Raw Materials
The body, cab, frame and boom of a telescoping boom rough terrain forklift are generally made by a lift truck manufacturer. The most popular material used for these subassemblies is steel, due to its tremendous strength. Sometimes aluminum or steel forgings are also used. It is common for non-metallic materials such as nylon plastic blocks to be utilized as guides in the boom assembly. The other parts are typically purchased as finished products and the forklift maker installs them.
Several of the pre-assembled purchased products consist of the seat, transmission, axles, engine, hoses, tires and wheels, lights, back-up alarms, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Usually, certain materials such as the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are purchased in bulk. These liquids are added as needed when the machine is assembled and has passed the rigorous 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 unit and another set situated towards the back of the machinery. The unit's boom is mounted at the forklift's rear off of a pivot feature which is elevated a few feet above the level of the frame. Normally, the cab is mounted on the left-hand side of the frame structure. Normally, the bottom half of the cab is low and located 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 within the frame.
Beyond this basic configuration, various manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market these days, there are numerous options available. Certain units of forklifts use a single hydraulic cylinder to be able to raise the boom, and other models use 2 cylinders. Some units 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 machine to compensate for extreme axle articulation. This is used for instance, 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 machine are up, located on a mound of dirt.
One more common design feature comprises fork attachments that are capable of swinging up to 45 degrees both right and left, in order to allow precise load placement.