

Cushion and pneumatic tires (solid or air-filled) have different load limits. With this data, you can safely calculate your forklift’s net capacity.Ī forklift’s tire type, size, and tread width can also influence the truck’s lifting capacity. Pro Tip: Locate the data plate on your forklift’s attachment to determine its correct lifting capacity. Attachment weight counts toward your forklift’s total load capacity and may mean you’ll have to stick to smaller loads or increase the base capacity of your truck. While this additional equipment can be quite helpful, remember that every attachment decreases your capacity and potentially shifts the center of gravity as well. Many users often add special attachments to forklifts to suit their operational needs. If the center of gravity ever moves outside of the stability pyramid, a tip-over is imminent.


Unsurprisingly, an unstable center of gravity makes your forklift vulnerable to tipping over and drastically reduces its lifting capacity. A load’s width, length, height, and weight distribution can also shift the center of gravity and affect how much net capacity your forklift is capable of. The center of gravity always lies within the pyramid when the forklift is at rest, but invisibly shifts when the truck moves or lifts a load. #HTXMaterialHandling Click To Tweet Forklift’s Center of Gravityįorklifts have an invisible balancing envelope called a stability triangle, or more accurately, a stability ‘pyramid’, which becomes critically important when carrying and raising a load. Let’s take a closer look at what affects your vehicle’s potential load.Īre you considering a forklift for your operation? These factors can affect the forklift lifting capacity of your lift truck. However, variables like the center of gravity, special attachments, weight distribution, and tire types can also affect a forklift’s lifting capacity. When investing in a forklift, you should consider where you’ll use it and the type of load it will handle. based on chassis design, but this is far from the only influencing factor. Today’s forklifts have capacity ranges from 2,500 to 110,000 lbs. When choosing a lift truck, having sufficient lifting capacity to safely handle your heaviest load should be one of the first and most important factors in making your choice.
