A rough terrain forklift is designed and engineered for moving items over challenging terrain which a pneumatic tired lift truck will not traverse. The most visible feature on the rough terrain lift truck is its aggressive, oversized treaded tires. This tire design enables the equipment to travel bumpy, muddy or soft terrain without getting stuck. There are a variety of rough terrain model lift trucks which are 4-wheel drive as well. The rough terrain lift truck falls into a Class 7 forklift.
The unique nature of the rough terrain forklift and its excellent quality and versatility has led to widespread popularity across North America. These equipment have earned a positive reputation and have become the machine of choice, gaining a strong following from a variety of industries and businesses.
By the local market, 4-wheel drive lift trucks are very well accepted. They are common sights in the construction and heavy lumber industries. The more affordable 2-wheel drive equipment target the lumber and industrial markets and are high quality. The 4-wheel drive forklifts are very common to find at any particular local building supply store.
Multi-purpose forklifts are used by numerous industries such as: recycling industries, agriculture, shipbuilding and sod farming businesses. Within both the lumber and mining businesses where space is truly limited and often a concern, extremely compact forklift models are used.
More than 60 years ago, the rough terrain lift truck was created when a 2-pronged lift attachment was fitted to a power buggy. The power buggy was a materials handling equipment, around the size of a wheelbarrow. Today, these heavy industrial equipment are popular sights in lumberyards and on construction projects.
The rough terrain forklift has become a much larger part of the material handling industry. These equipment are have endured a rough economic climate, especially for vehicles that have military or farming applications.
In the United States, there are over twenty different types of rough terrain forklifts on the market. There are over 1200 models to pick from. Additionally, there is a huge selection of rough terrain telehandlers on the market, with over 25 various brands. Furthermore, various leading corporations like Manitou and JLG make both types of machine.
These 4-wheel drive machines are suited for the harshest of environments. These machinery handle well in all types of weather and could perform the hardest tasks easily.