Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks designed to operate within narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck could turn within the aisle since typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. However, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area needs specific types of lift trucks which are capable of tight turns, small, could put away loads without turning. The popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The first kinds of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks could turn without difficulty in narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the need for a large counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get near enough. These trucks work well inside a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, good traffic flow and ample turning space.
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 before resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.