Raw Materials
The telescoping boom rough terrain forklift's body, cab, boom and frame are normally made by a forklift manufacturer. Steel is the most common materials used to make these because they have incredible strength. Sometimes aluminum or steel forgings are used also. It is common for non-metallic materials such as nylon plastic blocks to be used as guides in the boom assembly. The other parts are typically purchased as finished products and the forklift maker installs them.
Pre-assembled purchased products may comprise some of the following: transmission, seat, axles, engine, wheels, hoses and tires, lights, back-up alarms, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Most often, some materials like for instance the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are bought in bulk. These liquids are added as required when 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 narrow and long design that has a set of wheels at the front of the unit and another set situated towards the back of the machinery. The unit's boom is mounted at the back of the forklift off of a pivot feature which is elevated a few feet above the frame's level. Normally, the cab is mounted on the left-hand side of the frame structure. Normally, the cab's bottom half 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 engine and the transmission are mounted within the frame.
Different manufacturers have contributed their own unique designs beyond this basic configuration. These days, there are many different options available on the market. Some units of forklifts utilize a single hydraulic cylinder in order to raise the boom, and other models utilize 2 cylinders. Some units use a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This feature allows the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles so as to enable the machinery to compensate for extreme axle articulation. For example, this is used when the tires on one side of the lift truck are located down in a rut and the tires on the other side of the equipment are up, situated on a mound of dirt.
Another common design feature comprises fork attachments that are capable of swinging up to 45 degrees both right and left, in order to enable precise load positioning.