Raw Materials
The telescoping boom rough terrain forklift's body, cab, boom and frame are generally made by a forklift maker. Steel is the most common materials utilized to make these as they have amazing strength. Sometimes steel forgings or aluminum 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 components are normally bought as finished products and the forklift manufacturer installs them.
Pre-assembled purchased products can comprise some of the following: seat, transmission, engine, axles, wheels, hoses and tires, lights, back-up alarms, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Most often, 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 model and another set located towards the back of the equipment. The model's boom is mounted at the forklift's back off of a pivot feature that is elevated several feet above the level of the frame. Normally, the cab is mounted on the left-hand side of the frame structure. Typically, the bottom half of the cab is low and situated between the tires. The hydraulic fuel tank and the fuel tank are mounted on the right-hand side, opposite the cab. Along the center-line of the vehicle, the engine and the transmission are mounted inside the frame.
Beyond this basic configuration, various manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market nowadays, there are numerous options available. Some models of forklifts use a single hydraulic cylinder in order to raise the boom, and other models utilize 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 enable the machinery to compensate for extreme axle articulation. Like for example, this is utilized when the tires on one side of the forklift are situated down in a rut and the tires on the other side of the equipment are up, located on a mound of dirt.
Fork attachments are another common design feature capable of swinging both right and left up to 45 degrees, that increases the accurate load positioning.