Price Rough Terrain Forklifts for Rent or Sale

Rough Terrain Forklifts have all the functionality of a traditional forklift but feature a more rugged, durable chassis, and larger wheels. They come in two formats, an overhead telehandler where the lift arm starts behind the cab and can extend telescopically, and a more traditional straight mast forklift.

There are two defining characteristics of rough terrain forklifts. These forklifts use internal combustion or IC engines to power them. They also have pneumatic tires so they can handle an uneven surface. This combination allows a rough terrain forklift to perform many different outdoor applications such as landscaping, construction projects, or working in a lumber yard.

A rough terrain forklift will use an IC engine for several reasons. These engines are built to handle a larger load and the IC forklift is better at this than an electric forklift. These foreclosed also have better top speed and better acceleration when compared to an electric forklift which can be beneficial on a larger job site.

Most mechanics also understand internal combustion engines a lot more than they do an electric engine. Basic repairs and routine maintenance can be handled by your own mechanics and often don’t need to be sent to a service shop. If you have a machine that is used quite often, you can save a lot of money by doing the work in-house.

The pneumatic tires that a rough terrain forklift uses give traction and cushion which is necessary for uneven terrain surfaces. When you have poor ground conditions solid pneumatic tires are the best choice. These tires don’t have any air in them and since they are solid rubber they won’t pop like a regular tire.

Enhanced Ground Clearance

Ground clearance is a primary prerequisite for any all-around terrain vehicle. It helps determine the distance between the farthest point of the undercarriage and the ground when on an even surface. Therefore the chances of “bottoming out” are minimized. The navigation of any protrusions out of the ground surface or bumpy terrain is easy and work continues unhindered. 

In comparison, equipment without adequate ground clearance will likely encounter difficulties when it travels over grounds with varying elevations. Ordinary forklifts are built to work on paved surfaces and comparatively even road or surfaces.They normally have ground clearance of about 4”, while rough terrain forklifts are designed with broad tires and an uplifted chassis to offer as much as 12” or more of ground clearance.  

Better Traction

When traveling over slippery, muddy, soft, or rough terrain, maintaining a sufficient amount of traction is essential. The increased level of tire traction makes it possible and easy for a rough terrain forklift to go through the various crests, and travel over muddy or soft surfaces without getting stuck, or overworking the engine, or unsuccessfully spinning the tires. For the rough terrain forklifts, this traction is attained via the application of a 4-wheel drive system, as well as articulating axles. This is made easier by the off-road tires. 

In contrast to conventional forklifts, the tires on the rough terrain forklifts are nearly double the size of their conventional counterparts. This is needed for the traction. In addition, they contain deep grooves that enhance the surface area of contact between the tire and the ground. Even so, the articulating axles permit a maximum of 7° lateral variation in uplifting between the tires, which aids in maintaining all the tires on the surface while traveling over rough ground to optimize traction while keeping the stability of the forklift. 

 Optimized Power and Output

When working on rugged or challenging terrain, it is crucial that the power is supplied to the wheels, where and when it is really needed. This is quite challenging for a standard forklift as power is usually only available to the front wheel drive tires via a 2WD transmission. Working in tough outdoor conditions can lead to power loss and immobilization in the event one of the tires veers off the ground, runs into a large rock, or endures a loss in traction.

To help avoid such problems, rough terrain forklifts are equipped with 4WD  transmission and adaptive limited-slip differentials. Besides supplying power to individual tires through the 4WD transmission, this setup through the adaptive limited-slip differentials feature helps combat power loss in the course of tire slippage by offering torque to the tires separately. 

 Reduced Maintenance Costs

These vehicles are primarily designed for the hostile environments in which  they are anticipated to carry out their work. Other heavy types of machinery not designed for unfriendly environments and conditions are most likely to experience endless breakdowns demanding lots of maintenance to operate. However, rough terrain forklifts are built to cope with severe conditions by employing the power of the four-wheel drive mechanism contained in this durable forklift. Considering everything, this helps cut down maintenance expenses significantly. 

It is therefore good to keep this information front of mind as you consider what type of work is being carried out and what type of equipment is best suited for your job. Be sure to ask your supplier about the other benefits and features of the rough terrain forklift.

Rough terrain forklifts are specially designed to carry bulky materials from one destination to another. These lifts are purpose-built to transport materials over uneven grounds such as rocks, hills, and many more. These machines are intended to be for outdoor terrain more so than those which are found indoors such as warehouses or dockside.

At initial consideration you can see that the tires on a rough terrain forklift vary significantly to those of the indoor lift. They are deliberately made for the uneven surfaces, and are quite sturdy and strong in order to navigate while carrying a load. There is also an unmatched traction for maximum stability.

The Tires

Are large enough and significantly reinforced in order to traverse on even hilly and slippery slopes. Along with this reinforced tire reduces any effect of sharp objects puncturing the surface. Added to this is the ability to move across grounds that are also soft, such as mud and loose gravel, without sinking or getting stuck.

The Design

While it is known as a rough terrain forklift, they are also designed to operate in poor weather conditions, including snow, strong winds and heavy rain while still protecting the operator. Oftentimes, rough terrain forklifts are assembled from composite materials or galvanized steel due to their ability to resist moisture. Moreover, they are more powerful than indoor lifts and can often carry bulkier loads.