When it comes to versatility and popularity, it's hard to think of anything other than counterbalance forklifts. Easily the most popular forklift on our marketplace, counterbalance forklifts have a huge range of variety across different makes and models, so they fit a number of different roles in your warehouse or business. One of the reasons counterbalance forklifts are so popular is their simple, straight-forward usage. Unlike some other types of forklifts, counterbalance models can be driven straight up to the pallet or item and put to work. The simple-to-operate design lends itself to its popularity and makes it an ideal choice for new employees or operators who have little experience.
Another benefit is their versatile design--and not just when you compare different brands. Many of the big brands have a variety of counterbalance forklifts available to suit different industries and needs.
They especially excel in outdoor use. With their bigger ground clearance compared to other lift trucks, counterbalance forklifts are an ideal choice when you need heavy-duty outdoor work to be done. Diesel models particularly excel at this work, as they're able to put out more power and can operate in wet or icy conditions as well.
Not only are counterbalance forklifts available with the common diesel and LPG fuel, many big brands are now producing quality forklifts that run entirely off electric batteries. Of course, there are differences between these models and what they can do, so making sure you pick the right forklift for your needs is imperative.
While there are plenty of positives there are some drawbacks as well. Two of the biggest being reach and manoeuvrability. Due to their design, counterbalance forklifts aren't the best choice when you need to regularly lift heavy loads to great heights (up to and over 10m). This is further compounded when you need to do it in a tight space.
Another drawback of their design is their lack of manoeuvrability. Counterbalance forklifts require more space to turn around than reach trucks or hand pallets, restricting their use indoors.
That said, there are select designs being made that counter these flaws--especially when it comes to electric forklifts. Counterbalance forklifts with 3 wheels offer more manoeuvrability compared to the traditional 4-wheel models, and forklifts running off electric batteries are quieter and more manoeuvrable in general, making them an ideal choice for indoor use.
Whether it's a powerful outdoor diesel model, or a quieter, more mobile electric model, there's a counterbalance forklift out there to suit almost every business and industry.
