Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The type of electric truck which is designed to operate within narrow aisles is referred to as a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. Standard storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide, enough space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn in the aisle. Nevertheless, narrow aisles can be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specific lift truck models which are capable of tight turns, small, could put away loads without turning. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks can easily turn in narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the need for a large counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack because the truck cannot get close enough. These kinds of trucks work well in a warehouse that is well lit, has clean, even floors, good traffic flow and ample space for turning.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has pivoting forks on side of the truck. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once it stops at the designated storage place, the truck's forks turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and next smoothly deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.