Key Takeaways
- Improve operational efficiency by selecting the forklift type best suited to your specific lift height and load capacity needs.
- Understand that reach trucks are designed for high lifting in narrow aisles, while standard forklifts handle heavier loads in wider areas.
- Ensure workplace safety and productivity by matching the equipment’s capabilities to your warehouse or site environment.
- Discover that reach trucks use a special extending mechanism to access pallets stored at significant heights.
Getting the proper equipment for your warehouse and construction needs can save money and increase efficiency in the long run.
Below, we break down the differences between a reach truck and a standard forklift so that you can make the right decision for your material handling needs.
1. Lift Height
This is where the reach truck excels, since it’s made specifically to reach large heights. Its forks can carry and retrieve pallets up to 13 metres, making it ideal to use in warehouses or other working environments with high racking systems. With this height capacity, a reach truck can organize, place, and retrieve materials with ease. Meanwhile, a standard forklift typically maxes out at only 8 metres and is better suited for wider spaces where high lift height isn’t an important factor, such as shipyards or lumberyards, where material stacking is typically kept at lower heights.
2. Load Capacity
A standard forklift can carry significantly more weight than a reach truck. It is also known as a counterbalance forklift, meaning it has a counterbalance in the back to balance the load it will carry in the front. Depending on the model, it can carry loads between 1,500 kilogrammes to 30,000 kilogrammes, making it ideal for transporting heavy loads or huge amounts of materials at once.
On the other hand, a reach truck can typically only carry up to 3,000 kilogrammes. This is because its main purpose is to retrieve and place material at greater heights instead of transporting them over longer distances or carrying heavier loads.
If you prioritise transporting heavy materials, the standard forklift is a better choice. However, if your use case requires reaching high shelves or elevated areas, a reach truck would be a more suitable option.
3. Manoeuvrability
Reach trucks often feature easier manoeuvrability because they are built rather small to fit in narrow aisles. Their smaller sizes also make them more ideal for indoor spaces, which means they aren’t typically recommended for outdoor use. Meanwhile, standard forklifts can be used both indoors and outdoors, but most models are much bigger and wider, and thus can’t fit in smaller areas. They can also be challenging to maneuver due to their large build, and they typically need plenty of space to move around.
4. Environment
Since reach trucks are designed for navigating tight, narrow aisles, they’re best used in environments that use high racking systems to maximize storage space. For this reason, most reach truck models are ideal for indoor use, where the flooring is more even and smooth, such as high-capacity warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities. However, take note that there are still reach truck models made for outdoor environments.
Standard forklifts are typically designed to better withstand various surfaces. They may have larger tyres and higher ground clearance, which helps them go through hard flooring, rough gravel, and other uneven outdoor surfaces. This makes them a good option for outdoor working areas such as construction sites and lumberyards.
5. Space Efficiency
The size of your working environment can also determine which equipment you should use. For example, indoor warehouses and other limited spaces are more suitable for reach trucks due to their compact footprint and overall smaller build. On the other hand, standard forklifts are much bulkier, need more space to manoeuvre, and require bigger parking spaces in the working environment. This makes them easier to use outdoors, where workers can take advantage of the wide open space. While they can still be operated indoors, storage space may need to be sacrificed to create wider aisle layouts for the forklift to manoeuvre efficiently.
Choosing the Right Equipment
Since the reach truck and the standard forklift both have individual strengths, choosing between the two is a matter of analysing your working environment and how each option’s features can address your needs. Knowing the details of both can help you make an informed decision and increase the efficiency of your operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between a reach truck and a standard forklift?
A reach truck is a specialized forklift designed primarily for lifting materials to great heights (up to 13 meters) within narrow warehouse aisles, using forks that extend forward. A standard forklift is built for lifting heavier loads (up to 30,000 kg) at lower heights and typically requires more space to operate.
Why can a standard forklift lift much heavier loads than a reach truck?
Standard forklifts, often called counterbalance forklifts, have a large weight built into the back (the counterbalance). This rear weight offsets the heavy load lifted at the front, providing stability that allows them to handle significantly greater capacities compared to the lighter reach truck design.
In which specific situation is a reach truck the better choice?
A reach truck is the superior choice in warehouses with high racking systems (over 8 meters) and narrow aisles designed to maximize storage space. Its ability to extend its forks forward makes it uniquely suited for placing and retrieving pallets in these tight, high-density environments.
Are reach trucks just smaller versions of standard forklifts?
No, that’s a common misunderstanding; while often more compact, a reach truck has a fundamentally different design focused on vertical reach and narrow aisle operation, featuring a telescoping mast and fork mechanism. Standard forklifts are primarily designed around load capacity and stability for transport.
What is a key consideration when choosing between these forklifts for indoor use?
When choosing for indoor use, the primary consideration is aisle width and required lift height; reach trucks excel in narrow aisles (often under 3 meters) and high storage racks. Standard forklifts work indoors but need much wider aisles for maneuvering, potentially reducing storage density.
Can standard forklifts be used effectively outdoors?
Yes, standard forklifts are generally more versatile for outdoor use as they often have larger tires and better ground clearance. This design allows them to navigate rougher terrain like gravel or uneven surfaces found on construction sites or lumberyards more easily than most reach trucks.
How does the operator’s viewpoint differ between a reach truck and a standard forklift?
Operators typically sit sideways in a reach truck, providing better visibility when lifting loads to extreme heights and maneuvering in tight aisles. In a standard forklift, the operator faces forward, which is more conventional for driving and transporting loads horizontally.
What should I do if my operation needs both high reach and heavy lifting capacity?
If you require both capabilities regularly, you likely need both types of equipment, assigning tasks based on their strengths. Alternatively, explore specialized forklift types or attachments, although these might represent compromises in efficiency or cost compared to dedicated machines.
Does the extending mechanism on a reach truck require special maintenance?
Yes, the telescoping mast and reach mechanism add complexity and require specific maintenance checks beyond those for a standard forklift. Regular inspection and lubrication of the moving parts are necessary to ensure safe and reliable operation at height.
If I understand the basics, what advanced factor influences the choice?
Beyond height and capacity, consider the intensity of use and cycle times; reach trucks are often faster for vertical put-away and retrieval cycles in narrow aisles. Standard forklifts might be quicker for transporting heavy loads over longer distances within a facility or yard.
