There are two basic kinds of lift trucks, units that run on gas and those which run on electricity:
Internal Combustion or IC Forklifts: The Internal Combustion Lift Trucks run on liquid propane, gas, CNG or compressed natural gas or diesel. The gas powered units are meant to be utilized outside because they release pollutants and gases which can be harmful if inhaled. Gas models are also great to be utilized in the rain and in bad climate. These units could lift weights about 15,000 to 35,000 pounds. Because of the maintenance and fuel costs, models that run on gas are more costly to utilize compared to the electric units, although, they cost a lot less up front than the electric units. Models that run on liquid propane are the right choice for safe use inside.
Electric Lift Trucks: The electric forklift models are powered by very large batteries which should be recharged. The equipments do not create any polluting air emissions as these models do not burn any fuel. They are the best choice for warehouses and indoor applications. Also, forklifts that run on electricity do not require any fuel storage units and they are a lot quieter to run than other models. Among the downsides of electric powered units is that they are unable to carry loads more than 15,000 pounds and hence, have a slower acceleration than the models which utilize gasoline.
Forklifts are particularly designed to easily and quickly transport heavy loads with ease. Like the case with nearly all types of vehicle, unfortunately, forklift mishaps do happen on a regular basis. There are some safety rules which must be followed so as to keep everybody safe. The most vital problem is recruiting a trained operator, who can show you a valid forklift license.
On the market today, there are numerous different styles of lift trucks available. Choosing which one is best for your specific requirements would be based on the kind of environment your machine would have to operate in, for instance, outdoors or indoors or both and what kinds of loads that you have to transport. When you know your particular needs, it will be easy to match up to the best kind of forklift. When you understand your needs precisely you could make a correct choice.
Another great way to get first hand experience on the different lift truck models is the try leasing your lift truck. This would also enable you to see all the possible choices available to you. This is a cheaper way to know if the kind of machinery you have chosen could keep up with you on the job site.