Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The type of electric truck that is designed to operate in narrow aisles is known as a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. A counterbalanced lift truck could turn in the aisle since typical storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide and this is adequate space. Then again, narrow aisles could be around 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 popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are reach trucks, turret trucks and orderpickers.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse applications. These small trucks can easily turn within narrow aisles as their design has eliminated the requirement for a big counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get near enough. These trucks really work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, good flow of traffic and ample space for turning.
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 whilst the operator drives down the aisle. Once it stops at the designated storage location, the truck's forks pivot to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and next smoothly deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks could come with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.