There are two basic kinds of forklifts, those that run on gas and those that run on electricity:
Internal Combustion or IC Lift trucks: The IC forklift would run on fuels such as liquid propane, gas, compressed natural gas or CNG or diesel. Gas powered models are best suited for outdoor use as they release gases and pollutants that are harmful to employees and pedestrians. Models which run on gasoline are also great for application in the rain and in bad climate. These models could lift weights approximately 15,000 to 35,000 pounds. Because of the maintenance and fuel costs, the gas powered models are more costly to utilize than the electric units, although, they cost a lot less up front compared to the electric models. The liquid propane units are the right choice for safe use inside.
Electric Lift Trucks: The electric forklift units are powered by very big batteries which should be recharged. The equipments do not produce any polluting air emissions like these units do not burn any fuel. They are the best option for indoor use and warehouses. In addition, lift trucks that run on electricity do not need any fuel storage units and they are much quieter to run than other models. Amongst the disadvantages of electric powered models is that they can not carry loads more than 15,000 pounds and hence, have a slower acceleration than the models which use gasoline.
Forklifts are particularly made to easily and quickly transport heavy loads with ease. As the case with nearly all types of machinery, unfortunately, forklift mishaps do happen regularly. There are specific safety regulations which should be followed so as to keep everyone safe. The most vital issue is recruiting a qualified operator, who could show you a valid lift truck license.
There are numerous different kinds of lift trucks available on the market. Choosing which one is best for your specific needs would be based on the kinds of loads that you need to transport, what kind of environment your equipment will have to operate in, like for instance, indoors or outdoors or both. Once you know your specific requirements, it would be easy to match up to the best kind of forklift. When you understand all your requirements exactly you can make an accurate choice.
Leasing is one more great way to check out various units if you want to try out various features and see what kind of choices are available. This is a less expensive way to know if the kind of machine you have chosen can keep up with you on the job site.