Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The kind of electric truck that is made to operate within narrow aisles is called a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. Standard storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide, enough space for a counterbalanced lift truck to pivot within the aisle. However, narrow aisles could be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area needs specialized lift truck models which are capable of tight turns, small, and able to put away loads without turning. The popular types of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be developed for warehouse use. These small trucks can turn without problems within narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a big counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get near enough. These types of trucks really work well inside a warehouse that is well lit, has clean, even floors, good flow of traffic and enough turning space.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design includes forks on the side which turn. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage place, the truck's forks turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.