Counterweight forklift – what is worth knowing about it and when is it worth investing in one? Forklifts have been storming and conquering increasingly new areas of employment in recent years. Once famous for working in warehouses, these machines can now be found on farms or construction sites. They undoubtedly have many advantages and applications, however they are not perfect machines. It happens that when lifting heavy objects we miscalculate the forklift’s capabilities and it tilts forward, losing balance in the process, and in the worst case it may even tip over. To remedy this problem, a counterweight was created.
What is the purpose of a counterweight in a forklift?
A front counterweight forklift is used to lift objects of such large mass that another one might not be able to handle it. Actually, it’s not a matter of the entire forklift, but strictly its counterweight because basically every forklift has some counterweight, with emphasis on “some” because the counterweight is a replaceable element. Thanks to this, if along with the expansion of, for example, a farm, there arose a need to transport much heavier materials, the farmer is not forced to replace the entire forklift, it’s enough to buy a rear ballast of greater mass, and the machine will again start perfectly fulfilling its duties. However, this does not mean that a counterweight forklift will lift everything, buying an appropriate counterweight will change little if the weight of the goods is greater than the forklift’s lifting capacity.
Before purchasing a counterweight forklift, several issues should be taken into account, for which it’s worth knowing the answer.
Maximum mass of goods for transport by forklift
Why is knowing the maximum mass that the forklift will work with important? Because after purchase it may turn out that it won’t lift the load or will tip over with it. It’s also worth taking into account the type of pallets, size and shape of the load, and the height to which it will be lifted. These factors affect the actual weight of goods that the forklift will feel, when the heaviest weight is extended to the very front, there is a greater risk of overbalancing and tipping than when it is tucked close to the mast.
Terrain on which the counterweight forklift will work
Knowing the terrain is important. When we are aware that the forklift will often be going down a steep hill with goods, we must choose a model with a larger counterweight. Why? Because when going down this way, the goods extend forward, which results in greater overbalancing, if our forklift’s counterweight is not adapted to this, the weight will win and tip over the machine. This is more important for warehouse owners, for them such an accident could mean tipping over neighboring racks, which would result in even greater damage.
Forklift workplace
This information is needed mainly for the comfort of operators and regulations. If a counterweight forklift will work outdoors, it should be equipped with a forklift cabin. On the other hand, in indoor spaces, using electric forklifts is suggested, they don’t emit exhaust fumes and are much quieter during operation. In Poland, using combustion machines indoors is permissible and regulated by individual provisions, e.g. about exhaust concentration, however it’s worth knowing that in some countries this is prohibited.
