Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks designed to function within narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle as typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is sufficient space. On the other hand, narrow aisles could be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specific types of lift trucks which are capable of tight turns, small, could put away loads without turning. The common types of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse applications. These small trucks could easily turn within narrow aisles as their design has eliminated the need for a big counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms that extend in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get near enough. These types of trucks really work well inside a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, ample space for turning and good flow of traffic.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design includes forks on the side which pivot. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. Once it stops at the designated storage place, the truck's forks pivot to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.