Forklift Truck Capacity: Will My Truck Lift It?

By Mike Nelson, Posted in Forklift Attachments, Forklifts, Instructional, News & Press

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We get calls every day when customers are shopping our forklift attachments, safety baskets, and order pickers, asking: &#;Will my truck lift it?&#; The truth is, forklift attachments do affect your overall forklift truck capacity, and whether your truck will lift it or not depends on your specific forklift and intended load.

We&#;ve taught numerous customers about forklift truck capacity when pre qualifying them for our accessories, so we thought it useful to make that knowledge available for everyone. Below, we&#;ve broken down the basics of forklift truck capacity and what you need to know regarding lifting capacity when purchasing a new forklift accessory.

Forklift Truck Capacity: What You Need To Know

&#;Will my truck lift it?&#; In order to answer that question, you need to learn the basics of forklift truck capacity, as it relates to your forklift&#;s center of gravity, load center, and attachment.

1. Forklifts Do Not Have a Fixed Center of Gravity

Part of what makes forklift stability so tricky is that forklifts do not have a fixed center of gravity. When unloaded, the forklift&#;s center of gravity is in the center of the truck between the front and back wheels. However, when loaded, the forklift&#;s center of gravity shifts to the front wheel axle. If a forklift&#;s maximum capacity is overloaded, the forklift&#;s center of gravity shifts over the front wheel axle, which results in the forklift tipping over.

2. Load Center Informs Maximum Load Capacity

Forklift truck stability is based on two things: a load capacity and a load center. A load capacity describes the maximum weight a forklift can carry at a given load center. The load center is the distance from the face of the forks to the center of gravity of the load itself. The greater your load center, aka the farther out your load sits, your load capacity decreases. Therefore, the way weight is distributed on your forklift and forklift attachment changes the amount of weight the lift truck will safely carry.

3. Your Forklift is Rated For a Certain Capacity & Attachments Affect That

All forklifts are rated to a certain safe lifting maximum capacity and height by their manufacturer. It&#;s important to know these numbers, and also know that when you add attachments to your forklift, these safe lifting maximum capacities and heights will change. We require each of our customers to get a data plate from the lift manufacturer stating that their truck with our attachment is rated for X capacity. If the X capacity is less than you need, then the accessory is not right for you.

Forklift Loading & Carrying Safety Practices

When lifting with new attachments or heavy loads, keep these forklift truck capacity safety tips in mind:

• If your forklift&#;s back wheels begin to lift off the ground, it is overloaded. This is an indication the center of gravity has shifted too far over the front wheel axle. Do not operate until all sets of wheels are firmly on the ground.
• When handling heavy loads that are close to your truck&#;s stated capacity, exercise extreme caution. Move slowly and lift a test load up and down before moving with the load.
• Rapid turns can cause the center of gravity to shift and the forklift to tip over. Use slow, wide turns when carrying heavy loads.
• When using forklift attachments, be sure the new attachment has been fitted correctly to the manufacturer&#;s instructions. You will also want to practice with the new attachment before lifting any loads so you can get accustomed to the maneuverability of the attachment.

Qualify Your Forklift&#;s Truck Capacity Before You Purchase

If we don&#;t pre-qualifying the application of your forklift accessory before you purchase, we waste your time and ours. Therefore, before we go through the quoting process, we vet each customer&#;s intended use against their manufacturer&#;s given lift capacity with our accessory.

If you have any questions on your forklift&#;s load capacity, contact our forklift attachment experts at 800.535. or contact us online using our online contact form.

Training equipment operators to understand forklift load capacity is vital for workplace safety. Every product is different in shape and size, so operators have to make in-the-moment decisions about how to load, lift and move products safely. 

By understanding the basic principles of load capacity, operators can handle each situation safely. Training can reduce accidents and protect equipment from damage. Here&#;s an overview of everything you need to know about forklift load capacity. 

How Much Weight Can a Forklift Lift? 

High-capacity forklifts can manage loads weighing upwards of 100,000 pounds. For standard forklifts, it all depends on the forklift&#;s design, weight and what it was built to do. Every forklift comes marked with a weight range it can safely lift and carry. 

However, the maximum weight you can move with a forklift also depends on other factors, like the size and shape of what is being moved, how it&#;s stacked on the forklift and what the terrain is like.

What Is Forklift Weight Capacity? 

Forklift load capacity refers to how much weight a forklift can safely carry. Every forklift has a different weight capacity, so it&#;s essential that operators know how to find this information for safe equipment operation. A forklift&#;s rated capacity will be listed on its data plate. 

For more what is the effect on your load capacity when you add attachments to your forkliftinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

However, this is only a recommended number and a forklift&#;s actual weight capacity can change based on several different factors. To ensure operator safety, it&#;s good practice to use a forklift with a slightly higher weight capacity than what you need. 

What Affects Weight Capacity 

In contrast to the listed rated capacity, net capacity describes how much weight a forklift can safely carry in any real situation. This number depends on factors like: 

• Forklift dimensions
• Mast height
• Attachment weight
• Age of machinery
• Length of load

In any real-world situation, there are many physical forces exerting pressure in different directions. When these variables change, the rules for operating a forklift safely can change too. 

For example, consider a scenario where a forklift is carrying a square box across a warehouse floor. If the forklift carries the box close to the ground, the equipment&#;s balance will be different than if the operator moved with the box lifted at a height of five feet. 

Unless you add a heavy attachment, a forklift&#;s weight, height and length won&#;t change. Those variables will be constant and can be counted on to react the same way each time the machine is used. However, the size, shape and weight of products being moved can vary considerably. 

With each change, operators must ensure their forklift is equipped to properly balance its new weight load. There is a lot of math that goes into calculating net weight capacity for each situation. However, some general principles can help operators move varying loads safely. 

Parts of a Forklift

The best way to understand weight capacity is to discuss how forklifts are designed to balance weight. There are three parts of a forklift that work together to maintain balance: 

• Counterweight: A heavy weight is built into the rear side of a forklift, to help balance the heavy products that operators pick up with this machinery. 
• Fulcrum: If you think about a seesaw, a fulcrum is the point in the middle that balances both sides. The front axle of a forklift is where the majority of this pressure goes. 
• Fork: At the front end of a forklift, the fork or other attachment is used to load and lift heavy products. 

Because each load is a different weight, a forklift&#;s center of gravity shifts with every load. To stay within a safe range, forklift operators should learn about the stability triangle. This triangle is actually a pyramid, and it gives a visual for how operators can stay within a safe range of lifted weight. 

The stability triangle has a point at each front wheel, since that&#;s where a forklift balances its weight. The third point of the triangle points back to the middle of a forklift&#;s back axle, right between the back wheels. If a forklift&#;s center of gravity stays within this triangle, the forklift can maintain balance and won&#;t tip over during use. 

You can turn this triangle into a pyramid to understand how lifting products can impact weight and balance. Wherever the forklift&#;s center of gravity is, take that point up to make the top tip of the pyramid. If the top overextends beyond the triangle&#;s base, the forklift won&#;t be able to stay balanced and may tip over. 

What Are the Risks of Capacity Issues?

Think about the last time you picked up a heavy box. You likely stacked the heaviest part close to your chest, leaning backwards to better balance the weight. If the box was long, you probably stacked it up high so the weight wouldn&#;t tip you forward. 

A forklift works in a very similar way. It&#;s important to put weight near its center of gravity so that it stays balanced. When forklift weight capacity isn&#;t observed, a number of issues can occur, such as: 

• Tip overs
• Equipment damage
• Operator injuries

To avoid these risks, it&#;s essential to train your operators to follow all safety guidelines for forklift operation. Staying within the equipment&#;s net weight capacity and working within the stability triangle can save lives. 

OSHA Safety Requirements for Forklifts

OSHA requires all operators to be trained and certified in forklift use before operating this equipment to prevent accidents. If a business doesn&#;t follow OSHA safety guidelines for heavy machinery, it can be fined a significant amount. 

In a study from , OSHA estimated that around 97,000 injuries occur from forklift use each year. While not all of these accidents cause serious injuries, the numbers are much too high. Training can help prevent injury, protect your workers and improve your business&#;s reputation. 

Find Forklifts at Burns Industrial Equipment

Burns Industrial Equipment has been supporting customers with top-quality equipment for over 50 years. We operate throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, helping businesses to connect with the machinery and parts they need. 

We also offer forklift repair, fleet management, operator training and warehouse solutions. If you&#;re looking for a forklift that&#;s durable, energy efficient and equipped with built-in safety features, look no further than Burns Industrial Equipment. 

Our talented team can help you find the best forklift or other equipment solution for your needs. Reach out to us today or explore our inventory online to learn more! 

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