Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The kind of electric truck which is designed to function in narrow aisles is referred to as a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle because standard storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is sufficient space. Then again, narrow aisles could be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specific types of lift trucks that are capable of tight turns, small, can put away loads without turning. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse use. These small trucks could turn with no trouble within narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the need for a big counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get near enough. These trucks work well within a warehouse that is well lit, has clean, even floors, good traffic flow 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 faces forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck pivot to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks can come with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.