The lift truck is a mobile machinery which uses 2 forks or prongs to lift and place loads into positions which will be normally hard to reach. Typically, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most commonly used around truck and train loading docks in addition to many warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires which are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller forklifts may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain lift truck is engineered to be operated on unpaved and rough surfaces. Usually, they are the ideal choice for construction and military operation. Rough terrain forklifts usually have big pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models can have a telescoping boom, which could lift loads up and out from the base of the machine or they could utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
During the year 1946, the rough terrain forklift emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machine was utilized around construction sites and was able to raise to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could carry 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which can raise up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
During 1958, the original 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 during the year 1962. This unit enabled cargo to be positioned out from the machine's base both below and above grade.