Hello All ... am new to the forum and glad to be part of this community. I have been researching for a forklift with extendable forks, I am not sure my particular requirements exist but I would like to purchase a system where the forks can extend up to 40ft lengths to help us offload/on-load raw materials from 40ft containers. Can anyone help point me in the right direction? am I asking for too much? Thank you.
First off welcome to HEF. What is the weight of the heaviest pallet and distance into the container? How close to the container will the lift be able to get? One thing about telehandlers (shooting boom forklifts) is, they have a load chart much like a crane. And much like a crane at horizontal and reaching out the load capabilities are reduced quickly as the boom extends. Add any attachments (fork positioners, sideshifting forks) and the capacity drops further. So we need a little more info to recommend a machine. If using a hand pallet truck to move a pallet to the rear is possible it may also change things.
Hi Bill ... thanks for your reply. We will be using the forklift to load palletized materials into 40ft containers, here are some details: The forklift will be able to reach the door of the container and extend from there. The forks must extend to the end of a 40ft container, that is 12 meters. The maximum weight of our loaded pallets is 300 KG, approximately 700lb's (maximum). Thanks again for your help.
OK, that's what we need. Just as a way to compare various size machines from Cat (other mfg. have similar sites) go here http://www.cat.com/equipment/telehandlers and click on a model. Then when that page loads download the product brochure on the right side of the page. This brochure will have a load chart for that particular model. Many models have outriggers on the front so you will have the choice of downriggers up or down.
Thanks for the info Bill, I will have a look at these various models. Greatly appreciated.
Also when you are ready to purchase one, take into consideration your operating conditions. Loose sand and rock may require different tires than would normally be installed. Anything unusual about your operation should be mentioned to the salesman to avoid problems when you don't need them. You're welcome, Bill.
Thanks Bill, these are quite big equipments, I was looking for smaller solutions such as this system: http://qdumht.en.made-in-china.com/...fgHJfGpm/China-Fork-Reach-Forklift-TW10-.html
OK, what you are looking for is called a reach attachment. This will not work for two reasons. 1- A reach unit depends on a system that can collapse to a very narrow dimension, which means as it collapses it's length decreases but it's vertical dimension increases. This would make a system that extends to 12m very deep and cumbersome. 2- A standard lift trucks capacity is based on load center capacity (610mm or 915mm etc.), as you move outside of this envelope the capacity drops drastically. At 12m the machine would have nosed over long ago. Is there a reason you cannot use a standard lift truck to enter the container/ Theexample that you posted would have to be at dock level and hard surface.
Thanks for these clarifications Bill, Yes, I was trying to avoid the use of a ramp or a docking area to load materials into containers, but it looks like this (ramp + dock) is the only way to go. Thanks again for your help.
Are your containers sitting on the ground or still on the carrier? Either way, portable ramp/docks are available that work well for this type application. And they are a lot cheaper investment than a lift truck.
They are usually sitting on a trailer, yes this is probably a cheaper way (and the proper) way to offload materials as they arrive, thanks a bunch for your time and support on this matter Bill.
with your requirements a dock will be your best/only option.
Thank you! I have took arrangements in that direction, greatly appreciate your feedback.