If you're currently shopping for a forklift you might be wondering what the right lift is for your operation. Even if this isn't your first forklift you still might be asking yourself if there is a better type of forklift that can help your operation be more efficient.

You may also need more than one type of forklift to achieve operational efficiency. Such as having a mix of order pickers and rider pallet jacks.

Take a look at these questions to help point you in the right direction.

What Will My Forklift Be Doing?  

Are you doing general lifting and stacking around a shop or warehouse? Will the forklift be used in narrow aisles to store and retrieve pallets?  Or will it be used to pick orders from racking? Are you unloading from a dock or from the ground out of the back or from the sides of trailers?

For general lifting and stacking you most likely need a cushion tire or pneumatic tire forklift which could be electric or have an internal combustion engine.

If you have a very low volume operation or a very small space to work in you can consider a walkie or rider pallet jack that lifts about 8" off the ground.  You can also take a look at walkie stackers that are walk behind forklifts that can lift upwards of 13 feet.

If you are storing pallets in narrow aisles you might need a reach truck forklift. A reach truck has a retractable fork area that allows the machine to turn in tighter aisles. The forks can extend into pallet racking as the forklift stays stationary.

If you are picking orders from racking you probably need an order picker forklift. An order picker has a platform on which the operator rides up and and down with a pallet. The operator reaches into the pallet racking to grab products and place them on the pallet.  Order pickers are useful when you're operation doesn't need to remove full pallets every time an order is placed.

What surface will this forklift be used on?

You want to ask yourself where the forklift will go. Will it mainly be used inside on a smooth concrete floor and occasionally go outside on level surfaces as well?  Or will the forklift be going over bumpy terrain such as packed gravel or a warehouse floor that isn't new and smooth?

If the forklift will be used on smooth surfaces at all times then you can use a cushion tire forklift. If you are going over more uneven terrain then you should consider a pneumatic tire forklift. If you will be driving over very rough surfaces you should take a look at rough terrain forklifts.

How much weight do I need to pick up?

You'll want to know the weight of your max load that you are handling and the dimensions of the load.  Most forklifts have a load center at 24" from the fork face so if the forklift is rated to lift 5000lbs then it can do so with the load centered at 24" from the fork face.  Optional items like larger forks and specialty attachments can lower the rated capacity of a forklift so keep that in mind when considering how much the forklift can lift.  For example if your loads are exactly 5000lbs then you probably need a 6000lbs capacity forklift.

Narrowing Down Your Selection

At this point you can answer three important questions - what is my forklift doing, where will it be used, and how much is it going to lift? Now you can shop with a specific description such as "cushion tire LP gas forklift that can lift 8000lbs" or "pneumatic tire electric forklift that can lift 5000lbs."  

Two other key considerations are how high do you need this forklift to lift and do you have any height restrictions in your facility that this forklift must be able to pass.  You don't want your forklift to not lift high enough and you don't want it to not be able to go to certain spots in your building or be unable to fit into standard truck trailers. 

So when you're out browsing the internet for a forklift you have a much clearer idea of the forklift that is best for your operation.  And when you end up calling a seller you can talk with more confidence about the type of forklift you need and the specifications you require.