Used Cushion Tire Forklift Escondido - Forklift trucks are commonly classified by the kind of work they complete as well as the kind of tire they use. Pneumatic and cushion tires provide the 2 distinct forklift classifications.
There are drawbacks and benefits to both pneumatic and cushion forklift tire options. The benefits and potential drawbacks of the cushion tire models can only be compared when the pneumatic benefits and drawbacks are equally discussed.
Forklift Tire Classifications
Cushion Tires
Cushion tires are made up of either smooth or treaded solid rubber and are designed around a metal ring or baseband. Cushion tires cost less to make and are easier to take care of. Cushion tires have been designed to work on smooth surfaces such as interior loading docks and warehouse floors. These tires are designed to maneuver well within tight locations, due to their specific turning radius. Cushion tires enable the forklift to be situated closer to the ground, increasing the vertical clearance in comparison to other models that rely on pneumatic tires. It is important to note that cushion tires do not offer as much traction compared to pneumatic models and this is noticeable on wet locations and outdoor surfaces.
Cushion tire forklifts are used for a wide range of applications, including order picking, unloading shipments, organizing inventory, transporting to and from a loading dock and other similar applications.
Pneumatic Tires
Pneumatic tires are mainly utilized on uneven surfaces and rougher terrain. These tires fall into two categories: standard air pneumatic or solid resilient pneumatic.
The main difference with these categories is that the standard air pneumatic tires consist of a layered rubber design filled with air and the solid resilient pneumatic type is made completely out of rubber.
For locations with uneven surfaces and unpaved ground, pneumatic tire forklifts are prime choices. Locations that have sharp debris or objects that could puncture a standard air pneumatic tires such as junkyards or lumber yards will benefit from solid resilient pneumatic forklift tires.
Benefits of Cushion Tire Forklifts
Forklifts fitted with cushion tires are a good option for operation on smooth surfaces, both indoor and outdoor. The forklift designed for use with cushion tires, is intended to be used mostly indoors, with some limited outdoor use. Cushion tire forklifts are commonly used in warehouses and manufacturing plants. Work which requires forklift operations in tight areas, such as narrow aisles, are ideal for the use of a cushion tire forklift.
Some benefits of using a cushion tire forklift over a pneumatic tire forklift are:
1) Maneuverability
Most cushion tire forklifts intended for indoor use are electric, which means they are usually smaller and more maneuverable because they do not required the extra room needed to accommodate the larger internal combustion engine.
2) Lower Clearance
Forklifts built for indoor use with cushion tires generally have a lower clearance than pneumatic tire equipment, allowing the forklift to more easily navigate doorways and other obstacles such as lights and sprinkler systems.
3) Durability
With little to no risk of a tire puncture, cushion forklift models are easy to maintain and ultra-durable.
4) Quiet
Cushion tire forklifts do not use an internal combustion engine and instead rely on a battery or fuel cell, making them significantly quieter than their propane or diesel cousins.
5) Environmentally Friendly
Cushion tire forklifts are more environmentally friendly as they use electricity and produce no harmful emissions, compared to internal combustion engine models.
Forklift Tire Choice
The majority of forklift frames specify either a pneumatic tire or a cushion tire. Axles and tires are specific to a forklift frame and lifting capacity. The majority of forklift manufacturers create models to coincide with specific wheels and tires, usually cushion tires or pneumatic tires. Due to their special tire design, it is best to choose the forklift type that will suit the job in terms of forklift tire types.
Workplace Applications
Suitable Work Applications for Cushion Tires
There are many work applications suitable for using cushion tire forklift models. If the majority of the load lifting, transporting and placing will occur indoors or with only moderate outdoor usage on smooth surfaces, then cushion tires are likely the best option.
Sitting closer to the ground, cushion tire forklifts have a tinier frame compared to pneumatic tire forklifts. This compact design facilitates easier clearance through doorways and overhead obstacle avoidance. However, cushion tire forklifts also have less clearance to the ground which can result in cushion tire forklifts getting easily hung up on outdoor obstacles where the surface is not cleared or even. One solution to this problem is to fit the cushion tire forklift with traction tires on the front of their forklifts. Traction style tires will give better traction on rough terrains like asphalt or packed gravel or wet surfaces. However, it is still not recommended to drive on dirt or grass and it must be noted that the same type of tire must be used on the opposite sides, drive and steer axles.
One of the largest advantages of using a forklift with cushion tires is the smaller turning radius. This makes cushion tire forklifts ideal for warehouses and manufacturing facilities that have less space. Locations that rely on narrow aisles will benefit greatly from the smaller cushion tire forklifts and their tight turning capabilities. Pneumatic tire forklifts are more expensive and less available compared to cushion tire forklifts.
Suitable Work Applications for Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
Outdoor applications working on gravel benefit from pneumatic tire forklift models thanks to the air in their tires. Interior applications may use pneumatic tire forklift models although they will not provide the maneuverability, lower clearance or tighter turning radius. Pneumatic tire forklifts operate with an internal combustion engine and these harmful emissions are dangerous for use indoors. Measuring wider and longer in comparison to cushion tire forklifts, pneumatic tire models are mostly utilized outside.
There are two kinds of pneumatic tires; the air-filled pneumatic tire is less expensive than the solid pneumatic tire. The solid pneumatic tire has no air inside and is made from solid rubber. This design makes the tire stronger against punctures or gouges. Outdoor areas including lumber yards and scrap yards that feature copious amounts of metal debris and nails often rely on solid pneumatic tires. Air pneumatic tires work great outside on gravel and asphalt applications. The main issue with air pneumatic tires is their ability to become gouged or punctured. Due to their susceptibility for getting gouged or punctured, the work location must be free from sharp debris before driving the air pneumatic tires. Since air-filled tires deliver a bouncy sensation, they contribute to operator fatigue and discomfort. Due to this, numerous air pneumatic forklift users fill foam in their tires. The foam filling option creates a more even ride compared to the solid pneumatic tires or the bounciness of the air-filled pneumatic tires. Flat tires can be filled with foam to keep them more durable and prevent flats. It takes roughly three days to fill and cure an air pneumatic tire with foam.
Difference in Load Capacity
The load capacity on for pneumatic tire forklifts and cushion tire forklifts are fairly equal. There may be lift limits on certain electric-powered cushion tire models. There are numerous forklifts available and a variety of pneumatic and cushion tire models can be found in a variety of load capacities. These machines come in different load capacities from under 2000 lbs. to over 200,000 lbs. depending on your application.
Cushion Tire Forklift PDF
