Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to function within narrow aisles. Typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide, sufficient space for a counterbalanced lift truck to pivot in the aisle. Nonetheless, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specific kinds of lift trucks that are small, capable of tight turns, could put away loads without pivoting. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks can easily turn in narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a big counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this design is that the outrigger arms can hinder access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get close enough. These types of trucks really work well in a warehouse that is well lit, has clean, even floors, good traffic flow and enough 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 location, the truck's forks pivot to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and then smoothly 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.