Tire Types
Generally, cushion tires are solid tires that have no tread pattern. They are mainly designed to be used on smooth and solid surfaces, normally indoors. There are tread patterns available though, that are a lot suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are popular on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
Pneumatic tires on the other hand would require air and are designed particularly for loose surfaces on uneven ground. The pneumatic tire provides a higher ground clearance over solid tires. This raises the center of gravity of the forklift and greatly lessens its rated lift capacity. Most often, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain environments due to their ability to negotiate uneven surfaces in a smoother fashion. Many construction sites and mining or agricultural applications depend on these tires so as to make sure the machinery is able to travel as safe and carefully as possible.
Lift height and Lift Capacity
In order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed, it is essential to know the maximum dimensions and weight of the loads you will be handling. Additionally, you must know the maximum fork height needed so as to rack or stack the loads. These factors, the lifting height and the load size, greatly affect the lift capacity of the truck. A bigger size load can move the vehicle's center of gravity and change the load combination. This decreases the equipment's lifting capacity and affects the load being lifted and the height. Using different kinds of attachments could also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
There are lots of different choices of masts existing on the market. For instance, there are single, double, triple and quad, the numbers indicate how many sections or stages the mast has. In different circumstances, you will not be needed to make any choices because the lift height would dictate the kind of mast you would get, however, in trucks with very high lift heights, you may have an option.