Used Cushion Tire Forklift Stockton - Forklift trucks are commonly classified by the kind of work they complete as well as the kind of tire they use. Pneumatic and cushion tires provide the 2 distinct forklift classifications.
There are drawbacks and benefits to both pneumatic and cushion forklift tire options. The drawbacks and benefits of cushion tire models can be only compared when the drawbacks and benefits of the pneumatic tires are also discussed.
Forklift Tire Classifications
Cushion Tires
Cushion tires are made up of either smooth or treaded solid rubber and are designed around a metal ring or baseband. These kinds of forklift tires are cheaper to make and easier to maintain. This type of tire is made to work on smooth surfaces such as indoor concrete floors and loading docks. Cushion tires make travelling in tight locations much easier to navigate around corners due to their tight radius. Forklifts that use cushion tires can be lower to the ground compared to pneumatic tire models and the increase in vertical clearance is welcome for many applications. However, cushion tires do not provide as much traction as pneumatic tires. This is especially true for outdoor areas and wet surfaces.
Cushion tires forklifts are commonly used for organizing inventory, moving items to and from different loading docks, unloading shipments and similar applications.
Pneumatic Tires
Pneumatic tires are mainly utilized on uneven surfaces and rougher terrain. These tires fall into two categories: standard air pneumatic or solid resilient pneumatic.
The main difference with these categories is that the standard air pneumatic tires consist of a layered rubber design filled with air and the solid resilient pneumatic type is made completely out of rubber.
Pneumatic tire forklifts are excellent choices for working in locations with uneven or unpaved ground outdoors. Locations that have sharp debris or objects that could puncture a standard air pneumatic tires such as junkyards or lumber yards will benefit from solid resilient pneumatic forklift tires.
Benefits of Cushion Tire Forklifts
Forklifts fitted with cushion tires are a good option for operation on smooth surfaces, both indoor and outdoor. The majority of forklifts that rely on cushion tires are used mostly indoors with limited outdoor use. Cushion tire forklifts are commonly used in warehouses and manufacturing plants. Warehousing and narrow aisles and tight locations all rely on the benefits of cushion tire forklifts.
Some benefits of using a cushion tire forklift over a pneumatic tire forklift are:
1) Maneuverability
Since cushion tire forklifts do not need to house a larger internal combustion engine, they are more compact and easier to maneuver.
2) Lower Clearance
Forklifts built for indoor use with cushion tires generally have a lower clearance than pneumatic tire equipment, allowing the forklift to more easily navigate doorways and other obstacles such as lights and sprinkler systems.
3) Durability
Cushion tires for forklifts are durable, easy to maintain and have little to no risk of puncture.
4) Quiet
Cushion tire forklifts do not use an internal combustion engine and instead rely on a battery or fuel cell, making them significantly quieter than their propane or diesel cousins.
5) Environmentally Friendly
Cushion tire forklifts are more environmentally friendly as they use electricity and produce no harmful emissions, compared to internal combustion engine models.
Forklift Tire Choice
The majority of forklift frames specify either a pneumatic tire or a cushion tire. Tires and axles are specific to the lifting capacity and the machine’s frame. Forklift manufacturers create models that safely operate with certain tires and wheels, typically pneumatic tires or cushion tires. Due to their special tire design, it is best to choose the forklift type that will suit the job in terms of forklift tire types.
Workplace Applications
Suitable Work Applications for Cushion Tires
There are many work applications suitable for using cushion tire forklift models. If there is moderate use of the forklift outside on smooth surfaces and the majority of the lifting, loading and transporting will be occurring inside on smooth floors, a cushion tire model is an excellent tool.
Sitting closer to the ground, cushion tire forklifts have a tinier frame compared to pneumatic tire forklifts. This gives them better clearance for fitting through doorways and avoiding overhead obstacles. It is important to note that cushion tire forklifts showcase less ground clearance and the machine may get caught up on exterior obstacles if the ground is uneven. To combat this issue, the cushion tire forklift can be fitted with traction tires on the front. Traction style tires will give better traction on rough terrains like asphalt or packed gravel or wet surfaces. These tires are not recommended for travelling on grass or dirt. Traction tires are utilized on the opposite sides, the steer and drive axles.
The smaller turning radius on the cushion tire forklifts is one of their main advantages. Cushion tire forklifts are excellent for manufacturing facilities and warehouse operations that are compact with less space. Locations that rely on narrow aisles will benefit greatly from the smaller cushion tire forklifts and their tight turning capabilities. Cushion tire forklifts are more cost-effective and available compared to pneumatic tire models.
Suitable Work Applications for Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
Since pneumatic tires contain air, these forklifts are better suited for exterior applications. Interior applications may use pneumatic tire forklift models although they will not provide the maneuverability, lower clearance or tighter turning radius. Of course, they are often powered by internal combustion engine so do produce harmful emissions which are not recommended for normal indoor use. Measuring wider and longer in comparison to cushion tire forklifts, pneumatic tire models are mostly utilized outside.
The solid pneumatic tire costs more compared to the air pneumatic tire. The solid pneumatic tire is comprised of solid rubber without any air inside, making this type more resilient against gouges or punctures. Outdoor areas including lumber yards and scrap yards that feature copious amounts of metal debris and nails often rely on solid pneumatic tires. Similar to solid pneumatics, air pneumatics work well outdoors on asphalt, in gravel and in yards. Air-filled pneumatic tires can easily become punctured and their working environment needs to be evaluated carefully. It is essential to ensure the work site is free from any sharp materials before using a forklift with air pneumatic tires. Operator fatigue and discomfort can be traced to the bounciness of air-filled tires. It is possible to foam fill the pneumatic forklift tires for a smoother ride. The foam filling option creates a more even ride compared to the solid pneumatic tires or the bounciness of the air-filled pneumatic tires. Foam filling is commonly used for flat tire prevention. Filling an air pneumatic tire with foam usually takes approximately 3 days to fill and cure.
Difference in Load Capacity
The load capacity of cushion tire forklifts and pneumatic tire forklifts are about equal. Some electric powered cushion tire forklifts do have lift limits. Pneumatic tire and cushion tire forklifts are available in practically any load capacity. There are numerous load capacities ranging from less than 2000 pounds to more than 200,000 pounds.
Cushion Tire Forklift PDF
