Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to function within narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck could turn within the aisle since standard storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide and this is sufficient space. Then again, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specialized lift truck models which are small, capable of tight turns, and able to put away loads without turning. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse use. These small trucks could easily turn in narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the need for a big counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms that extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks truly work well inside a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, enough turning space and good traffic flow.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load could face forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck turn to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and next easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.