Choosing a forklift comes down to four numbers you can measure yourself: the heaviest load you lift, the highest rack beam you reach, the narrowest turn the truck has to make, and the lowest door or overhead obstruction it has to pass. Write those down before you compare a single model. Fuel type is the other decision, and it is quicker.
Fuel type, in short
Electric suits indoor work on smooth floors where you can charge. Propane suits trucks that move between the building and the yard, or that have to keep working without stopping to charge. Diesel suits open yards and farms. The reasoning behind each, including ventilation and the charger an electric truck needs, is in our electric vs propane vs diesel comparison. Settle the fuel, then use the numbers below to size the truck.
Capacity at your lift height, not the class rating
A forklift's class rating, such as 6,600 lb, is not what it lifts at the top of the mast. Capacity drops as the forks go higher, and it drops again when you fit attachments or carry a load that sits farther out from the backrest. The data plate on the truck is the number that counts.
Our FL30T is a good example. Its load plate rates it at 3,000 kg (6,600 lb), but only up to a mast height of 3,500 mm, and it tells you to subtract 200 kg when a sideshifter is fitted. Our masts reach 189 in, which is 4,800 mm. At full height the truck lifts less than the headline figure, and that is true of forklifts generally, not only ours. So the useful question is never "what is it rated for?" It is "what can it lift at the height I need?"
Measure your heaviest regular pallet, find the height of the highest rack beam you place it on, and ask for the capacity at that height. Send those two numbers with your enquiry and we will confirm the figure for the truck you are looking at.
Reach, and getting through the door
Every truck in our range has a 189 in (4.8 m) three-stage mast. On the FG and FD trucks it closes down to 86.2 in (2,190 mm), which matters for trailers and low doors.
The overhead guard is usually what hits the door frame first. It stands 2,215 mm tall on the FL25T and 2,235 mm on the FL30T and FL35T. Measure your lowest door, trailer opening or sprinkler line against that, and ask us for the figure on any other model.
Aisles and turns
Width and turning radius decide whether a truck fits your layout. Here they are for the four FL propane trucks:
| Model | Class rating | Overall width | Outside turning radius |
|---|---|---|---|
| FL25T | 5,500 lb (2,500 kg) | 1,180 mm (46.5 in) | 2,365 mm (93.1 in) |
| FL30T | 6,600 lb (3,000 kg) | 1,220 mm (48.0 in) | 2,425 mm (95.5 in) |
| FL35T | 7,700 lb (3,500 kg) | 1,220 mm (48.0 in) | 2,500 mm (98.4 in) |
| FL45T | 9,900 lb (4,500 kg) | 1,520 mm (59.8 in) | 2,930 mm (115.4 in) |
Do not stop at those numbers. The turning radius tells you how tight a corner the truck can take empty. Placing a pallet into a rack from a cross aisle needs more room than that, because the load sticks out in front. Measure your narrowest cross aisle and ask for the aisle width the truck needs to stack at right angles with your pallet size. For the electric trucks, check the spec table on each product page or ask us.
The floor decides the tires
Solid tires never puncture, and they suit smooth concrete and paved yards. Pneumatic tires cushion rougher ground but can puncture, so they need checking. Our FL trucks run solid tread tires. The FD30 and the FG35 with dual front tires run pneumatic. If the truck spends time on gravel or uneven ground, say so when you ask, because that changes which truck we point you to.
What to have ready
The quote comes back faster and closer to right if you send:
- Your heaviest regular pallet, its weight, and how far the load extends from the backrest
- The height of your highest rack beam
- Your narrowest aisle and cross aisle, and the lowest door or overhead obstruction
- Indoor, outdoor or both, and what the floor is
- Your delivery postal code
For what the trucks cost, see our forklift price guide. You can also look through the full forklift range.
Got your four numbers?
Send us your heaviest load, highest rack beam, narrowest aisle and lowest door, and we will tell you which truck fits and what it lifts at your height.
Common questions
Should I choose an electric, propane or diesel forklift?
Electric for indoor work on smooth floors where you can charge, propane for mixed indoor and outdoor work or shifts with no time to charge, and diesel for open yards and farms. Fuel is one decision and size is the other, so settle both before you compare models.
What capacity forklift do I need?
One that lifts your heaviest regular pallet at the height of your highest rack beam. Work from the capacity at that height, not the class rating, and allow for attachments and for loads that sit far from the backrest.
Is a forklift's rated capacity the same at full lift height?
No. Capacity falls as the forks rise. The FL30T, for example, is rated 3,000 kg only up to a 3,500 mm mast height, while our masts reach 4,800 mm. Check the data plate and ask for the figure at your height.
How high can your forklifts lift?
Every truck in our range has a 189 in (4.8 m) three-stage mast.
How do I know a forklift will fit my aisles?
Compare the truck's width and outside turning radius with your narrowest aisle, then ask for the aisle width it needs to stack at right angles with your pallet size.
If you are not sure which truck fits, contact us with your four numbers.
