Raw Materials
The telescoping boom rough terrain forklift's cab, body, boom and frame are usually produced by a forklift maker. Steel is the most popular materials used to make these as they have amazing strength. At times aluminum or steel forgings are also utilized. It is common for non-metallic materials such as nylon plastic blocks to be used as guides within the boom assembly. The other components are typically purchased as finished products and the forklift manufacturer installs them.
Pre-assembled bought products can comprise several of the following: seat, transmission, engine, axles, tires, wheels and hoses, lights, back-up alarms, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Most often, some materials like the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are purchased in bulk. These liquids are added as needed when the machine is assembled and has passed the rigorous testing sessions.
Design
The common design that is most typical of telescoping boom rough terrain forklifts is a narrow and long design that has a set of wheels at the front of the unit and another set located towards the back of the equipment. The boom part of the model is mounted at the forklift's back off of a pivot feature that is elevated a few feet above the level of the frame. Generally, the cab is mounted on the frame structure's left-hand side. Normally, the cab's bottom half is low and located 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 inside the frame.
Beyond this basic configuration, various manufacturers have contributed to their own unique design. On the market nowadays, there are many different options offered. Some units of forklifts utilize a single hydraulic cylinder in order to elevate the boom, and other models utilize 2 cylinders. Some models make use of a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This feature allows the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles so as to enable the machine to compensate for extreme axle articulation. This is utilized for instance, 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 machinery are up, situated on a mound of dirt.
Another popular design feature comprises fork attachments which are capable of swinging up to 45 degrees both left and right, in order to enable precise load placement.