1. Vertical-mast trucks

The main characteristic of all-terrain forklifts, as of any vehicle designed for use on undeveloped natural terrain, is the importance of wheel diameter and ground clearance, which are essential for overcoming obstacles in uneven terrain (figure 1 ). However, on a cantilevered forklift, the large diameter of the drive wheels increases the load's forward offset. This means that, to ensure stability in the harsh conditions of all-terrain work, the forklift has to be considerably longer than an industrial truck.

The first all-terrain forklifts were based on the chassis of an agricultural tractor; today, they are built entirely from specific components, using all the resources of modern mechanical engineering. But, as with industrial forklifts, many early-generation forklifts...