Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The kind of electric truck which is made to function within narrow aisles is called a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle since typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. Nonetheless, narrow aisles can be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area needs specialized lift truck models which are small, capable of tight turns, could put away loads without pivoting. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are reach trucks, turret trucks and orderpickers.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first kinds of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks could turn without difficulty in narrow aisles as their design has eliminated the need for a big counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms that extend in front of the truck. The downside of this design is that the outrigger arms can hinder access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks work well in a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, good flow of traffic and enough turning space.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck consists of forks on the side that pivot. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. When it stops at the designated storage location, the forks of the truck turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks can come with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.