Choosing a forklift is quite like buying a car. You need to really think about what you are going to be using it for and ensure it meets your very specific requirements. We always aim to ensure our customers walk away with the best forklift trucks for their specific industry.
Best Forklift Trucks for Your Industry – Learn More
Before buying a forklift truck you really need to think about what you are using it for. Just because you are in warehousing, it does not mean you need the exact same forklift as every other warehouse that is within your business park. Whilst two warehouses next door to each other both require forklifts, the type of forklift can be dependent on a number factors including:
- Warehouse Size
- Storage Type
- Materials That Require Handling
- Training / Qualifications Your Operators Have
With years of experience in the logistics and forklift industry, Trucks Direct can really help to ensure you get the right unit for your requirements. Whilst we are a forklift dealer looking to sell, we are more than happy to provide you with helpful advice to ensure you get the best forklifts for your business. We are happy to pick up the phone and regularly publish information online to give free, impartial advice.
This article will specifically aim to provide forklift advice for the below industries. If you are working within a particular industry that is not mentioned, please contact us. We are happy to provide advice and will also publish information about your industry if asked.
- Warehousing for an eCommerce Business
- Farming & Agricultural Applications
- Construction & Building Sites
- Production / Manufacturing
- Home Renovations
- Landscape Gardening
- Retail Environments
Before we start, we would just like to make you fully aware that we are the leading forklift dealer for used material handling equipment in the UK. We always have more than 200 forklifts in stock at any one time. Feel free to view all used forklifts available here.
Best Forklifts for Warehousing (eCommerce Businesses)
If you own an online shop and have a lot of products that need to be stocked, you will need a reliable forklift. When choosing the best forklift trucks for this type of industry, you will need to consider a variety of different factors from the lift height through to the weight capacity that the forklift can hold. From our experience selling to these types of businesses, we have identified that 3 wheel forklifts are typically the most popular. This is because it allows the operator to turn a lot easier than 4 wheel units. Plus, the overall turning circle is a lot smaller making it easier to manoeuvre in tighter spaces.
Businesses may choose to purchases different fuel types based on what they require. If you only require one forklift and cannot risk the forklift running out of battery, it may be best to opt for an LPG forklift instead of an electric as you can store LPG tanks for quick changeover when the fuel runs out. At the same time, you may already purchase bulk gas so choosing an LPG forklift can be more cost-effective. If, however, you need more than one forklift and can afford to risk downtime, electric forklifts can be a great choice. They are cost-effective to run, environmentally friendly and create less noise pollution due to them having a quiet engine. You can read more about the benefits of electric forklifts here.
If you need to completely maximise the space available in your warehouse, it may be in your interest to look at alternative choices instead of the traditional counterbalance style forklift. Articulated forklifts like those manufactured by Bendi and Flexi allow the driver to enter very narrow aisles forward facing without the need to rotate. As the fork end of the articulated unit can rotate independently from the truck and with a very tight turning circle you can collect items easily and safely. There are also sideloaders that allow the operator to collect items from the side whilst entering aisles forward facing. These are better for heavy duty product lifting. If you are working in a warehouse with very narrow aisles and have items that weight no more than 2000kg, it is best to purchase articulated material handling equipment.
Best Forklift for Farming & Agricultural Applications
It goes without saying that there is a lot of heavy lifting in farm and agriculture. Without the equipment and machinery we have in this modern time, we would be unable to stock the supermarkets with the food we very much depend on.
Forklifts play a major part in agriculture and farming and are a sole part of the overall production line. Choosing the best forklift trucks for agriculture can be difficult as it is very much dependent on a wide variety of factors. If you are working within an environment where the ground is level and free from potholes and other hazards (such as within an agricultural building) you may well benefit from a 4 wheel diesel and LPG forklift. However, there are cases where these are not suitable which is why forklift manufactures have designed heavy duty rough terrain forklifts.
One of the most popular forklifts for these types of environments is the JCB Teletruk. This unit has 4 wheels and can lift heavy weights up to 2500kg thanks to the telescopic forks. These units are available in LPG, diesel and electric. From experience, we have recognised that the LPG options are extremely popular due to them having both power and easy, less time-consuming fuel top-ups. LPG is also considerably more cost effective than diesel. The electric units are of course more environmentally friendly, but at this current time operators are choosing to purchase diesel or LPG due to trust of the power from the unit.
There are other popular brands for farming and agriculture including Ausa and Manitou. These are extremely durable and affordable units. Whilst these do not have the telescopic boom that comes with the JCB Teletruk, they can lift heavy weights and operate on uneven surfaces. In some cases, farmers and agriculturalist will choose to have a variety of fork trucks to increase safety and productivity on site. The standard counterbalance fork types can be more advantageous in a number of applications compared to the JCB Teletruk.
Best Forklifts for Construction and Building Sites
Construction and building forklift requirements are somewhat similar to farming and agriculture. Whilst the site is different, the potential for rough terrain and heavy lifting is the same. This is why the JCB Teletruk is equally as popular on construction sites and is seen as being the go to unit. Due to the power of the unit, they can operate in the kind of environments where other types of digger units are driven and used.
At the same time Ausa and Manitou are also popular for construction. In some cases, standard counterbalance forklifts such as a 4 wheel caterpillar can be useful. These are extremely robust and offer stability on building sites that have a more stable ground to work on.
LPG and diesel units are typically favoured in construction as they are easier to refuel. They tend to have more power for tougher terrain which is an advantage, however electric units are advancing every year so this could change in the near future.
Best Forklifts for Production and Manufacturing
This is a much more varied industry and the type of forklift required can vary dependant on factors such as environment, products being produced / manufacturing and operator licences. In some cases such as farming (mentioned earlier) you will require a rough terrain forklift. In other types of manufacturing environments such as hosiery, a more simplistic 3 wheel unit or even an electric pallets truck will be suitable as you will only require be moving pallets from the manufacturing shop floor to the warehouse.
With this type of business, we at Trucks Direct to recommend a site survey if you are not 100% sure what type of forklift is best for your requirements. We offer these to ensure you get the best unit. When doing this we will consider many factors from ground type through to the products you will be moving from space to space.
LPG tends to be the most popular option for manufacturing and production environments where the forklift does not need to leave the internal facility (such as businesses with warehouses that have loading bays). Electric forklifts are starting to become more widely used however, and we do find that diesel units are a good option if you need the versatility of using the forklift indoors and outdoors.
Best Forklifts for Home Renovations
Sometimes with home renovations, forklifts are required to lift heavy items. This improves safety and guarantees any items being lifted are done so in a way that prevents damage. What forklift you use for home renovations can very much depend on what you’re having done and the land that surrounds your home. For example, if you live on a farm and are having home renovations, you may require a rough terrain forklift, whereas if you have a traditional detached home in a suburban area, a standard 4 wheel counter balance forklift may be more than enough.
In most cases, the building team will know what forklift is best, but we are always available to help if you have any questions. We have years of experience selling the best forklift trucks for all types of industries and guarantee our advice will be impartial and without any obligations.
Best Forklifts for Landscape Gardening
Whilst it is unlikely that you will see landscape gardeners using a forklift on a regular basis, there can be occasions when they are quite useful. For example, if you have had heavy items delivered on pallets and require them to be lifted from the trailer, a forklift can be a much safer method than simply trying to lift manually.
The type of forklift you require for these types of projects will be dependant on the ground. If it is a relatively standard garden, a 4 wheel LPG, diesel or electric will be enough to safely move the items. If the garden is uneven at the time of delivery you may find that a rough terrain forklift is the best solution.
Landscape gardeners are more likely to hire forklifts as they will only need them for short periods. It is still important that a trained operator uses the forklift to ensure all heavy lifting is completed safely.
Best Forklifts for Retail Environments
We’ve all been in retail environments such as DIY shops and seen operators driving forklifts to move heavy items around. Dependent on what they are lifting, they will either be using a 3 wheel forklifts or a 4 wheel forklift. In these types of environments, you will find that the forklift is most likely electric. This is because they are less prone to hazards (gas bottle problems for example) and are much quieter to keep noise pollution low for the customers. There are some cases, however, where a diesel may be required due to power requirements. For example, garden centres or builders merchants may need diesel to lift heavy items.
In most cases, a Caterpillar, Jungheinrich, Still or Hyster forklift will be a suitable solution to complete the required tasks. It is also likely that pallet trucks will be required. These are often used in supermarkets where staff need to restock fast and regularly. Aldi, for example, uses pallet trucks and keep items on the pallet making it faster and more efficient for both the staff and the customers.
In some cases, the store manager of a retail outlet may wish for a site survey from a forklift expert to determine the best unit for their requirements.
Choosing and Buying Your Next Forklift
When you are ready to choose your next forklift, it is best to go with a forklift provider you can trust. With many years in the industry, we have gained a reputation that includes trust, honesty, reliability and competitive prices. We have designed our website to make it easy for you to select your forklift. We also welcome everyone to visit our showroom in Willenhall where you can fully inspect all forklifts for sale. We ensure all of our forklifts are in good working conditioning and provide a full LOLER inspection / certificate for when you purchase.