Forklift Rental

Forklifts, also called forklift trucks, are used for lifting and moving materials in factories, grocery stores, warehouses, retail outlets, and even on construction sites. There are many types of industrial and construction forklifts available for rental. Equipmentrentalpros.com brings you information on the types of forklifts and their uses, the top forklift brands, and forklift rental rates.

Types of Forklifts

Industrial Forklifts

Industrial forklifts are primarily used in warehouses, stores and factories. Some industrial forklifts are used only indoors, while others are set up to use in shipping yards. Most industrial forks are either electric or LP gas powered.

• Outdoor Forklifts (Pneumatic Tire) – Pneumatic tire forklifts are made to be used outside, although they will navigate in an indoor setting as well. Outdoor forklifts with solid pneumatic tires are perfect for use in areas where metal scraps, nails, and other sharp objects are customary.
• Indoor Forklifts (Cushion Tire) – Cushion tire forklifts are mainly for indoor use. The forklift has a lower ground clearance than one with pneumatic tires and the forklift body is smaller—leaving more room to maneuver.
• Counterbalance Forklifts – These forklifts are used in distribution centers, as well as storage facilities and warehouses. Counterbalance forklifts have a unique design that allows the weight of the pallet load to be countered by the weight at the rear of the machine.
• Electric Forklifts – Electric forklifts are ideal for indoor use due to having nearly zero emissions, easy to operate controls, and lower maintenance costs than a forklift with an internal combustion engine. Narrow Aisle or Very Narrow Aisle Forklifts – Perfect for picking and stocking in crowded areas where aisle width is lacking.
• Low Level Order Pickers – Just as the name says, these machines are used for order picking at low or floor levels. Perfect for use in home improvement stores or other places where shelving is stocked to capacity and aisles are narrow.
• High Level Order Picker – The high level order picker is for the same type of application as the low level order picker, but higher vertical areas. Some order pickers are specifically set up for cold storage applications. Others have wide forks to accommodate furniture.
• Electric Pallet Trucks – Electric pallet trucks are used to quickly transport loads over a distance, such as from a loading dock to the other side of a warehouse. These are set up with forks; however, they do not have the vertical lifting capacity for stacking.
• Pallet Stackers – Use the pallet stacker in lieu of a pallet truck when you need to transport horizontally and then lift vertically.
• Reach Trucks - Reach trucks work well in warehouse settings when extreme height work is part of daily operations. Reach trucks provide the means to pick and stack in very high areas and can be equipped with a monitoring system to assist the operator.

Construction Forklifts

Construction forklifts are made for heavy duty material moving on rugged terrain. These forklifts are usually diesel-fueled and should be used outdoors.

• Vertical Mast – The heavy duty vertical mast forklift has a higher ground clearance than an industrial forklift and is built for moving material on rugged job sites.
• Variable Reach – This type of forklift is also made to be a complete workhorse. It has a telescoping boom to assist in moving materials onto scaffolding and through openings in a framed structure.
• Truck or Trailer Mounted – This type of forklift is mounted on a truck or trailer and comes in vertical mast or telescoping boom form.

Things You Need to Know Before You Rent a Forklift

Before you start the process of getting forklift rental price quotes from local companies, you first need to figure out a few of your basic needs. Since there are a bunch of different types of forklifts, and prices and applications can vary widely, it's important to figure out what machine is best suited for your needs. Here's a couple questions that you need to answer before you are ready to rent a forklift:

• How long do you need to rent it for?
• What is your budget?
• How soon do you need it?
• How much weight do you need to lift?
• Where will you be using it? (indoors, outdoors, smooth surface, rough terrain...)
• Do you need to have it delivered?
• Are you or do you have a trained and certified operator?
• How high do you need the forklift to reach?
• What type of engine do you prefer? (Gas, LPG, Electric...)
• If it's for a long-term forklift lease, do you want the option to purchase?

Top Forklift Manufacturers

There are companies throughout the world that manufacture forklifts but, as in every industry, some fare better than others. Some of the most recognizable names in the forklift world excel due to high ratings in reliability, durability, efficiency, and of course, safety. Compare specifications from some of the top forklift manufacturers:

Toyota

Toyota started leading the forklift market in 2002 and continues to hold strong. Toyota manufactures pneumatic and cushion tire internal combustion forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, and electric forklifts. Some of Toyota’s top forklift models include:

Raymond

Another top name in the forklift industry is Raymond. With Raymond’s signature red and black color scheme and innovative designs, the line of forklifts exceeds expectations. Find the forklift to meet your requirements from Raymond’s extensive line:

Hyster

Hyster produces a massive range of forklifts to suit multiple applications. From very narrow aisle lifts to high capacity lift trucks, Hyster makes the forklift you need. Discover several of Hyster’s popular forklifts:

Crown

Crown forklifts are known for outstanding safety features, from forklifts with wider viewing windows to a complete line of forklift safety accessories. Additionally, Crown features multiple models of lifts for narrow aisle and very narrow aisle use. Learn more about Crown’s forklift models:

Cat

Cat is a widely known company due to their production of construction site and digging equipment. Did you know Cat also produces a line of forklifts to meet multiple weight loads? Check out some of the forklifts Cat has to offer:

Additional Manufacturers

• Clark
• Linde
• Mitsubishi
• Nissan
• Yale

Forklift Rental Rates

Daily forklift rentals cost $150 to $750 per day. Weekly rates go from $450 to $1,250. Monthly prices range from $1,150 to more than $4,500. It's important to remember that rates vary primarily depending on the lift capacity needed, as well as the type and how long you need the material handling equipment. Beyond location, factors that determine the cost of a forklift rental include the type, load capacity, maximum lift height, and available features. Compare average forklift rental prices by the day, week, and month based on the maximum load capacity:

Forklifts can greatly increase the efficiency on any job where the lifting, moving, stacking, picking, or loading of materials is required. Equipmentrentalpros.com provides all of the information you need to choose the best forklift for your project.