Lift trucks are mobile machines which use 2 prongs or forks to be able to place cargo into positions which will typically be difficult to reach. Usually, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial lift trucks are most often used around truck and train loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires which are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are some smaller industrial lift truck units that use an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain forklifts are designed to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal option for construction and military applications. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have big pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units could have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying loads up and out from the base of the machine or they may use a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged during 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machine was utilized around construction sites and was able to raise to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available units that can lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 lbs.
The first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in the year 1962. This particular model enabled loads to be positioned out from the machine's base both above and below grade.