What Forklift Capacity Do I Need?

Every forklift will have its own unique limitations when it comes to the amount of weight it’s able to lift, and how high it’s able to lift up a load. For this reason, as you search for a forklift to use at your facility, you should consider both the kind of work you’re likely to be doing and the capacity of the forklifts you’re looking at to make sure you get the right equipment for the job.

Here’s a quick overview of forklift capacities and how you can ensure you get the right machine for your needs in Texas.

Determining forklift capacity

Forklift capacity is a measurement of how much weight the forklift can safely hold. You’ll find forklifts with a wide range of weight capacities, from just a couple thousand pounds to 50,000 lbs or more.

There are several factors that go into determining the capacity of a forklift. First is the load center, or the horizontal distance from the vertical face on the front of the forks to the center of gravity of the load. This measurement provides the basis for rating the forklift’s load capacity.

The Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation (ITSDF) generally places the load center at around 24 inches for the majority of forklifts.

Dimensions of loads and machinery

You should find the dimensions and weight of your typical loads before you start to analyze possible forklifts. If you have fluctuating load sizes, then you should at least get a sense of what your heaviest loads are likely to be.

It’s also important to get the dimensions of the forklift itself. The forklift should have enough space to be able to tightly maneuver in tight aisles. Dimensions may vary, anywhere from three feet wide to eight feet wide or more on the larger end.

Based on what we discussed above with the load center, you should keep in mind that dimensions could have a big impact on the load center and thus the capacity of your forklift. Larger forklifts are more likely to be able to carry more weight, and smaller forklifts are more likely to be used for smaller jobs. This should be common sense, but you should make sure you have an accurate measurement of load capacity so you can know exactly how much leeway you have to maneuver around with the loads you typically carry.

For assistance in finding a forklift that will work for your needs, we encourage you to speak to a sales representative. They will have a thorough understanding of all the forklifts available through our company and will be able to recommend some options based on your specific needs and on some of the characteristics of your facility.

Want to know more about choosing a forklift that will be perfect for your needs? We encourage you to contact V-Bar Equipment Company to find the correct forklift capacities for the needs of your Texas facility. Our team looks forward to assisting you as you search for your ideal equipment.

Categorised in: Forklift Dealer

This post was written by Writer