The lift truck is a mobile machinery which uses 2 forks or prongs to lift and place cargo into positions that would be normally difficult to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial lift trucks are most commonly used around train and truck loading docks in addition to many warehouse operation. These machines have smaller tires which are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
Smaller forklifts may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain lift truck is designed to be operated on unpaved and rough surfaces. Normally, they are the great choice for military and construction applications. Rough terrain forklifts usually have large pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units could have a telescoping boom, that could lift loads up and out from the base of the machinery or they may use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
In the year 1946, the rough terrain lift truck emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial equipment was used around construction sites and could lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available which can lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
During 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during the year 1962. This specific model allowed loads to be positioned out from the equipment's base both below and above grade.