Forklifts for Lumberyards

The average lumberyard is a challenging working environment, and running an efficient lumberyard usually requires specialized equipment. Forklifts may be prized for their versatility and ability to handle a wide variety of material handling tasks, but with lumber storage and distribution, the basic models in warehouses and distribution centers probably won’t cut it.

Choosing the right forklift for a lumberyard isn't always easy, but a number of forklift models are available that are well suited to these unique demands. If you are looking for new forklifts suitable for use in your lumberyard, keep an eye out for the following useful features.

Specialized Fork Compatibility

Bundles of lumber are often not palletized for transportation or storage purposes, which can cause difficulties if you try to lift them with a standard forklift. For effective use in a lumberyard, your new forklift should have specialized lumber forks, which are wider and thinner than regular forks. This helps to prevent accidental damage.

Some forklifts have specialized lumber forks in the factory and are ideal for most lumberyard applications. However, these forklifts cannot be used as easily with palletized loads. If your lumberyard also handles palletized loads of specialist lumber (such as scented firewood), a forklift with easily interchangeable forks will be more versatile.

Side-Shifting Fork Positioners

Forklifts in lumberyards will have to deal with loads of every shape and size, and fork spacing will need adjusting before every lift to prevent accidental damage or toppling. Manually adjusting fork spacing before each lift can be very time-consuming and can undermine your yard's efficiency.

Look for a forklift with a side-shifting fork positioner. These forklifts allow the operator to automatically adjust fork spacing without leaving the driver's cab, making regular readjustment to handle wide or uneven loads faster and more efficiently.

Suitable Tires

Your new forklift should also have tires suitable for the prevailing ground conditions. Some smaller lumberyards have unpaved floors of impacted earth or gravel, while larger yards are more likely to have fully concreted flooring.

If your lumberyard is partially or completely unpaved, look for a forklift with solid pneumatic tires. These tires resemble ordinarily, air-filled pneumatic tires but are actually made of thick, solid rubber. They are well-suited for use on rough, unpaved terrain and are also immune to punctures from sharp wood splinters or nails. If traction is an issue, air filled pneumatic tires may be a better option.

IC Engines

Many industries that rely on forklifts invest heavily in electric forklifts, but most lumberyards should stick with more conventional, internal combustion (IC) power. These forklifts create more harmful emissions than electric models, but this isn't a problem for most lumberyards, which store the majority of their products in outdoor, well-ventilated locations.

Electric forklifts do not possess the same lifting capacity as diesel or LPG-powered forklifts and may not be able to safely handle large bundles of heavy timber. They also rely on nearby electrical outlets to provide power, which may not be practical in larger lumberyards.

By following these guidelines, you should be able to find the perfect forklift for your lumberyard. If you need any more advice about forklifts for lumberyards or other specialized industries, contact the material handling experts at Lift Solutions, Inc., today.