Reach Truck vs. Forklift: Which is Better For You?

Reach Truck vs. Forklift: Which is Better For You?

Deciding on which lift truck you need can be confusing, especially since many share similarities when it comes to lifting, loading, and reaching.

While both reach trucks and forklifts are excellent for material handling applications, each has their pros and cons. Reach trucks come in handy for reaching great heights, while counterbalance forklifts can carry heavy loads.

This post compares the features of reach trucks and forklifts so you can make the right decision for your warehouse and construction needs.



What Is a Reach Truck?


A reach truck, or reach forklift, is an electric, Class II narrow aisle truck ideal for placing and retrieving pallets at great heights. Its forks are attached to the side of the machine and can extend horizontally to reach for a pallet on a shelving unit or rack. Reach trucks can be operated in extremely narrow aisles. However, one limiting factor is that they are typically meant only for indoor use.

What Is a Counterbalance Forklift?


Counterbalance forklifts have forks attached to the front of the truck and a counterweight at the back to balance the load. The counterweight allows them to handle heavier loads than reach trucks, though they can’t reach as high or navigate in tight spaces. These machines can be battery-powered or diesel-powered, so they’re suited for indoor and outdoor use. There are also many forklift attachments available for specialized uses.



Reach Truck vs Counterbalance Forklift
While reach trucks and forklifts share similar features, they are two distinctly different powered industrial trucks. Here’s a breakdown of their primary differences.

Reach Truck uses
Reach trucks are generally used for loading and unloading high or deep pallets and navigating narrow aisles. These are some of the instances in which reach trucks may benefit you:

-Warehouses
Reach trucks can be used in warehouses to place and remove pallets in high-rack storage units, restock shelves with goods, and move loads from one area to another.

-Food Storage and Distribution Centers
Reach trucks transport perishable or sensitive goods with efficiency and care due to their sharp control and delicate handling. In addition, their maneuverability makes them a great fit for material handling in temperature-controlled spaces.

-Container Freight Stations
Reach trucks at container freight stations allow these operations to maximize storage space by storing pallets in ways that an ordinary forklift would have trouble reaching.

-Manufacturing Facilities
In manufacturing facilities, they can be assigned to move finished products to storage and raw materials to production centers.

-Loading and Unloading Trucks
The maneuverability of reach trucks allows them to handle cramped spaces in loading docks. Meanwhile, their reach enables them to stack items in a way that maximizes the storage space of transport trucks.



Forklift uses
If you’re wondering what forklifts are used for other than simply moving items to and from warehouses’ shelves, take a look at these examples to get a detailed grasp of their performance range:

-Warehouses
Counterbalance forklift trucks are primarily used in warehouses for loading and unloading materials and other goods.

-Construction sites
Forklifts are commonly used at construction sites to unload pallets of bricks, blocks, steel joints, and other heavy materials. These materials are carried off across uneven surfaces to reach the unloading site.

-Lumberyards
Apart from the basic loading and unloading operation, forklifts are used at the lumberyard to organize and stack lumber efficiently.

-Shipyards
Forklifts are ideal for stacking and unloading wood and steel shipments.

-Moving industrial equipment or machinery
Heavy-duty machines with adjustable forks or specialized attachments can load and move large, bulky machinery.

-Lifting irregular loads with specialized attachments
Attachments like side shifters, rotators, fork positioners, and clamps aid with irregular loads.



When To Choose a Reach Truck
A reach truck may be preferable to a forklift in the following instances:
- Indoor warehouse crates need moving
- You’re operating indoors in a narrow area
- You need more maneuverability in small spaces
- You need higher lifting capabilities.



When To Choose a Forklift
You should consider renting a forklift you have:
- A larger space to move around in
- Indoor and/or outdoor lifting needs
- A heavier load



Conclusion
Choose the Right Lift for Your Next Project! While reach trucks are convenient for reaching great heights and operating in enclosed, narrow spaces, forklifts make heavy lifting easy and allow smooth transportation even on uneven terrain. Regardless of whether you’re choosing a reach truck or forklift, it’s integral that you undergo the necessary training and evaluation required to operate the powered industrial trucks.

When you’re ready to rent either piece of heavy equipment, ShiWen Construction Machinery Co. has you covered with its wide range of options to meet your job’s needs.