Things to Keep in Mind While Determining Forklift Capacity

1. Things to Keep in Mind While Determining Forklift Capacity Do you know how the capacity of a forklift is determined? The weight which can lift by a forklift is called as then forklift capacity. This value depends on various factors such as the length of forklift attachment, etc. Determining forklift capacity- • Load center- While determining forklift capacity, the first factor which has to consider is the vertical and horizontal load centers. Forklift center of gravity will be affected more if the load gets taller, longer or wider. If the weight is unevenly distributed in the load, then the load center will also get affected. • Load manipulation, lift, and tilt- These three things are essential to understand the forklift capacity. After determining the forklift’s center of gravity, lifting, tilting or load manipulation can also be responsible for the variation of a forklift’s maximum capacity. • Attachment thickness- The thickness of the forklift attachment states the amount by which a load is moved from the vehicle’s fork face. The weight of the attachment has a very significant role in determining forklift capacity. The more the weight is, the less is the load weight that the forklift is able to support. • Types of tires and tread widths- These are two crucial things to keep in mind while determining forklift capacity. Dual tire configuration usually increases the capacity of a truck. This happens because of the wider stance, which results in increasing the forklift’s stability triangle size.

2. • Battery- The weight of the battery of a truck can also make a difference in determining forklift capacity. This is the reason why it is very important to use a battery that meets the minimum battery weight requirements of the truck. The list which we have mentioned above is just a few of the primary factors which are essential to consider while calculating the capacity of a forklift. Dangers caused while exceeding forklift capacity- We all are aware of the fact that the job of operating forklifts is a very dangerous task if small details are not considered. When operating a forklift truck, you should know as well as be aware of how the shape and weight of a load affect the capacity of a forklift. The proper way of lifting a load, the difference between the gross and net capacity noted above, etc., are some of the other factors that can end up resulting in forklift accidents, if not taken proper care. Tips to reduce forklift dangers- Here we have made a short list which can help you reduce the chances of forklift accidents- • Always choose for forklifts with bigger load capacity than the actual capacity needed. • Estimate the load size more than the actual weight. • Never ever exceed the forklift's capacity. • Pay special attention to the marked weight of the load before lifting. These are few things which can be very helpful to reduce the chances of injuries that can be caused by a forklift. So, now that you are aware of all the factors which can help you determining forklift capacity; go and choose your forklift keeping the above list in mind. You can also know about “what are forklift attachments and its benefits?”