hydraulic cylinders and gauges. Usually, some materials like the hydraulic fluid and fuel and lubricants are bought in bulk. These liquids are added as needed once the machine is assembled and has passed the rigorous testing sessions.
Design
The long and narrow design of the telescoping boom rough terrain forklift is most common, with a set of wheels at the front of the unit and another set situated towards the rear of the equipment. The unit's boom is mounted at the rear of the forklift off of a pivot feature which is raised several feet above the frame's level. Generally, the cab is mounted on the frame structure's left-hand side. Normally, the cab's bottom half is low and situated between the tires. The hydraulic fuel tank and the fuel tank are mounted on the right-hand side, opposite the cab. Along the vehicle's center-line, the engine and the transmission are mounted in the frame.
Beyond this basic configuration, different manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market now, there are numerous options available. Certain units of forklifts utilize a single hydraulic cylinder in order to elevate the boom, and other models make use of 2 cylinders. Some models make use of a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This feature enables the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles in order to allow the machine to compensate for extreme axle articulation. This is utilized for example, when the tires on one side of the lift truck are situated down in a rut and the tires on the other side of the equipment are up, situated on a mound of dirt.
Another popular design feature comprises fork attachments that are capable of swinging up to 45 degrees both right and left, in order to enable precise load positioning.