Raw Materials
The telescoping boom rough terrain forklift's cab, body, boom and frame are generally produced by a forklift manufacturer. Steel is the most common materials utilized to make these since they have incredible strength. At times steel forgings or aluminum are also utilized. It is common for non-metallic materials such as nylon plastic blocks to be utilized as guides within the boom assembly. The other components are usually purchased as finished products and the lift truck maker installs them.
Several of the pre-assembled bought products comprise the seat, transmission, axles, engine, hoses, tires and wheels, backup-alarm, lights, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Most often, certain materials such as the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are purchased in bulk. These liquids are added as needed when the machine is assembled and has passed the rigorous testing sessions.
Design
The long and narrow design of the telescoping boom rough terrain forklift is most common, with a set of wheels at the front of the model and another set situated towards the back of the machine. The boom part of the unit is mounted at the rear of the forklift off of a pivot feature that is elevated several feet above the level of the frame. Normally, the cab is mounted on the left-hand side of the frame structure. Usually, the bottom half of the cab is low and located between the tires. The fuel tank and the hydraulic fuel tank are mounted opposite the cab on the right-hand side. Along the center-line of the vehicle, the engine and the transmission are mounted inside the frame.
Beyond this basic configuration, different manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market today, there are numerous options offered. Some models of forklifts utilize a single hydraulic cylinder in order to elevate the boom, and other units use 2 cylinders. Some models utilize a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This feature enables the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles so as to allow the machinery to compensate for extreme axle articulation. This is utilized for instance, when the tires on one side of the lift truck are located down in a rut and the tires on the other side of the equipment are up, located on a mound of dirt.
Fork attachments are another common design feature capable of swinging both left and right up to forty five degrees, which increases the accurate load placement.