Raw Materials
The body, cab, frame and boom of a telescoping boom rough terrain forklift are normally made by a forklift manufacturer. The most common material used for these subassemblies is steel, due to its tremendous strength. At times aluminum or steel forgings are utilized also. It is common for non-metallic materials such as nylon plastic blocks to be utilized as guides within the boom assembly. The other parts are typically purchased as finished products and the forklift maker installs them.
Some of the pre-assembled bought products include the seat, transmission, engine, axles, wheels, hoses and tires, lights, back-up alarms, hydraulic cylinders and gauges. Most often, some materials such as the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are bought in bulk. These liquids are added as needed once the equipment is assembled and has passed the meticulous testing sessions.
Design
The long and narrow 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 situated towards the rear of the equipment. The unit's boom is mounted at the forklift's rear off of a pivot feature that is elevated a few feet above the level of the frame. Normally, the cab is mounted on the frame structure's left-hand side. Normally, the bottom half of the cab is low and situated between the tires. The hydraulic fuel tank and the fuel tank are mounted on the right-hand side, opposite the cab. Along the center-line of the vehicle, the transmission and the engine are mounted in the frame.
Different manufacturers have contributed their own unique designs beyond this basic configuration. These days, there are many different options available on the market. Certain units of forklifts use a single hydraulic cylinder in order to elevate the boom, and other models use 2 cylinders. Some models utilize a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This particular feature allows the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles so as to allow the machinery to compensate for extreme axle articulation. Like for example, this is utilized when the tires on one side of the lift truck are located down in a rut and the tires on the other side of the machine are up, situated on a mound of dirt.
Another common design feature comprises fork attachments that are capable of swinging up to 45 degrees both left and right, in order to enable accurate load positioning.