Rough Terrain Forklifts
A rough terrain forklift or vertical-mast forklift continues to pick and place construction materials on jobsites despite the rise in use of telehandlers. Conventional rough terrain forklifts have lost market share to telehandlers as they have become more often seen on construction sites. The cost difference between a rough terrain forklift and a telehandler is beginning to see that shift coming back. You can pay about $50,000 for the former and over $80,000 for the latter. That is a big difference and if you don't need the height advantage why pay for it?
Rentals of rough terrain forklifts are making a big influence on buyers right now. Half of all rough terrain forklifts are being sold to rental yards. There are at least 19 distinct brands of rough terrain forklifts with well over 100 models available. The newest models of rough terrain forklifts have began to integrate the features of a telehandler. Some of these features are:
• Hydraulic chassis-leveling systems
• Four-wheel steer
• Crab steer mode
• Placement dexterity with side-shifting masts or carriage sideshift
There are basically two types of masts available on rough terrain forklifts-three stage or two stage. A rough terrain forklift that has a three-stage mast is made up of three rails that extend to the full height. It has an overall lower profile when the forks are lowered. Two-stage rough terrain forklifts are made up of two rails and present fewer obstructions to the operator's view when the forks are down.
There are many manufacturers to consider when researching rough terrain forklifts so be sure to check out the websites of the larger companies to see which models fit your particular needs.
