Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The type of electric truck which is made to operate in narrow aisles is referred to as a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. Typical storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide, adequate space for a counterbalanced lift truck to pivot within the aisle. Nonetheless, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specific lift truck models that 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 first narrow-aisle lift truck to be developed for warehouse use. These small trucks could easily turn within 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 design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks really work well inside a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, enough turning space and good flow of traffic.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck includes forks on the side which turn. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck 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 are available with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.