Operations managers, maintenance supervisors, logistics experts, or forklift operators – if your production or service operations take place in outdoor environments with rough and slippery terrain, such as mines, lumber yards, transshipment yards, precast concrete yards, or construction sites, having a reliable and robust rough terrain forklift is essential. These lifting vehicles are specially designed to handle demanding environments. Thanks to their adapted design and all-wheel drive transmission, they offer excellent stability on uneven, unstable, muddy, icy, snowy, or sandy surfaces. They can transport heavy and bulky loads and are indispensable for optimizing material handling under challenging conditions. While your rough terrain forklift’s capacity isn’t the main criterion, discover other essential elements to help you choose the right lifting vehicle.
Technical Characteristics of a Rough Terrain Forklift
Selecting a rough terrain forklift requires careful consideration.
To choose the right lifting vehicle, you must consider your handling needs and understand the products and loads your business requires you to manipulate, but that’s not all. Compare various models based on their characteristics. Several important elements can help you make an informed decision:
B56.6 Certification
For rough terrain applications, your future forklift must be certified to the B56.6 standard. This ensures that the vehicle is safe and legal for use on rough terrain.
Long-term Resale Value
The resale value of a rough terrain forklift is crucial as it directly affects the total cost of ownership. Equipment that maintains a high resale value often indicates durability and reliability, reducing long-term costs for the company. Choosing a brand with good long-term value also ensures better liquidity at resale, allowing companies to recover a significant portion of their initial investment while benefiting from flexible fleet management.
Agility and Maneuverability
The agility and maneuverability of a rough terrain forklift are crucial for quickly navigating restricted spaces, increasing operational efficiency and safety. These characteristics allow versatile use across various terrains and conditions, reduce operator fatigue, and decrease maintenance needs. A maneuverable and agile forklift is essential for maximizing productivity and minimizing costs. Some models, like those from Vallée, feature center articulation that improves maneuverability in tight spaces.
Traction System
Rough terrain forklifts are specially designed to work on uneven surfaces and difficult terrain. Their traction system is a key element of their performance. Most of these machines have a 4-wheel drive system that allows them to move effectively on loose, muddy, or rough ground.
Suspension
The suspension and stability of these vehicles are ensured by systems designed to absorb shocks and maintain the forklift stable, even with heavy loads. Appropriate ground clearance allows these forklifts to cross obstacles without damaging the chassis.
Lifting Capacity
The capacities and dimensions of rough terrain forklifts vary according to their models and use. Lifting capacities in the industry can range from 3,000 to 60,000 lbs, allowing for the transport of hefty loads. Lifting heights also depend on the type of forklift, with options for standard or higher lifts to reach difficult-to-access areas. The weight of the forklifts and load distribution are also designed to ensure maximum stability during lifting and moving operations.
Engine and Energy Consumption
The engine and power of rough terrain forklifts are crucial aspects of their performance. The most common types of engines are diesel, and electric models are also being developed for more environmentally friendly uses.
Available power is adapted to different lifting and moving needs, generally ranging from 140 to 225 horsepower. Hydraulic systems are designed to powerlift, steer, and tilt functions precisely and efficiently.
Consumption and energy efficiency are essential criteria to consider when optimizing operating costs. A rough terrain forklift is much more economical than using an unsuitable product, e.g., a loader with forks, as it has been specifically designed for lifting and moving loads rather than digging soil or loading bulk material.
Equipment and Accessories for Your Rough Terrain Forklift
When choosing a rough terrain forklift, it’s crucial to consider essential equipment and accessories.
Safety equipment and features are vital in protecting the operator and surrounding people. Protection systems are designed to protect the operator in case of rollover or falling objects. Monitoring devices, such as backup alarms and 360-degree cameras, improve visibility and help prevent collisions. Good visibility is essential in outdoor operations, which is why Vallée forklifts are designed to offer the operator optimal observation of immediate surroundings. Ensuring your rough terrain forklift meets current standards and certifications to guarantee safe operation and regulatory compliance is also important. Safety equipment is essential for reducing accidents, injuries, and costly downtime.
For other accessories like handling systems, fork selection must be adapted to the types of loads to be handled. Vallée offers a wide variety of forks, whether they are pin-mounted, bolted, hook-mounted, or for rotators. Pin-mounted forks can quickly change fork types to reduce time loss, making them essential if your operations require forks of different dimensions for different handling tasks.
Facilitated maintenance options such as automatic greasing systems can be added to ensure proper lubrication of friction surfaces, which reduces the burden on your maintenance equipment while preserving optimal resale value for your investment.
These customization options are a significant asset, allowing equipment to be adapted to the precise requirements of each application and each sector of activity, as with Vallée.
Choosing Your Rough Terrain Forklift by Industry Sector
The specific requirements of each industry sector should also guide the choice of a rough terrain forklift:
Industrial Sector
In this sector, forklifts are commonly used for moving heavy loads, loading and unloading materials, and handling goods. Recommended configurations include vertical mast forklifts adapted to irregular surfaces in factories and warehouses. Vallée forklifts, with their lifting capacity of 20,000 to 55,000 lbs, are particularly suitable for these activities.
To optimize their efficiency, accessories such as specific forks (pin-mounted, bolted, hook-mounted), quick attachment systems, rotators, jibs, and handling arms can be added. Customization allows equipment to be adapted to the specific constraints of each environment.
Mining
The mining sector imposes particular requirements due to difficult conditions. Specific characteristics of forklifts include increased robustness, high lifting capacity, and maneuverability in restricted spaces. Articulated models like those from Vallée are particularly well-suited. Necessary adaptations and accessories include reinforced forks, cable or tire manipulators, and handling arms designed for extreme conditions. Operational constraints include very rough surfaces, slopes, confined spaces, and the need to handle heavy materials. Vallée’s compact all-articulated and 4×4 forklifts, like the 4DA10D, are perfectly designed for enclosed spaces.
Logistics
Forklifts demonstrate their efficiency when they can move goods quickly. Specific needs include good lifting capacity and high maneuverability in warehouses and distribution centers. Accessories such as pallet-adapted forks, fork extensions, paper roll clamps, or grapples allow for handling various loads. Adapted solutions can also include electric models for indoor spaces, although rough terrain forklifts are generally more used outdoors.
Storage Yard Handling Activities (e.g., lumber, precast concrete, or steel)
The forestry sector requires forklifts adapted to rough terrain and difficult operating conditions. Usage conditions involve uneven surfaces, slopes, mud, ice or snow, and plant debris. Rough terrain forklifts with wide and robust tires, four-wheel drive, and high ground clearance are essential. Good maneuverability and sufficient power are indispensable for ensuring safe and efficient operations. Vallée forklifts are designed to work efficiently in restricted spaces.
Aluminum Plants
Handling heavy and bulky loads in the aluminum industry is a daily task. Transporting and handling various elements, ranging from cast or forged aluminum parts to roll coils and other plates, rods, and cables,s requires an adapted lifting vehicle like the 2CR18. This forklift developed by Vallée has an 18,000 lb lifting capacity and a high-visibility mast, ideal for efficiently moving loads in an aluminum plant while ensuring maximum precision. Its robust steering axle and rigid chassis ensure optimal stability, even on demanding industrial floors. Its full-view cab with an upper window offers excellent visibility, allowing operators to maneuver safely in restricted spaces.
Our advisors are dedicated to helping you choose the ideal forklift for your handling activities, whether you’re active in the industrial, mining, or logistics sector or have specific needs for lifting lumber, precast concrete, steel, or aluminum plants.
We understand that choosing the right lifting truck for each activity is often complex, so our team is at your disposal to discuss and advise you. Don’t hesitate to contact us or request a quote.
