How Much Does A Forklift Weigh

Now you are in the right place to get the right questions’ answer “How much does a forklift weigh”

There are major differences between the nominal load capacity and the actual load capacity in a specific application.

The system of forklift and load basically behaves like a seesaw and follows the law of the lever.

The lifting capacity, therefore, decreases with increasing lifting height and increasing load center of gravity.

How much does a forklift weigh

The answer is an average of 4000kg or 9,000 lbs. So we can tell you that a forklift weighs around 4200KG (In pounds 9,000 lbs).

Every company knows best what loads are to be transported. It is not easy to estimate the load capacity of a certain truck model specified by the manufacturer for work in a company.

In order to be able to compare different forklifts with one another, the so-called nominal capacity is indicated on the nameplate.

This value applies to a specific lifting height and a specific distance between the load center and the fork back.

ELECTRIC FORKLIFT 3000 KG

Yale ERP30VL 3000 kg electric forklift, with the following characteristics:

• Working height: 5.80 m.
• Load capacity: 3,000 kg.
• Machine width: 1.29 m.
• Machine height: 2.19 m.
• Traction: 4 x 2.
• Weight: 5,000 kg.

Selection criterion: load-bearing capacity

Which loads should the industrial truck move? It makes little sense to constantly operate a forklift at the limits of its load-bearing capacity and thereby drive it practically “to wear and tear”.

On the other hand, it is not economical to have an oversized forklift if you rarely have to lift particularly heavy loads.

A realistic assessment helps to avoid later disappointments in advance

From the theory

A graphic representation, the so-called load capacity diagram, shows the actual load capacity for an application.

This diagram makes it easy to determine whether a particular load can be safely moved to a particular height.

The load diagram is attached to each forklift truck as a label and is also included in the associated datasheet.

The information in the diagram relates to a forklift with a standard fork and load center in the middle of the forklift’s longitudinal axis. The weight of the fork is therefore already taken into account.

Attention attachments!

If an attachment is used, this also changes the actual load capacity. The weight and the front dimensions of the respective attachment play a role.

Even a fork extension reduces the so-called residual load capacity due to its own weight and the shifting of the center of gravity.

If, for example, a crane boom, a safety cage or a container is attached, the load-bearing capacity can sometimes be considerably reduced.

Attachments with their own motion, such as side shifts, rotating devices, tipping shovels or grabs, in particular, further reduce the usable residual load capacity.

Endurance test

The load capacity of a forklift goes hand in hand with its own weight. The more load-bearing the truck the heavier it is. And that again requires a corresponding load-bearing capacity of the subsoil.

If you choose an industrial truck with a deadweight of 3 tons and transport a load of 2 tons with it, the floor has to cope with 5 tons.

In ground-level buildings when buying a forklift, for example, the compressive strength of the hall floor must be observed.

If ramps or mobile drive-over bridges are available, this naturally limits the load-bearing capacity.

And in the case of multi-story buildings, the entire statics must be taken into account if the forklift is to be operated on the first floor, for example.

If several forklifts are in operation, the natural load on the floor increases with oncoming traffic.

When deciding on the load-bearing capacity of a forklift, these considerations must also be taken into account right from the start.

Heavy metal

From a load capacity of more than 10 tons at the latest, the dimensions of forklifts increase dramatically.

And the dead weight increases enormously, especially with counterbalanced forklifts.

As distinctly heavy-duty forklifts, the strongest examples can handle more than 60 tons.

That adds up to more than 120 tonnes with cargo. This not only requires massive machine structures but also powerful drives.

The forklift manufacturers like to use the large suppliers of the truck and industrial engines such as Volvo, Deutz, Iveco, Cummins or GM.

Depending on the manufacturer and forklift model, the engine outputs range between 75 kW for the 10-ton range and around 300 kW for the 50-ton class.

It is understandable that such forces can be felt almost exclusively outdoors.

Conclusion:

That’s it for now. I hope you understand what we trying to explain. If you have any kind of doubt about your question answer, don’t be hesitate just ask us.