Raw Materials
The body, cab, frame and boom of a telescoping boom rough terrain forklift are generally manufactured by a lift truck manufacturer. The most common material for these subassemblies is steel, because of its tremendous strength. Sometimes steel forgings or aluminum are also used. It is common for non-metallic materials like nylon plastic blocks to be utilized as guides within the boom assembly. The other components are usually purchased as finished products and the forklift manufacturer installs them.
Pre-assembled purchased products may include some of the following: seat, transmission, engine, axles, tires, wheels and hoses, backup-alarm, lights, hydraulic cylinders and gauges. Most often, certain materials like for example the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are purchased in bulk. These liquids are added as required once the machinery is assembled and has passed the meticulous testing sessions.
Design
The narrow and long 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 rear of the equipment. The unit'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 frame structure's left-hand side. Typically, 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 in the frame.
Beyond this basic configuration, different manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market today, there are many different options available. Some models of forklifts use a single hydraulic cylinder in order to raise the boom, and other units make use of 2 cylinders. Some units utilize a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This particular feature allows the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles so as to allow the equipment to compensate for extreme axle articulation. This is used for instance, 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.
Another common design feature comprises fork attachments that are capable of swinging up to 45 degrees both right and left, in order to enable accurate load placement.