The forklift is a mobile equipment which utilizes 2 forks or prongs to carry and place cargo into positions that will be usually hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial lift trucks are most often used around train and truck loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse operation. These machinery have smaller tires which are engineered 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 rough and unpaved surfaces. Usually, they are the ideal choice for military and construction operation. Rough terrain forklifts normally have large pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models can have a telescoping boom, which could carry cargo up and out from the equipment's base or they can utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
During 1946, the rough terrain forklift emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial equipment was used around construction locations and can raise to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models which could lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced in the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg 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 forklift emerged on the market in the year 1962. This model allowed loads to be placed out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.