You’ll surely need a good-quality forklift if you work in a warehouse, factory, or construction site. These vehicles lift heavy objects and transport them to their appropriate place within the working site. Most companies/contractors use them because they reduce the need for manual labor and help manage stock in a more organized way in less time.
Thus, if you’re also working in a business that needs a Used Forklifts for Sale in HOUSTON, TEXAS, ensure you know everything about it and choose the right model according to your work requirements. They come in various types, and each type suits different working needs. Also, you need to know the types of components used in them, especially tires and forks. This information will help you understand this equipment professionally, which will help you select the right model. So this article will cover ‘everything you need to know about forklifts.’
What Is A Forklift?
A forklift is a small vehicle used in construction and other businesses to lift and transport materials. It supports different types of forks, depending on the material to be handled, that are placed under the load and then lifted to move it. Forklifts are most commonly used in large storage facilities like warehouses. Where electricity is available, electric-powered forklifts are used. However, forklifts that run on internal combustion engines are also available.
How are Forklifts Operated?
Forklifts mostly have a short turning radius, meaning their rear wheels are the steering wheels that make them turn to a small radius. In that way, they can easily move across the working site. This allows the operator to load and unload the materials faster and with great stability, even if operated on uneven grounds. This means that the storage capacities of the warehouses can be increased, and the aisles can be narrower because forklifts don’t require much space to maneuver.
What is the Use of Forklift in Construction?
Industrial forklifts are mostly used in construction to move construction or waste material across sites. These are typically used to move and place wood, bricks, tiles, and other construction materials in their respective places. Packed materials are easy to shift with forklifts and delivered to the site where needed.
Forklifts are mainly used to transport material on working sites, and their forks are the actual component to fulfill this requirement. Therefore, construction contractors mostly prefer using heavy equipment like telehandlers or loaders with fork attachments to do these tasks. Thus, it is less likely to see these small forklifts on construction sites that are mostly used in warehouses.
How Much Does a Forklift Weigh & Lift?
Understanding how much a forklift weighs is important because it gives you an idea about the weight of the materials you can handle. But the thing is that its weight and capacity to handle loads aren’t linked together. It only depends upon the operator and how they operate the forklift.
Types of Forklifts
Understanding the forklift types will help you determine which type will serve your business perfectly. So here are them:
Counterbalance Forklift
Counterbalance forklifts are commonly used in construction. They are easy to operate and versatile, and they can handle different types of loads. They transport materials over short distances and can easily maneuver through smooth surfaces. Thus, they’re efficient for both indoor and outdoor tasks. However, these forklifts require regular maintenance.
Industrial Forklift
These are also commonly used in construction, but they can handle heavy-duty tasks on stable or flat grounds. These forklifts can be the best option if your business requires moving large and heavy materials on concrete or asphalt surfaces. Mico Equipment is offering high-quality used industrial forklifts for sale in Houston. Our used forklifts can efficiently handle heavy and large palletized materials or crates across job sites.
Rough Terrain Forklift
As their name suggests, rough terrain forklifts work on terrains where standard forklifts cannot easily maneuver. Bumpy, uneven, or cracked surfaces require more grip on the ground to avoid losing balance for accurate transportation. Thus, rough terrain forklifts move heavy materials in outdoor areas.
Pallet Jack
These forklifts are compact and used to handle lighter loads over short distances. They cannot handle large or heavy materials, so you can use them if your business requires handling small pallets, packed items, etc. This means that they are to be used in storage areas or warehouses.
Telehandler
Telehandlers are not exactly forklifts, but they’re used for similar purposes, i.e., material lifting and transporting. They are used to lift materials to upper levels, which means they can reach and place the materials at elevated heights. So, they are commonly used on construction sites to handle material over obstacles.
Side Loader
Side loaders are used to handle heavy and long materials like underground sewage pipes or steel beams, mostly on construction sites or areas where such materials are stored. They usually serve best on working sites with narrow spaces to move. As their name suggests, they have side lifting capability that doesn’t require them to turn around to load or unload.
Type of Tires Used in Forklifts
Forklift tires also have various types because their type determines how forklifts move across the working area. Tires are not just for moving. They are also an important component in evenly transferring the weight of the equipment to the ground, which provides stability and grip.
Cushion Tires
Cushion tires are solid rubber used mostly to work on smooth, leveled surfaces and indoor tasks. One benefit is that they’re puncture-resistant and don’t require inflation. They can bear heavy loads efficiently. On the same side, they are just for pallet jack or counterbalance type forklifts, which means that they cannot efficiently support trucks because of the less elasticity and high vibration during heavy loads. Which results in difficulty in operation.
Pneumatic Tires
Pneumatic tires are used for outdoor operations. They are comfortable to use because of their excellent shock-absorbing properties, which offer even ground contact and efficiently balance weight on the ground.
Polyurethane Tires
These tires are mostly used in industrial forklifts because of their versatility and durability. They can easily handle heavy material loads and can also be used in warehouses, factories, or cleaning rooms. They also have a shock-absorbing capacity and are resistant to chemicals, oil, or any kind of grease.
Types of Forks Used in Forklifts
Forklift forks are the actual component that serves in material handling. They’re basically used to lift and place the loads. Understanding the following types will give you an idea about which forks will suit your material.
Shaft-mounted Forks
These forks are the most commonly used ones, and they have the holder mounted on the shank. they are commonly used in skid steers, telehandlers, high-capacity forklifts, and other older forklift models.
Block Forks
These long and thin forks are used for handling concrete, bricks, cement blocks, or other construction materials. They’re also available in different mounting or hook styles.
Lumber Forks
Lumber forks are wide and have thin blades. They are used to get deep under the lumber without damaging it. This means that they can lift the loads and scoop them off from the ground.
Drum Forks
As their name suggests, they are used to lift drums, mostly one or two at a time. Their versatility means they can also be used for other palletized materials.
Telescopic Forks
They are a kind of extended forklift. Telescopic forklifts can be extended to pick up the load and retracted to place them where needed.
Scale Forks
Scale forks have weight scale in them. So they’re the unique kind of forks that lift the loads as normal, show their weight and, reduce the need to stop at weigh section, and place the materials where required.
Bold-on Forks
Bold-on forks are used to lift the same loads and are mostly used in large forklift trucks. Thus, you can use them to handle the loads that are all the same in size and weight.
Corrugated Forks
Corrugated forks are thinner than block forks. They slide under the stacked materials to lift them. Their sharp tips easily lift materials like corrugated steel sheets, cardboard boxes, etc.
Quick Detach Forks
As their name suggests, quick-detach forks are used to detach from forklifts quickly. They have hooks on both the upper and lower sides for attaching and detaching them when needed.
Folding Forks
Folding forks are fordable from their heel. They have a hinge and chain system at that part to support them positioned vertically. They’re mostly used in applications which involve convinced spaces, so they can be folded when arriving at tight spaces.
Rotator forks
These forks have one more hook to attach them to the rotator part so they can be moved upside down. This means that they can be inverted to place the loads into the racks or containers.
Best Forklifts From Top Brands in Houston, TEXAS
If you’re brand-conscious and want to buy a forklift that serves best in your field, team Mico Equipment is always here for you. However, in Houston, you can find various brands offering Forklifts for Sale in HOUSTON, TEXAS. Some of these famous manufacturers are below.
- Mitsubishi
- Hyster-Yale
- Doosan
- Komatsu
- Hyundai
- EP
- CAT
These are the most famous brands manufacturing and supplying heavy equipment worldwide. Their equipment can be easily found in Houston. If you’re unsure which brands to choose, contact Mico Equipment for assistance.
We offer used forklifts for sale in Houston, all from these brands, which are tested thoroughly by professionals for their performance and condition. Our used forklifts can handle heavy and light loads in construction and warehouse material handling. Visit our store today to get the most reliable equipment for your business.
