Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The kind of electric truck that is designed to function within narrow aisles is known as a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. Standard storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide, sufficient space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn in the aisle. Nevertheless, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space requires specialized lift truck models that are small, capable of tight turns, can put away loads without pivoting. The common types of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks manufactured for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks can easily turn in narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the need for a big counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms can hinder access to the storage rack because the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks work well inside a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, enough turning space and good flow of traffic.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load could face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once it stops at the designated storage location, the forks of the truck pivot to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and next smoothly deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.