Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The kind of electric truck which is designed to function within narrow aisles is known as a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. Typical storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide, enough space for a counterbalanced lift truck to pivot in the aisle. However, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specific kinds of lift trucks which are capable of tight turns, small, can put away loads without pivoting. The common 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 manufactured for warehouse use. These small trucks can easily turn within narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the need for a big counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms that 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 within a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, ample space for turning and good flow of traffic.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck has pivoting 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 place, the truck's forks pivot to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks could come with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.