Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to function in narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle because typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. Nonetheless, narrow aisles could be around 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space requires specialized kinds of lift trucks that are small, capable of tight turns, and able to put away loads without pivoting. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks manufactured for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks could easily turn in narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the requirement for a huge counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack because the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks really work well in a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, enough space for turning and good traffic flow.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has pivoting forks on side of the truck. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage location, the truck's forks turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and next easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.