Used Cushion Tire Forklift United States - 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.
When considering the benefits and drawbacks of cushion tires in forklift uses, it is important to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the other available forklift tire option: the pneumatic tire. 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 comprised of treaded or smooth, solid rubber which is positioned around and affixed to a metal ring or baseband. These kinds of forklift tires are cheaper to make and easier to maintain. This type of tire is made to work on smooth surfaces such as indoor concrete floors and loading docks. These tires are designed to maneuver well within tight locations, due to their specific turning radius. Cushion tires also allow the forklift to sit closer to the ground. The advantage of a lower forklift is the increased vertical clearance when compared to forklifts with 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, on the other hand, are primarily designed to operate in rougher terrain, with uneven surfaces. These tires have two categorizations:
The solid resilient pneumatic tires are comprised entirely of rubber and the standard air pneumatic tires feature a layered rubber design filled with air.
Pneumatic tire forklifts are excellent choices for working in locations with uneven or unpaved ground outdoors. The solid resilient pneumatic forklift tires are best used in areas such as lumber yards or junkyards and construction sites where there may be sharp metal items on the ground which could puncture the tires.
Benefits of Cushion Tire Forklifts
Cushion tire forklifts can be used inside and outside on smooth surfaces. The type of forklift that utilizes cushion tires are for mainly inside applications with some limited outside use. Warehousing applications and manufacturing facilities often rely on cushion tire forklifts. 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
Indoor cushion tire forklifts have lower clearance compared to pneumatic models; allowing the machine to travel easier through doorways and around lights or sprinkler obstacles.
3) Durability
Cushion tires for forklifts are durable, easy to maintain and have little to no risk of puncture.
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
Powered by electricity instead of relying on an internal combustion engine enables cushion tire forklifts to make zero dangerous emissions.
Forklift Tire Choice
The forklift frame typically depicts whether a cushion tire or a pneumatic tire will be utilized. The forklifts’ lifting capacity and frame are specific to the axles and tires in the design. The majority of forklift manufacturers create models to coincide with specific wheels and tires, usually cushion tires or pneumatic tires. Instead of trying to modify the forklift by picking the correct tire for a particular application, it is wiser to choose the forklift that will best suit the job at hand.
Workplace Applications
Suitable Work Applications for Cushion Tires
Cushion tire forklifts are popular for a variety of job sites. If there is moderate use of the forklift outside on smooth surfaces and the majority of the lifting, loading and transporting will be occurring inside on smooth floors, a cushion tire model is an excellent tool.
Forklifts fitted with cushion tires often have a smaller frame and sit much lower to the ground than forklifts fitted with pneumatic tires. This compact design facilitates easier clearance through doorways and overhead obstacle avoidance. It is important to note that cushion tire forklifts showcase less ground clearance and the machine may get caught up on exterior obstacles if the ground is uneven. One solution to this problem is to fit the cushion tire forklift with traction tires on the front of their forklifts. Tires that offer traction will perform better on wet surfaces, rough terrain, packed gravel and asphalt. These tires are not recommended for travelling on grass or dirt. Traction tires are utilized on the opposite sides, the steer and drive axles.
One of the top advantages of the cushion forklifts is their tight turning radius. This makes cushion tire forklifts ideal for warehouses and manufacturing facilities that have less space. Areas that are designed with narrow aisles such as warehouse facilities will enjoy the tighter turning radius offered with cushion tire forklift models. Cushion tire forklifts are more cost-effective and available compared to pneumatic tire models.
Suitable Work Applications for Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
Since pneumatic tires contain air, these forklifts are better suited for exterior applications. Some interior locations may utilize pneumatic tire forklifts; however, they do not offer a small turning radius or the lower clearance and maneuverability that the cushion tires provide. Of course, they are often powered by internal combustion engine so do produce harmful emissions which are not recommended for normal indoor use. Pneumatic tire forklifts are longer and wider than cushion tire forklifts which is why they are primarily used outdoors.
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. These solid pneumatic tires are best for scrap yards and lumber yards where the possibility of running over sharp metal scrap and debris, such as nails, in greatly increased. Similar to solid pneumatics, air pneumatics work well outdoors on asphalt, in gravel and in yards. Air-filled pneumatic tires can easily become punctured and their working environment needs to be evaluated carefully. Due to their susceptibility for getting gouged or punctured, the work location must be free from sharp debris before driving the air pneumatic tires. Air tires are also known to give a bouncy ride, contributing to operator discomfort and fatigue. 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. Foam filling is also used to help prevent flat tires. Filling an air pneumatic tire with foam usually takes approximately 3 days to fill and cure.
Difference in Load Capacity
Both cushion tire and pneumatic tire forklifts offer similar load capacities. Some electric powered cushion tire forklifts do have lift limits. Pneumatic tire and cushion tire forklifts are available in practically any load capacity. Load capacities come in a wide range - from less than 2,000 pounds to more than 200,000 pounds.
Cushion Tire Forklift PDF
