Lift trucks are mobile machines that utilize 2 forks or prongs in order to place cargo into positions which will normally be hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial lift trucks are most often used around train and truck loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse applications. These equipment have smaller tires which are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller forklifts may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain forklift is designed to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Normally, they are the great alternative for military and construction operation. Rough terrain lift trucks usually have large pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying cargo up and out from the base of the machine or they could use a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
During 1946, the rough terrain lift truck emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machinery was used around construction sites and was able to lift to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available which could raise up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 22.5 feet or 7 meters or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during the year 1962. This specific unit allowed cargo to be placed out from the base of the machine both above and below grade.