Raw Materials
The body, cab, boom and frame of a telescoping boom rough terrain forklift are generally made by a forklift manufacturer. The most common material used for these subassemblies is steel, due to its tremendous strength. At times aluminum or steel forgings 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 typically bought as finished products and the lift truck manufacturer installs them.
Pre-assembled purchased products may include several of the following: transmission, seat, engine, axles, tires, wheels and hoses, backup-alarm, lights, hydraulic cylinders and gauges. Most often, certain materials like for example the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are purchased in bulk. These liquids are added as needed once the machinery is assembled and has passed the meticulous testing sessions.
Design
The common design that is most standard of telescoping boom rough terrain forklifts is a long and narrow design which has a set of wheels at the front of the model and another set situated towards the back of the machine. The unit's boom is mounted at the rear of the forklift off of a pivot feature which is elevated several feet above the level of the frame. Generally, the cab is mounted on the left-hand side of the frame structure. Typically, the bottom half of the cab is low and located between the tires. The hydraulic fuel tank and the fuel tank are mounted on the right-hand side, opposite the cab. Along the vehicle's center-line, the transmission and the engine are mounted inside the frame.
Beyond this basic configuration, different manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market these days, there are many different options offered. Certain models of forklifts use a single hydraulic cylinder in order to raise the boom, and other models utilize 2 cylinders. Several models utilize a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This particular 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 used for example, when the tires on one side of the lift truck are situated down in a rut and the tires on the other side of the equipment are up, situated on a mound of dirt.
Fork attachments are another common design feature capable of swinging both left and right up to 45 degrees, that improves the precise load placement.