Material Handling in The Great Outdoors– Outdoor Forklift, Rough Terrain Forklift, or Telehandler?

Variables to Know Before Selecting Your Outdoor Material Handling Equipment

Ah, the great outdoors. Birds chirping, flowers blooming and… BIG vehicles moving weighty materials over treacherous terrain and raising them to hefty heights. This ain’t no place for a wimpy forklift! Out there you need a grown-up truck that can handle the elements. You need a forklift equipped for outdoor use, a rough terrain forklift, or a rough terrain telehandler designed to tackle these tougher tasks. 

Here are some things to consider before selecting the right big rig for the job. 

 

 

Flat Terrain – Let’s start with the easy stuff. If you’re operating in a paved or gravel yard that’s relatively flat, you probably don’t need to consider ground clearance, and you can likely use a standard forklift with pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires give you traction on slightly uneven outdoor surfaces.

Rough Terrain – If you’re working on a construction, agricultural or forestry site where the terrain may be littered with holes, ditches and bumps, you’ll need a forklift with more substantial, oversized pneumatic tires with high ground clearance. A rough terrain forklift is the answer. For terrain where sharp objects pose a puncture threat, opt for solid pneumatic tires.  

Capacity – As with any forklift, you’ll need to determine how much weight your outdoor forklift will be tasked to handle. Outdoor big rig forklifts can handle up to 50,000 lb and more, while telehandlers can move loads of over 25,000 lb.

Height – Outdoors, the sky’s the limit, literally. If you need to deliver a pallet of concrete to the third floor of a building under construction, you’ll need either a crane or a telehandler. Telehandlers can lift up to 10,000 lb. and more to heights of up to 40 ft. with models available for both flat or rough terrain. 

Power Source –  Most heavy-duty outdoor forklifts, rough terrain forklifts and telehandlers are still powered by internal combustion (IC) engines to provide the necessary torque and lift to overcome difficult terrain conditions and heavy loads. However, this is slowly changing, and battery-powered outdoor forklifts, including those powered by Li-ion batteries, are starting to make an appearance in this marketplace.

Application – Are you lifting pallets? Bags of cement? Concrete drainage pipes? Workers? You can add an attachment to a rough terrain forklift or telehandler that will add versatility in allowing it to move heavy, non-palletized loads, or even add a work-platform attachment enabling workers to perform tasks at elevated heights. Note that extreme caution should be exercised when lifting people with a telehandler. 

 

 

Apex offers the full range of CLARK  indoor and outdoor forklifts including the heavy-duty C60-80 series shown here, and the full line of JLG, Genie, and Skyjack telehandlers designed for the most demanding outdoor construction projects. Contact one of our knowledgeable reps today to learn about the equipment and financing options–purchase, lease or rent – And, remember Apex when your looking to add new pallet racking systems to your warehouse —we offer attractive leasing agreements that help you stretch your capital expenditure dollars.

Ask about our OSHA-certified forklift operator training program and our cost-effective maintenance programs. Apex is your full-service material handling, industrial vehicle and warehouse equipment, and service supplier in the greater Chicago area.