Raw Materials
The body, cab, frame and boom of a telescoping boom rough terrain forklift are generally made by a forklift manufacturer. The most common material for these subassemblies is steel, due to its tremendous strength. Sometimes steel forgings or aluminum are also used. It is common for non-metallic materials like nylon plastic blocks to be used as guides in the boom assembly. The other components are usually bought as finished products and the lift truck maker installs them.
Several of the pre-assembled bought products include the seat, transmission, axles, engine, hoses, tires and wheels, lights, back-up alarms, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Normally, certain materials like the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are purchased in bulk. These liquids are added as needed when the machine is assembled and has passed the rigorous testing sessions.
Design
The common design which is most typical of telescoping boom rough terrain forklifts is a long and narrow design which has a set of wheels at the front of the unit and another set located towards the back of the machine. The boom part of the model is mounted at the forklift's back off of a pivot feature which is raised a few feet above the level of the frame. Usually, the cab is mounted on the left-hand side of the frame structure. Usually, the bottom half of the cab is low and located between the tires. The hydraulic fuel tank and the 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, various manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market these days, there are numerous options available. Some units of forklifts use a single hydraulic cylinder to be able to elevate the boom, and other models use 2 cylinders. Several units make use of a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This feature enables the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles so as 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 equipment are up, situated on a mound of dirt.
One more popular design feature comprises fork attachments which are capable of swinging up to 45 degrees both right and left, in order to enable accurate load placement.