Lift trucks are mobile machinery which utilize 2 forks or prongs in order to place loads into positions which would normally be hard to reach. Usually, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial lift trucks are most often used around train and truck loading docks in addition to many warehouse operation. These machinery have smaller tires that are designed to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are some smaller industrial forklift models which use an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are engineered to run on unpaved and rough surfaces. Usually, they are the ideal alternative for military and construction applications. Rough terrain forklifts normally have large pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models can have a telescoping boom, that can lift cargo up and out from the base of the machine or they may use a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
In the year 1946, the rough terrain lift truck emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machine was utilized around construction locations and could lift to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available which could lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
In 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck was introduced with a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during the year 1962. This particular model enabled cargo to be positioned out from the machine's base both above and below grade.