The forklift is a mobile equipment that uses 2 forks or prongs to carry and place cargo into positions that would be normally hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial forklifts are used around train loading docks and truck loading docks along with in warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires which are designed to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some smaller industrial forklift units which utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain forklifts are engineered to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal alternative for military and construction operation. Rough terrain lift trucks normally have large pneumatic tires which are normally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting loads up and out from the base of the equipment or they may utilize a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged during 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machinery was utilized around construction locations and can lift to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models which could lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 lbs.
In the year 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck was introduced with a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during the year 1962. This specific model allowed cargo to be positioned out from the base of the machine both above and below grade.