Used Cushion Tire Forklift Virginia - 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 benefits and potential drawbacks of the cushion tire models can only be compared when the pneumatic benefits and drawbacks are equally 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. Cushion tires have been designed to work on smooth surfaces such as interior loading docks and warehouse floors. Cushion tires are also better suited to applications in tight spaces. This is because they offer a turning radius that allows for movement around tight corners. Cushion tires enable the forklift to be situated closer to the ground, increasing the vertical clearance in comparison to other models that rely on pneumatic tires. However, cushion tires do not provide as much traction as pneumatic tires. This is especially true for outdoor areas and wet surfaces.
Cushion tire forklifts are used for a wide range of applications, including order picking, unloading shipments, organizing inventory, transporting to and from a loading dock and other 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 solid resilient pneumatic tires are comprised entirely of rubber and the standard air pneumatic tires feature a layered rubber design filled with air.
For locations with uneven surfaces and unpaved ground, pneumatic tire forklifts are prime choices. Solid resilient pneumatic forklifts are a better option in areas that may have objects which could puncture a standard air pneumatic, such as junkyards, lumber yards and the like which may have sharp metal objects.
Benefits of Cushion Tire Forklifts
Forklifts fitted with cushion tires are a good option for operation on smooth surfaces, both indoor and outdoor. The type of forklift that utilizes cushion tires are for mainly inside applications with some limited outside use. They are often designed for use in areas such as manufacturing plants and warehouses. Cushion tire models excel in tight locations including narrow aisles and accessing high shelves.
Some benefits of using a cushion tire forklift over a pneumatic tire forklift are:
1) Maneuverability
Maneuverability is one of the key pneumatic tire forklift benefits since these models do not require a larger frame to facilitate a bigger internal combustion engine.
2) Lower Clearance
Indoor forklift models that use cushion tires feature lower clearance compared to pneumatic tire models. This enables the machine to travel through doors and navigate obstacles such as sprinkler systems ad lights much easier.
3) Durability
Cushion tires for forklifts are durable, easy to maintain and have little to no risk of puncture.
4) Quiet
Because the majority of cushion tire forklifts are powered by battery or fuel cell, instead of an internal combustion engine, they are much less noisy than propane or diesel powered forklifts.
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. Axles and tires are specific to a forklift frame and lifting capacity. 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 most of the transporting, lifting loads and placement happens inside or with limited outdoor use on smooth surfaces, cushion tire forklifts are your best choice.
Forklifts fitted with cushion tires often have a smaller frame and sit much lower to the ground than forklifts fitted with pneumatic tires. 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. One solution is to outfit traction tires on the front of the cushion tire forklift. Traction style tires will give better traction on rough terrains like asphalt or packed gravel or wet surfaces. However, it is still not recommended to drive on dirt or grass and it must be noted that the same type of tire must be used on the opposite sides, drive and steer axles.
One of the largest advantages of using a forklift with cushion tires is the smaller turning radius. Cushion tire forklifts are excellent for manufacturing facilities and warehouse operations that are compact with less space. Areas that are designed with narrow aisles such as warehouse facilities will enjoy the tighter turning radius offered with cushion tire forklift models. Cushion tire forklifts are more cost-effective and available compared to pneumatic tire models.
Suitable Work Applications for Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
Pneumatic tires forklifts have air in them and are better for outdoor use such as in yard work or on gravel. Some interior locations may utilize pneumatic tire forklifts; however, they do not offer a small turning radius or the lower clearance and maneuverability that the cushion tires provide. Pneumatic tire models create harsh fumes with their internal combustion engines, making them unsuitable for interior locations. With a wider base and longer frame in comparison to cushion tire models, pneumatic tire forklifts are for use mainly outdoors.
There are two kinds of pneumatic tires; the air-filled pneumatic tire is less expensive than the solid pneumatic tire. This is because a solid pneumatic tire is not susceptible to punctures or gouges because they are made of solid rubber and do not have air in them. Solid pneumatic tires are commonly used in lumber and scrap yards where there are tons of sharp, metal debris including nails. Air pneumatic tires work great outside on gravel and asphalt applications. The main issue with air pneumatic tires is their ability to become gouged or punctured. Because of this, it is necessary to make sure the work area is free of any sharp objects before using forklift fitted with air pneumatic tires at that site. Air tires are also known to give a bouncy ride, contributing to operator discomfort and fatigue. Due to this, numerous air pneumatic forklift users fill foam in their tires. Much less bouncy than air-filled pneumatic tires, the solid pneumatic forklift tires provide the operator with a smoother ride. 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
Both cushion tire and pneumatic tire forklifts offer similar load capacities. Lift limits are given for certain electric-powered cushion tire forklifts. Pneumatic tire and cushion tire forklifts are available in practically any load capacity. Load capacities come in a wide range - from less than 2,000 pounds to more than 200,000 pounds.
Cushion Tire Forklift PDF
