What is a Counterbalance Forklift?

It is the most common forklift truck, the counterbalanced forklift has two forks in the front and has the ability to get close to a load to lift and move it.

The name comes from the counterweight at the rear of the vehicle. This is to compensate for the heavy load that is lifted in the front.

Counterbalanced forklifts are versatile and can be operated both indoors and outdoors. They drive best on flat, smooth surfaces and should be used in more open spaces due to their large turning radius.

What is a counterbalance Forklift
What is a counterbalance Forklift?

Counterbalanced forklift types

The counterbalanced forklift, without this weight your forklift would become unbalanced and tip over due to the added weight on the forks.

Comes in a variety of three and four wheels and can run on gasoline, diesel, and electric. They are very powerful trucks and useful for several different environments, lifting a variety of heavy loads.

counterbalance vs reach forklift

Counterbalanced forklifts are designed with the forks protruding from the front of the vehicle and do not have protruding legs or arms to stabilize them.

This means that you can drive your forklift to the precise points where your load or rack is located.

You don’t need a reach facility to access and deposit your cargo. The rear wheels are the rotating wheels of a counterbalanced forklift.

Reach Truck Forklifts:

As the name implies, the Reach Truck is primarily designed for lifting tall loads on shelves or storage. They serve a different type of work than counterbalanced forklift in a number of ways.

Reach forklifts work best indoors, in environments like warehouses. They are very maneuverable and are perfectly suited for weaving between narrow aisles.

They have the ability to reach high-sitting loads and can extend distances beyond their stabilizing legs. It is the combination of these stabilizer legs and the battery that eliminates the need for a cumbersome counterweight to balance the truck.

A reach truck offers a variety of functions to help you get the job done. Some reach trucks come with a tilt mechanism in the cab to help the driver get a better view of the operation.

Others have an open protective roof to optimize the view of the unit. In addition to this, reach trucks can be equipped with a camera that shows the driver what is happening overhead on a video screen.

What makes a forklift counterbalanced?

The counterbalance forklift features two forks at the front and has the ability to drive up close to a load to pick it up and move it. The name comes from the counterweight in the rear of the vehicle. This is to compensate for the heavy load being lifted at the front.

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