Raw Materials
The telescoping boom rough terrain forklift's body, cab, boom and frame are usually produced by a forklift manufacturer. Steel is the most common materials used to make these because they have tremendous strength. At times steel forgings or aluminum are used as well. It is common for non-metallic materials such as nylon plastic blocks to be used as guides in the boom assembly. The other components are normally purchased as finished products and the lift truck maker installs them.
Several of the pre-assembled bought products comprise the transmission, seat, axles, engine, wheels, hoses and tires, lights, back-up alarms, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Normally, some materials like for example the fuel and lubricants and hydraulic fluids are bought in bulk. These liquids are added as required once the machinery is assembled and has passed the rigorous testing sessions.
Design
The common design that is most standard of telescoping boom rough terrain forklifts is a narrow and long design which has a set of wheels at the front of the unit and another set situated towards the back of the machine. The boom portion of the model is mounted at the forklift's rear off of a pivot feature which is elevated a few feet above the level of the frame. Generally, 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 fuel tank and the hydraulic fuel tank are mounted opposite the cab on the right-hand side. Along the center-line of the vehicle, the transmission and the engine are mounted inside the frame.
Beyond this basic configuration, various manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market now, there are many different options offered. Certain units of forklifts use a single hydraulic cylinder in order to elevate the boom, and other units make use of 2 cylinders. Several units utilize a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This feature enables the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles in order to allow the machine to compensate for extreme axle articulation. This is utilized 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 machine are up, situated on a mound of dirt.
Another popular 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.