Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The type of electric truck which is designed to function within narrow aisles is referred to as a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. Typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide, enough space for a counterbalanced lift truck to pivot within the aisle. Then again, narrow aisles can be around 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specialized kinds of lift trucks which are capable of tight turns, small, and able to put away loads without pivoting. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks manufactured for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks can easily turn within narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a big counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get near enough. These kinds of trucks work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, enough space for turning and good flow of traffic.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has pivoting forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage place, the truck's forks turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and next easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks can come with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.