Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to function within narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck could turn within the aisle because typical storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. Then again, narrow aisles can be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specific lift truck models which are capable of tight turns, small, can put away loads without pivoting. The popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse use. These small trucks could easily turn in narrow aisles as their design has eliminated the need for a large counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get near enough. These trucks work well within a warehouse that is well lit, has even, clean floors, good flow of traffic and enough space for turning.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck has pivoting forks on side of the truck. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load could face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. When it stops at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck pivot to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then smoothly deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.