What type of suspension do forklifts have?

In this brief article, we will discuss the Forklift suspension and the stability of a forklift.

What type of suspension do forklifts have?

The forklift suspension is a 3 Point-type suspension. This means that the whole vehicle is supported at three points. This is true even for those Forklifts that have four wheels. The forklift’s steer axle is secured  to the forklift by means of a pivot pin at the axle’s center. The three wheel points, connected by imaginary lines, form a triangle called the stability triangle.

How Does  Forklift Prevent Tip-Over?

The “stability triangle” minimizes the risk of tip over, even if the surface is uneven. Within the stability triangle, a forklift remains level. The reason being that the Forklift’s center of gravity falls within this triangle.

When the forklift is moving forward or backward or parked on a slope, its center of gravity shifts. The Forklifts are designed such that there is a counterbalance weight in the body at the rear end of the vehicle. 

The center of gravity for a loaded forklift is the combined center of gravity for both the forklift and the load. The heavier the load – and the higher the load is lifted – the further forward the combined center of gravity goes. To limit this movement a counterbalance is built into the forklift.

The imaginary vertical line passing through the combined center of gravity and the ground is called the ‘line of action’. If the bottom of this line intersects the ground  outside of the stability triangle – either due the load being too heavy or too high, or due to the forklift not being on a level surface, it will tip over.

When the Forklift is lifting loads, the counterbalance weight provides stability by ensuring that the center of gravity of the forklift moves only within the stability triangle.

Conclusion

In this brief article, we have discussed the Forklift suspension and the stability of a forklift.

In case of any further questions or queries, please feel free to ask.