More About Warehouse Forklifts
Choose from gas/propane, diesel and electric forklift rentals with maximum lift heights up to 23 feet and maximum load capacities up to 50,000 lbs. Models come with or without pneumatic tires for driving indoors or on smooth, outdoor surfaces. Smaller electric walk-behinds are also available and can lift up to 4,000 lbs. Our inventory features forklifts for rent from trusted manufacturers like Toyota, Doosan and more. For more information on our warehouse forklift rental options, please visit our FAQ section below.
Forklifts are an indispensable piece of equipment for warehouse work, and there are many types to choose from, depending on your specific needs. Warehouse forklifts are the most recognizable with a golf cart-size body and two fork tongs sticking out of the front. These forks can lift between one and five tons. Sideloaders are similar to the warehouse forklift, but the lift unloads objects on its side, making it a great choice for heavy, bulky or long items like lumber or pipes. Counterbalance forklifts have the weight in the back to "counterbalance" the weight of the load. Three-wheeled versions make it easy to operate these lifts and make sharp turns. Pallet jacks, walkie stackers, order pickers and reach trucks are all great options for navigating narrow warehouse aisles, allowing the operator to lift and lower pallets to various heights.
United Rentals has a wide selection of warehouse forklifts for rent with maximum lift heights around 20 feet to 23 feet and load capacities up to 50,000 lbs. For short lifts, we also provide pallet jacks with a maximum lift height of around 7.5 inches.
The maximum forklift capacity needed depends on the application and size of the load. Every forklift includes a plate required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that states the maximum load capacity. Before you make a decision, determine the dimensions and weight of your heaviest load, how high you need to lift the load, how many hours you need to use the lift, and what the environment is like where you will use the lift. United Rentals provides forklifts for rent with load capacities up to 50,000 lbs.
Indoor forklifts come with cushion tires to make it easier to maneuver on smooth warehouse floors. Outdoor forklifts use pneumatic tires with deep treads and more ground clearance to make them easier to drive on rough terrains. Generally, the forklift's wheels and frame are designed for a specific tire type, so check the forklift's manual before going with a different tire type than what is recommended. It is rare for the forklift to have the ability to switch from a cushion tire to a pneumatic tire.
Les chariots élévateurs d’entrepôt sont plus adaptés pour soulever et transporter des caisses, des palettes et d’autres matériaux sur de courtes distances. Comme leur nom l’indique, ils sont souvent utilisés dans les entrepôts pour charger et décharger les stocks ainsi que pour le ramassage et l’empilage. Ils peuvent supporter des charges lourdes et fonctionner sur des surfaces intérieures ou extérieures lisses.
Les chariots élévateurs d’entrepôt se déclinent en différents types. If you need the ability to move loads to the side, look for a side loader or a warehouse forklift with an available side-shift attachment. Un transpalette Walkie est un chariot élévateur à conducteur accompagnant conçu pour déplacer et empiler les palettes à des hauteurs plus élevées qu’un transpalette manuel standard. Pour la plus grande portée, choisissez un chariot élévateur à mât quadruple.
Choisissez un chariot élévateur à fourche d’une capacité maximale suffisante et assurez-vous qu’il peut s’adapter à l’endroit où vous en avez besoin
Réfléchissez aux matériaux que vous prévoyez de soulever (palettes simples? conteneurs lourds? bois?) et aux charges les plus lourdes que vous devrez soulever. On sous-estime souvent la capacité du chariot élévateur dont on a besoin, alors en cas de doute, optez pour un gros chariot élévateur. Dans le cas des chariots élévateurs avec flèches télescopiques, consultez le tableau des charges pour déterminer la capacité de charge du chariot élévateur.
United Rentals offers warehouse forklift rentals with a wide range of maximum capacities, including:
- Petits chariots élévateurs d’entrepôt : Un chariot élévateur d’entrepôt de 1,4 tonne peut gérer des travaux légers à moyens dans un entrepôt ou tout autre site industriel.
- Chariots élévateurs d’entrepôt moyens : Ils ont des capacités allant de 1,4 à 7 tonnes et conviennent aux travaux moyens à intensifs. Ce chariot élévateur d’entrepôt de 5,4 tonnes peut se déplacer jusqu’à 19,5 km/h avec une charge maximale.
- Grands chariots élévateurs d’entrepôt : Avec des capacités de charge allant jusqu’à 25 tonnes, les grands chariots élévateurs peuvent gérer des applications à usage intensif.
En plus de la capacité, vous devrez également tenir compte des dimensions du chariot élévateur par rapport aux restrictions d’espace du chantier. Par exemple, si vous travaillez dans un entrepôt, connaître la largeur des allées et/ou les dimensions générales des palettes vous aidera à déterminer la taille et le type de chariot élévateur à louer. Les transpalettes manuels et les chargeurs latéraux sont parfaits pour les allées étroites.
La hauteur à laquelle vous devez soulever les matériaux déterminera non seulement le type de chariot élévateur que vous devez louer, mais aussi le type de mât dont vous avez besoin (droit ou à déploiement, et sur combien d’étages). Les mâts de chariot élévateur sont généralement de deux ou trois étages, bien que certains soient de quatre étages (mâts quadruples). Les mâts quadruples sont conçus pour l’empilage le plus haut.
N’oubliez pas de tenir compte de votre hauteur libre, y compris les pas de porte, et assurez-vous que le mât (ou la flèche dans le cas d’un chariot télescopique) passera à sa hauteur la plus basse. Les mâts quadruples se rétractent à une hauteur inférieure à celle des autres mâts.
La plupart des chariots élévateurs sont conçus pour un type de pneu spécifique, il y a donc de fortes chances que si vous utilisez le bon chariot élévateur pour le terrain, il aura les bons pneus.
Forklifts with pneumatic tires, filled with compressed air, can handle rough terrain and uneven surfaces, including those found on construction sites and in lumberyards. Les chariots élévateurs à pneus pneumatiques sont généralement conçus pour les travaux extérieurs, bien qu’ils puissent également être utiles dans les grands entrepôts. Les pneus renforcés, fabriqués en caoutchouc solide, offrent moins de traction et une garde au sol moins élevée et sont conçus pour les sols intérieurs et les surfaces extérieures lisses et planes.
You need to decide the best power option for your site and project. Electric, diesel/gasoline and propane forklifts all have their advantages and disadvantages. When looking for the right rental forklift, start by thinking about the tasks the forklift will be used for. Will the work happen mainly inside or outside? Is moving heavy pallets the number one need, or will the operator be using attachments to do other work? What is your budget?
Electric forklifts
For indoor work, consider renting an electric forklift. Electric-powered forklifts are often used to lift and transport materials in industrial or warehouse settings, especially in cold-storage facilities for food and medical equipment.
If “battery-powered” makes you pause, consider this: Sealed lead-acid batteries have better starting power, recharge more quickly and have lower maintenance costs than older lead-acid batteries. Many heavy-duty forklifts still rely on lead-acid batteries because these heavy batteries — weighing between 800 and 4,000 pounds — serve as a counterbalance to the material being lifted. Newer electric models rely on lithium-ion batteries, which are the lightest option.
The pros of electric warehouse forklifts
- Quiet, exhaust-free operation
- Relatively low operating costs
- More compact than propane or diesel thanks to the lack of an internal combustion engine
- Maneuverable, can turn on a dime
- Controls are basic, a boon for new or less experienced operators
- Less downtime due to fewer moving parts and the absence of engine oil, coolants, filters and fuel
- Less vibration, which reduces operator fatigue
- Great performance from the AC motor
- Performance not affected by cold temperatures needed for cold storage
The cons of electric warehouse forklifts
- Most electric forklifts not rated for outdoor use
- Higher costs than propane and diesel forklifts, and charging bays, chargers and tools for removing large batteries add to the costs
- Heavy-duty work may require more expensive batteries
- Batteries require recharging, which can slow down work and diminish runtime
Propane forklifts
For quick refueling and low emissions, propane forklifts deliver. Liquid propane (LP) powers the internal combustion engine. Propane forklifts come in many sizes and capacities and are used in trucking and logistics, manufacturing and large warehouses.
If you're considering renting a propane forklift, weigh these pros and cons.
The pros of propane warehouse forklifts
- Can be used for work indoors or outdoors, even on inclines
- Fast refueling (replacing a sealed propane tank takes five minutes or less)
- Lower emissions than diesel
- More power, greater torque and superior runtime than electric
- Wide range of capacities
- Longer engine life than diesel
The cons of propane warehouse forklifts
- Fuel costs are unpredictable
- Propane is volatile and can leak from tanks if tanks are punctured
- More moving parts increase maintenance costs compared to electric
- A clutch is used to slow traction speed so you may need to train drivers on loading and off-loading
- May be difficult to start in cold weather
- Less power and torque than diesel or gas models
- Louder than electric forklifts
Gas/diesel warehouse forklifts
Need a bigger, more powerful forklift that can work on a slope? Renting a diesel or gas forklift is the way to go. These machines are the go-to outdoor forklifts for heavy-duty applications, such as heavy manufacturing, lumberyards and construction. Gas-powered forklifts are less common than diesel-powered forklifts but share many of the pros and cons.
The pros of gas and diesel warehouse forklifts
- More power and torque than electric or propane forklifts
- Can lift more weight and easily power hydraulic attachments
- Faster acceleration and lifting
- Require less maintenance than propane-fueled engines
- Run time is limited only by fuel accessibility
The cons of gas/diesel warehouse forklifts
- Limited to outdoor use due to exhaust fumes
- Noisy operation and vibrations cause operator fatigue
- Can’t make short turns or work in tight places due to their size
- Require more highly trained operators
