Raw Materials
The telescoping boom rough terrain forklift's cab, body, boom and frame are generally made by a forklift maker. Steel is the most common materials utilized to make these because they have amazing strength. Sometimes steel forgings or aluminum are utilized too. It is common for non-metallic materials like for instance nylon plastic blocks to be used as guides in the boom assembly. The other parts are usually purchased as finished products and the lift truck manufacturer installs them.
Pre-assembled purchased products can comprise several of the following: transmission, seat, axles, engine, wheels, hoses and tires, backup-alarm, lights, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Most often, some materials like for example the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are purchased in bulk. These liquids are added as required once the machine is assembled and has passed the meticulous 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 rear of the machinery. The boom part of the model is mounted at the forklift's back off of a pivot feature which is elevated several feet above the frame's level. Normally, the cab is mounted on the left-hand side of the frame structure. Typically, the cab's bottom half is low and situated between the tires. The fuel tank and the hydraulic 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, various manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market nowadays, there are many different options available. Certain units of forklifts make use of a single hydraulic cylinder to be able to elevate the boom, and other models make use of 2 cylinders. Some models use a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This feature enables the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles in order to enable the machinery to compensate for extreme axle articulation. This is used for example, when the tires on one side of the forklift are located down in a rut and the tires on the other side of the machine are up, located on a mound of dirt.
Another popular design feature includes fork attachments which are capable of swinging up to 45 degrees both left and right, in order to allow precise load placement.