A forklift is great at transporting a pallet from a starting point to an ending point, but that’s about it. Most warehousing jobs require additional functionality when moving a pallet, for example, turning a drum, grabbing a bale, or lifting something that doesn’t sit on a pallet. This is where attachments come in, and there are a lot more than most people realize. Forklift attachments are the simplest example.
These allow a forklift to reach further into a load, and forklift extensions are much more cost effective than buying a new forklift truck. Like most things, it’s worth checking the derated capacity. Safety should always come first. If you find yourself moving a lot of drums, then a drum clamp or rotator is the attachment you are looking for. Standard forks should not be used for this, and it could also remove some risk with manual lifting.
For hand adjusting pallets, side shifters and fork positioners are time savers that eliminate the hassle of making numerous trips in and out of the cab. After not making a lot of trips and packaging time into the amount of time they save, day cabs feel a lot shorter. Bale clamps, load stabilisers and other attachments each solve very niche problems. Unless those problems become large enough to warrant an investment, it is better to simply hire the attachment instead of buying one that will otherwise sit and waste money.
It is very easy to get past the attachment compatibility needed to progress. Hydraulics, carriage class and especially the weight of the combined system within the truck itself are all very important factors and it is worth the extra effort to check with the manufacturer or a quality dealer. The rated capacity of the truck will actually change significantly after the installation of the attachment, sometimes even doubling, so it is important to update the data plate after the attachment has been fitted. It is easy to work under the assumption that the capacity of the truck has not changed, and this assumption is a very common reason for forklifts becoming unsafe on a jobsite.
Regardless of attachment, training is required on a company-specific level. Different attachments shift how the forklift carries weight and precariously alters how a forklift controls. Take this into account prior to the shipping of your attachment, not after.