Forklift

[Welderpaul]

Astros post reminded me. Looking to get a set of forks for the new place. Whats best, diesel or battery powered? Probably a 2t lift max, really only for loading/unloading wagons rather than the overhead crane which is no good for curtain siders.

Any thoughts

 

[Pete.]

I'd go for a propane truck Paul if you can find one.

 

[Drains]

What pete says. Diesel are ok, but propane's quieter and easier on the fumes. Battery ones... do they have the poke? Probably, but you need a big bit of charging kit in the corner, have to remember to top up the batteries (and old batteries don't half get through the distilled).

 

[Paul.]

Gas would be best, nice and clean, diesel next choice, all the electric trucks I've had have been a liability, also I find electric trucks have no delicate control unlike the hydraulics driven by an engine,

 

[Hitch]

Steer clear of the lecy ones, as above, they seem to have a mind of theire own!

All the ones we use are diesel. Nissan jobbies, good trucks.

Propane is better on fumes, and a more fun, beceause you can turn the cylinder off while someone is using it....

Running costs, i havnt got a clue, and grunt, not sure, id expect a diesel truck would be better for pushing pulling...

 

[Rusty]

Go for a gas truck and Toyota are excellent.

 

[Welderpaul]

I thought diesel cos i prefer things that are heavy, well built, noisy and reliable. (Like Mrs WP)

Lekky i had heard a few people have problems with, but never experienced problems myself.

Don't think i've ever used a gas forklift, so couldnt comment on their reliability. How do they work?!!

 

[^neo^]

Stick to your diesel plan!
Its a diesel engine, a hydraulic pump, couple of valves and some rams.
Sod all to go wrong with them compared to the other options

 

[Paul.]

Don't think i've ever used a gas forklift, so couldnt comment on their reliability. How do they work?!!

Just a petrol engine with a gas conversion, nothing too it, some older british built trucks used land rover engines.

 

[Welderpaul]

Sounds like diesel is the prefered option. I think the galvanisers use Nissan diesels. You can imagine what sort of hammer they get, never seem to have any problems with them, and they look like sheds now!

Thanks fellas.

 

[snowcat]

Yep diesel, defo, gas engines will be ka,nacked far quicker than a serviced diesel, 10-11K on the diesels......

brands, Cat or Nissan as said, Nissan's will be the cheaper option...

Annually inspection, chains forks/ brakes, watch out for too much carriage slop (worn rollers) all reasonably cheep to sort, Torque converter's good for 5K without a refurb, just pull the dipstick out and check it doesn't smelt burnt, walk away if it does, also slow hydraulics a big no no, pumps are not so bad, valve blocks a pita, and very pricey....

Don't fancy a nice TH62 Cat tellehandler per chance?

 

[Welderpaul]

I'm looking at a different unit just over the road, so the plan is to hire a 12m telehandler for the move. Some real heavy gear to shift! A bit big for anything after that though!

 

[scarecrow]

Was driving the JCB 2cx for an hour last week brilliant little machine and might not be nifty enough for you you can get them with no backhoe at a very reasonable price

 

[snowcat]

Ahh a 3 stage, last time I used one of those was to put some eves up on a 60' span building......

7-3T does mostly everything I need.....great tools.....

 

[Hitch]

Loadalls have theire uses, but are way to big in some situations....

 

[gavuk]

we had jcb 3section 14m at last job ...good bit of kit ,,,size was a problem as was the max load at full reach 250kg iirc......hyster and cats also good trucks

 

[snowcat]

Loadalls have theire uses, but are way to big in some situations....

no such thing as a truck thats too big, just a site thats too small.....


horses for courses, Iv always found masted trucks to be bloody hopeless for anything iv wanted em for......ermmm mostly it involves mud

 

[Drains]

We're playing with a CAT 414 handler at the mo. Much better proportional control than a JCB, but that little roller button for the fork tilt is a bit of a 'mare. Gently does it!

 

[Welderpaul]

I'm playing with pricing a job at the mo. Wanna swap?

 

[piman]

Hello Paul,

we run a 1.5 Tonne OM lift truck powered by propane. No problems to speak of in the two years we've had it. The only reason for selecting propane (didn't fancy electric for the reasons others quoted) is that the fumes are much less dirty compared to diesel, being as we are a small brewery.

Alec