What to Consider When Renting a Forklift

The Loads the Forklift Will Carry

The first thing to consider when picking out a rental forklift is what are you going to be picking up with it.  This does not only just mean the weight, as the dimensions of the piece are just as important.  The reason being is that a 5,000 lbs load may only require a 5,000 pound capacity forklift if it is able to fit on a standard pallet as most forklifts have a 24 inch load center.  If your load has a deeper load center, say 36 inches, that same 5,000 lbs load would now require an 8,000 pound truck.  So always take in to account the dimensions of the piece along with the capacity so that you can rent the right forklift for the job.

The Size of the Forklift Forks

The other factor that also plays a part in picking the right forklift rental is the size of forks on the forklift.  As mentioned above not every load fits perfectly on a pallet and some pallets are larger than the standard 48 inch pallet.  That being said, you want to make sure that your forks make it at least 75% of the way through the load so you have proper stability when picking up the load.  Ideally you would like the forks to be the same length as the load or in some cases stick out slightly past the load for optimal stability.  This holds especially true when dealing with loads that are not perfectly balanced or symmetrical.

Please take in to consideration the two areas mentioned above, so that you make sure you get the right tool for the job!

Contact us with any question you have in choosing the proper forklift rental for your needs.