Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The kind of electric truck that is designed to function in narrow aisles is called a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. Typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide, enough space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn within the aisle. On the other hand, narrow aisles can be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specific lift truck models which are capable of tight turns, small, can put away loads without pivoting. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks can turn without problems within narrow aisles as their design has eliminated the requirement for a large counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These kinds of trucks really work well inside a warehouse that is well lit, has even, clean floors, enough turning space and good flow of traffic.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has pivoting forks on side of the truck. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage place, the truck's forks pivot to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and next smoothly deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.