The lift truck is a mobile machine that uses 2 prongs or forks to lift and place cargo into positions that will be usually difficult to reach. Typically, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most commonly, industrial lift trucks are utilized around truck loading docks and train loading docks along with in warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires that are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Normally, industrial forklifts 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 great option for construction and military operation. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have big pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models can have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting cargo up and out from the machine's base or they can use a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged during the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machinery was utilized around construction locations and can raise to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can carry 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available that could lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
In the year 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 35 feet or 11 meters. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during the year 1962. This unit enabled loads to be placed out from the base of the equipment both above and below grade.