Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to operate in narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn within the aisle because typical storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. However, narrow aisles could be around 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space requires specific lift truck models that are capable of tight turns, small, could put away loads without pivoting. The popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are reach trucks, turret trucks and orderpickers.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks manufactured for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks could turn with no trouble within narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a big counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms that extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get close enough. These types of trucks really work well inside a warehouse that is well lit, has even, clean floors, good flow of traffic and ample turning space.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck has pivoting forks on side of the truck. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load could face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage place, the truck's forks pivot to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.