Lift trucks are mobile machines that use 2 forks or prongs to be able to place loads into positions that will usually be hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most commonly, industrial lift trucks are utilized around truck loading docks and train loading docks as well as in warehouse applications. These machines have smaller tires that are designed to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some smaller industrial forklift units that utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are engineered to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Normally, they are the great option for construction and military applications. Rough terrain lift trucks usually have big pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models can have a telescoping boom, which can carry cargo up and out from the base of the equipment or they could use a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
During 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 locations and can lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which can lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
In 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 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in 1962. This particular model enabled cargo to be placed out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.