Masonry Magazine October 1992 Page. 21
The Sizzle or the Steak?
When the decision is being made to purchase or rent a rough terrain forklift, what you see isn't always what you get you may be paying for steak, but getting only sizzle.
AT ONE TIME or another we've all been romanced into believing we were getting the steak, when in fact we only paid for it and got the sizzle. The same can be said for today's buyer when the decision is being made to purchase or rent a rough terrain telescopic forklift truck. What you see often isn't what you get! Which is most important-Landing height or lifting height? Capacity @ landing height or capacity @ lifting height?
Knowing the difference is crucial in determining which machine is capable of getting the job done safely and on time. When comparing various machines available on the market, you'll notice that the maximum lifting height (Figure 1) of a machine is advertised along with the maximum capacity the machine can pick and carry. The machine's ability to land a load onto a building or scaffolding is not mentioned, but a machine's landing height and capacity at landing height are the most important method of measuring a machine's capabilities.
In order for a machine to off-load onto the scaffold, the forks must move forward 48" from maximum lifting height in order to retract them from under the load. When the forks are moved forward, the load is lowered below the maximum lifting height down to the landing height (Figure 2).
Advertising capacity @ maximum lifting height is hype or sizzle. The steak, or usable weight comparison is a machine's capacity @ maximum landing height.
When moving from maximum lifting height to maximum landing height, the load is moved forward 48", an additional 4' from face of tire to load center and the capacity is de-rated. Determine capacity @ landing height by noting the distance from face of front tire to load center at maximum landing height.
In order to compare the usable features of various machines, the following capacities and heights must be determined: (1) maximum landing height (2) forward reach at maximum landing height, front face of tire to 24" load center; (3) capacity @ maximum landing height and reach.
Rule of thumb: Maximum landing height maximum lifting height minus 4 feet.
An exception to the rule are machines equipped with "transverse" or a sliding transfer carriage (Figure 3). which allow the machine to land the load at maximum lifting height.
When comparing this type of machine to the others with fixed or pinned booms, care should be taken to determine capacity at landing height.
The capacity 48" in front of maximum lifting height should be used even though the machine is capable of sliding the carriage another 32" forward. Additional forward reach at
FIGURE 1-OPERATING PROCEDURE: (1) approach landing area with load in the carry position, not higher than eye level; (2) set parking brake and level the machine so the lift can be made without side movement of the center of gravity; (3) raise the load by lifting boom and telescoping out, being sure not to exceed machine's load capacity- never drive machine with load above eye level; (4) position load above and in front of landing area- check to be sure the capacity of the machine at the landing site is not exceeded by the load.