Before purchasing a forklift, it’s critical to know your aisle dimensions so that you select a forklift that will work in your environment. Teknoservice driver download for windows. Taking the time to do this will save your company time and money and avoid the headache of purchasing a forklift that won’t work for your space. Use our guide to ensure you select the right forklift for your warehouse operation.

Talk to a Forklift Expert. Benefits of Narrow Aisle Forklifts. The narrow aisle forklift category includes reach trucks, in which the operator guides the fork to reach up and grab pallets, and order pickers, in which the operator platform can be raised and lowered to grab individual items when putting together an order. The TSP Series turret forklift features a stronger mast, higher reach, and narrow footprint, allowing you to make the most of your storage space. Crown’s MonoLift Mast provides the stability needed for operators and loads up to six stories in the air.

All the following measurements have been done with MCFA products specification sheets and using a standard pallet racking system (42” frames) with standard 48’’L X 40” W pallets.

Please note: When looking at your layout, you must take into account all building columns, utilities, and other obstructions that may affect your layout and prevent you from optimizing the number of pallets available.

Sit-Down Counterbalanced Forklifts

A sit-down counterbalanced forklift with a capacity rating of up to 6,000 lbs. will require aisle widths of approximately 13-feet for handling standard 48″ long pallets. This will also take into account the use of right angle stacking for placement of loads inside the storage racks.

Aisle Dimensions for Sit-Down Counterbalanced Forklifts

When using a sit-down counterbalanced forklift of any fuel type, with a capacity of 4,000 lbs. to 6,000 lbs., handling standard 48″ long pallets of materials, the standard requirement is 13-foot wide aisles for storing and retrieving pallets from the pallet racking.

When using a 3,000 lbs. capacity sit-down counterbalanced forklift, you will require 12.5-foot wide aisles, which won’t differ much from the 13-foot aisles mentioned above. You won’t get extra storage out of a lower capacity forklift.

For every additional double-row of racks added to the layout shown below, you are required to have an additional 21 feet of building width to accommodate the double rows of racking and the additional clearance width to access those racks.

When looking at your layout, you must take into account all building columns, utilities, and other obstructions that may affect your layout and prevent you from optimizing the number of pallets available.

Aisle Dimensions for Sit-Down Counterbalanced Forklifts

Narrow Aisle Stand-up Counterbalance Forklifts

Narrow Aisle Stand-up Counterbalanced Forklift Aisle Clearance

Narrow aisle stand-up counterbalanced forklifts will require aisle widths of approximately 11 feet for handling any standard 48″ long pallet loads, for right angle stacking of loads in storage racking. This is true for most narrow aisle forklifts that are rated capacities of 3,000 lbs. to 5,500 lbs.

Narrow Aisle reach trucks with a single reach application is also known as a pantograph forklift can operate at capacities up to 4,500 lbs. in aisles as narrow as 8.5-9 feet wide.

Aisle Dimensions for Narrow Aisle Stand-Up Counterbalanced Forklifts

When using a Narrow Aisle Stand-up counterbalanced forklift with a rated capacity of 3,000 lbs. to 4,500 lbs. while handling a standard 48″ pallet, you require an approximately 11-foot wide aisle for storing and retrieving pallets in a standard racking system.

For each additional double row of racks added to your layout shown below, you will require an additional 19 feet of building width to accommodate the double rows of racks and the additional width needed to access those racks.

When looking at your layout you must take into account all building columns, utilities, and other obstructions that may affect your layout thus prevent you from optimizing the number of pallets available for use.

Aisle Dimensions for Narrow Aisle Stand-up Counterbalanced Forklifts

Turret or Swing-Mast Very Narrow Aisle Forklifts

Turret or swing-mast narrow aisle forklifts require aisle widths approximately 6 feet with standard 48’’ long pallets with loads to be placed and retrieved inside the racking system. This type of forklift has an articulating swivel mast that pivots to place pallets on either the left or right of the machine into the standard racking system.

This type of narrow picking is accomplished with the first-in-first-out inventory system; which has many types of the same SKU (Stock Keep Units) and very few or only one or two loads of each is held within the inventory.

Aisle Dimensions for Turret or Swing Mast Forklifts

When using a Swing Mast or Turret Truck from 3,000 lbs. to 3,500 lbs. capacity that is handling the average 48″ pallet with a load you require approximately 6-feet wide aisles for storing and retrieving pallets out of the racks.

For each additional double row of racks added to the layout shown below you would require an additional 14 feet of building width to accommodate the double rows of racks and additional aisle needed to access those loads.

When looking at your layout you must take into account all building columns, utilities, and other obstructions that may affect your layout and prevent you from optimizing the number of pallets available for use.

Aisle Dimensions for Very Narrow Aisle Forklifts

Narrow Aisle Double Reach Forklifts

Stand up rider narrow aisle double reach or deep reach forklifts will require an aisle width of approximately 10 feet for standard 48″ long pallets with loads for placing and storing on standard racking at a right angle.

These forklifts have double scissor pantograph allowing for storage and retrieval in two deep standard racking.

Aisle Dimensions for Narrow Aisle Double Reach Forklifts

When using a Narrow Aisle Double Reach forklift that carries approximately 3,500 lbs on a standard 48″ pallet with a load you are required to have approximately 10-feet wide aisles for clearance when placing and retrieving pallets from the racking system.

For each additional quad-row of racking you must add to the layout (see right), you will be required to have an additional 26 feet of building width to accommodate the four rows of racks and additional aisles needed to access those racks.

When looking at your layout you must take into account all building columns, utilities, and other obstructions that may affect the layout and prevent you from optimizing the number of pallets available.

Aisle Dimensions for Narrow Aisle Double/Deep Reach Forklifts

TALK TO THE EXPERTS

Finding your warehouse aisle dimensions is important for choosing the correct forklift for your application. Ensure that you don’t make costly mistakes by contacting us or calling one of our experienced forklift experts to assist with the measurements at 1 (800) 458-7941.

Originally published 12/16/2016
Updated 4/5/2019

Forklift For Narrow Aisles

Here at H&F Lift Trucks we often get asked the question ‘what is the difference between a counterbalance forklift and a reach truck?’ This is a question that many of us in the industry take for granted but one that we are more than happy to answer. So read on below to find out the noticeable and important difference between both types of forklift truck.

Counterbalance Forklift Truck

A counterbalance forklift truck is the most common type of truck around and represents the image most people instinctively think of when imagining a forklift. The forks stick out from the front of the vehicle and there are no protruding arms or legs; meaning the truck can be manoeuvred right up close to the racking or location of the load. Therefore, no reach facility is necessary and the truck operates in a relatively straightforward fashion.

This type of forklift truck can be powered with gas, electric or diesel. Many models also feature a mast tilt facility, sideshifts and driver’s cab. The name of this truck derives from its design as a large counterweight is placed at the back of the truck to off-set the load being lifted towards the front. Electric powered counterbalance trucks are able to operate with a smaller counterweight as the battery is quite weighty too.

Reach Truck

Reach trucks offer maximum lift height capacity with incredible manoeuvrability and, for these reasons, they are best suited to warehouse operations. The name takes influence from the machine’s ability to ‘reach’ out further than its stabilising legs. This makes it incredibly easy to reach out into racking and allows the truck to lift up to great heights in very tight working environments. The stabilising legs and batteries within a reach truck eradicates out the need for a counterweight also.

Many manufacturers out there design trucks with a tilt mechanism, allowing the cab to tilt slightly and provide a more comfortable viewing position for the driver. Alternatively, a reach truck may feature a totally open overhead guard to achieve the same effect. For even more visibility, reach trucks can be fitted with cameras that transmit video to an LCD screen within the cab.

This type of forklift truck is extremely well suited to indoor use but is not completely ideal for the outdoors. The low under-carriage clearance can cause issues, especially on uneven surfaces. In addition to this, the electric power systems can also suffer from contact issues if regularly shaken around due to uneven surfaces.

Forklift Trucks for Hire

Here at H&F Lift Trucks we have a range of new and used counterbalance forklifts and reach trucks available. Contact us today for more information or for some general advice on which truck best suits your requirements.

Testimonials

H&F Lift Trucks are a pleasure to deal with. All staff, Technicians, Sales and Directors have hands-on experience of all ranges of vehicles they supply. From initial assessments and listening to all users of a potential new vehicle requirement, they keep us informed of all aspects of specification and lead times through to delivery. Their maintenance service is superb – they organise suitable times around our busy working day with our Yard Managers. Any accidental damage or operator error faults are always discussed with me and dealt with fairly – not like some unscrupulous suppliers who seek to profit at every service visit! In a cut-throat market, where we are offered “good deals” a few quid cheaper every day, we are never tempted to stray.

Very Narrow Aisle Forklift Technical Specifications

Pym and Wildsmith have been working closely with H&F Fork Trucks for many years. Their service is excellent, ranging from prompt callouts to breakdowns through to the supply of new trucks. We would not hesitate to recommend them.

Very Narrow Aisle Forklift Side Loader

H&F have supplied us with all our fork lift equipment for in excess of ten years now, and have maintained it in accordance with our stringent operation requirements. During this time they have provided a consistently high level of service (including short term hire when required) whilst never failing to support us in a totally honest and professional manner.