Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to function in narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck could turn in the aisle because typical storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. On the other hand, narrow aisles can be around 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specialized kinds of lift trucks that are small, capable of tight turns, and able to put away loads without pivoting. The popular types of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks can turn without problems within narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the requirement for a large counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this design is that the outrigger arms can hinder access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks work well inside a warehouse that is well lit, has clean, even floors, ample turning space and good flow of traffic.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load could face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once it stops at the designated storage location, the truck's forks turn 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 can come with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.