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How Much Does A Forklift Weigh

30

Jul

How Much Does A Forklift Weigh?

Learn about the weights of different types of forklifts and whether you can safely or legally haul them yourself. 

Do you need to ship or haul a forklift in your business? It’s possible that you need to transport a forklift to a new construction site or get it shipped to a factory. If this is the case, there are a number of considerations that you must think about to ensure that you are transporting the vehicle safely and legally. One of the main factors to consider is the weight of the forklift. The weight can impact the type of equipment you need to haul the vehicle and the safety considerations that must be in place.

How Heavy Is The Typical Forklift?

The average forklift weighs approximately 9,000 lbs. An electric forklift commonly used in warehouses may be considerably lighter and could weigh just 3,000 to 4,000 lbs.

Why Are Forklifts So Heavy?

There are a few reasons why forklifts need to be this heavy. The main reason is to counter the weight that is being lifted. You can get a quick estimate of the total weight of a forklift if you know the lift capacity. To do this, you need to multiply the lift capacity by 1.5 and then by 2. So, for instance, if the total weight is 2000 pounds then the total weight could be anywhere between 3000 and 6000 pounds.

Forklift Weights When Hauling

Weights Of Some Of The Most Popular Forklifts

To get a better understanding of forklift weights, we can explore some of the specific weights of the most popular models used today. This includes:

 

  • Toyota 8FGCU25 – 8,000 pounds
  • Yale GLC050 – 9,016 pounds
  • Hyster H50FT – 8, 924 pounds

 

As you can see, the majority of forklifts used in the construction industry do fall right around the average 9,000 pound mark.

Are Forklifts Heavier Than The Typical Car?

You might think that forklifts are lighter or even simply roughly the same weight as the typical car. This is not the case. In reality, forklifts are on average three times as heavy as the typical automobile. This should highlight the danger of hauling one if you do not use the right methods.

Why Are Forklifts Difficult To Haul And Transport?

The massive weight isn’t the only issue that makes hauling a forklift difficult and dangerous. It’s also important to be aware that the weight of a forklift is not evenly spread. Instead, the majority of the weight is at the top of the vehicle and at the back. This is to ensure that the forklift is balanced when lifting heavy items. However, it does mean that there’s a chance of the forklift toppling when being transported if it is not managed correctly. 

 

This means that while it may be legal to transport a forklift yourself, it is often safer to hire a company who will be able to complete this task for you. As well as ensuring that the task is completed to a standard that is legally compliant, a specialist team will be able to handle the massive weight of this equipment the right way.

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