Tire Types
Cushion tires are generally considered solid tires with no tread pattern. These tires are made for indoor smooth and solid surfaces. There are tread patterns available though, that are more suitable for different surface environments. The cushion tires are common on smooth warehouse floors and in similar applications.
Pneumatic tires however would require air and are made specially for loose surfaces on uneven ground. The pneumatic tire provides a higher ground clearance over solid tires. This raises the center of gravity of the forklift and greatly reduces its rated lift capacity. More often than not, pneumatic tires are used in rough terrain surroundings due to their ability to navigate uneven surfaces in a smoother manner. Many construction sites and mining or agricultural operations depend on these tires to be able to make certain the equipment can travel as carefully and safe as possible.
Lift Capacity and Lift Height
It is vital to understand the maximum dimensions and weight of the loads you would be handling in order to determine the capacity of the vehicle needed. Moreover, you will need to know the maximum fork height needed so as to rack or stack the loads. These factors, the load size and the lifting height, really affect the truck's lifting capacity. A larger size load is able to move the center of gravity of the vehicle and change the load combination. This decreases the lifting capacity of the equipment as well as affects the height and the load being lifted. Using different attachments can also affect the truck's overall capacity.
Mast Options
There are many different options of masts offered on the market. For instance, there are quad, triple, double or single, the numbers indicate how many sections or stages the mast has. In different circumstances, you would not be needed to make any choices as the lift height will dictate the type of mast you will get, although, in trucks with really high lift heights, you could have an option.