Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The kind of electric truck which is made to operate within narrow aisles is called a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. A counterbalanced lift truck could turn within the aisle since typical storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide and this is sufficient space. Nevertheless, narrow aisles can be around 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 order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks manufactured for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks can turn with no trouble in narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the requirement for a huge counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms that extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get close enough. These kinds of trucks work well within a warehouse that is well lit, has clean, even floors, ample turning space and good traffic flow.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck consists of forks on the side which turn. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. Once it stops at the designated storage place, the truck's forks pivot to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load before 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.