Raw Materials
The cab, body, boom and frame of a telescoping boom rough terrain forklift are usually made by a forklift manufacturer. The most common material used for these subassemblies is steel, because of its tremendous strength. Sometimes aluminum or steel forgings are also used. It is common for non-metallic materials such as nylon plastic blocks to be utilized as guides within the boom assembly. The other components are typically purchased as finished products and the forklift maker installs them.
Some of the pre-assembled purchased products consist of the seat, transmission, engine, axles, hoses, tires and wheels, lights, back-up alarms, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Usually, certain materials like for instance the fuel and lubricants and hydraulic fluids are purchased in bulk. These liquids are added as required when the machine is assembled and has passed the meticulous testing sessions.
Design
The narrow and long design of the telescoping boom rough terrain forklift is most common, with a set of wheels at the front of the unit and another set located towards the back of the machinery. The model's boom is mounted at the rear of the forklift off of a pivot feature that is elevated a few feet above the frame's level. Normally, the cab is mounted on the frame structure's left-hand side. Typically, the cab's bottom half is low and located 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 in 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. Some models of forklifts utilize a single hydraulic cylinder to be able to raise the boom, and other models use 2 cylinders. Some units utilize a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This particular feature enables the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles in order to allow the machinery 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 machinery are up, located on a mound of dirt.
One more 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 positioning.