We recommend charging when a battery reaches 80% depth of discharge.  Most new batteries are designed to provide 1,500 charge ‘cycles’ or more.  If your application is light to medium duty, or sporadic, charge only when necessary rather than daily.  It will spread the cycle life of the battery over a longer period of time, and ensure you the maximum number of years from your investment.  Select ‘weekend’, ‘equalize’ or ‘weekly’ charge approximately every 5 to 10 cycles to keep the battery performing at peak efficiency.  Failure to do so or doing so too often will harm the battery and shorten its effective life.

New batteries require water approximately every 10 charges for the first few years.  Reconditioned batteries may require water every 5 charges.  On both new and reconditioned batteries we recommend you check 2 or 3 pilot cells every 5 charges to see that the water lever is just above the red perforated plastic Element Protector after charge.  If the water level is low, add only enough water to cover the Element Protector by approximately ¼’’.  The additional space is necessary for expansion while gassing at the end of the charge.

Never over fill- it will cause overflow on the next charge.  Acid loss shortens run time, generates more heat, and requires shop service to fix.  You never want to make a habit of giving short charges during lunch or breaks.  Each short charge constitutes a “cycle” and over time will significantly affect the performance and life of the battery.  It also causes excess heat that will make the battery less efficient than not charging at all.

 If avoidable, never interrupt a charge cycle.  Once a charge cycle is initiated it should be allowed a full or complete charge.  You also never want to allow a battery to go completely dead (unusable).  It will take over 72 hours of continuous charging to bring back to full charge, and may require service to restore the full charge.  Never allow a battery to sit discharged for more than a few days to avoid “sulfation”.  Lastly, if it becomes necessary to store a battery for any period of time, charge it prior, and once every 3 to 6 months thereafter to avoid damage. 

There have been numerous changes in the lift truck industry to benefit the electric lift truck. With improved performance the electric forklift now represents around 60% of the forklift market. With more and more companies switching to the electric forklift here are some of the benefits.

In the right application, an electric forklift usually has the lowest cost of ownership and experience less downtime. Since electric lift trucks don’t have engines, transmissions or radiators you will spend less on planned maintenance and repairs. Most electric lift trucks have automatic shut off to save battery power and extend battery shift life.

Lift truck operator productivity is oftentimes higher with electric forklifts. Toyota offers an AC drive motor for quicker acceleration, higher top speeds and smoother direction changes to move more pallets per hour. There are less hand, arm, and foot movements, and have reduced emissions resulting in improved working conditions. They also produce less noise and vibration in operation, providing a safer work environment and reducing operator fatigue.

Electric forklifts can work in smaller spaces and often narrower aisles. The turning radius is typically better which can increase storage space. The center of gravity is lower on electric forklifts which usually makes stability better at higher lifting heights.

With today’s AC motor technology, electric forklifts are able to perform as well as an IC truck in many applications. The electric lift truck may not be the best option for every application, but with the advancements it should not be an option you overlook.

1. Don’t forget to do your daily safety check. Check your tires, mast, seating and controls. Are they all working the right way? How are your horn and flashing lights working so you can warn people when you are coming? Is your load plate fitted correctly and at the right specifications? How are your brakes working? How is your steering wheel working? Every item of your lift should be checked. It doesn’t take a lot of time, and lives will depend on it.

2. Keep your workplace safe. Every forklift operator will perform much better if the area they are working in is safe. Before you start to work in your forklift assess the workplace. Be aware of any blind corners, ramps, loading docks, uneven floors, low doorways, and pedestrian areas. Watch for powerlines, especially any that run across the ceiling above. Is it a noisy area where it will be hard to hear others? Are there wet and dry areas that you should be aware of? Will people see you easily? What are the lighting conditions?

There may be work areas that do have traffic, or overhead pipes, or ramps that you will need to be aware of. Be prepared for these warning areas by remembering to slow down, and plan out where you will need to stop, reverse, and travel on.

Know the areas where you will need to sound your warning horn, such as traffic areas and pedestrian areas. Don’t drive in areas that are hazardous. If you think there is a safety issue, bring it up with your supervisor or meet with a safety and health representative to bring up the issue and come up with a solution.

3. Forklift Capacity Know what your forklift capacity is. You can do this by following the load chart guidelines. A load chart tells you what the amount of weight is your forklift can safely lift with out messing it its load centre. If you lift more weight than the load chart specifies than you have a high risk of the load and forklift becoming unstable.

4. Load Shape and Height Realize that the load shape and height will affect the centre of gravity of the load. This will affect how stable the load will be. Consider also the level where your loads need to be in order to avoid tipping over. Fork arms should be leveled below the axle while traveling.

5. Remember visibility. You want to be able to see around you, and also be seen by those around you. Visibility is very important when operating a forklift. Don’t drive in areas you can’t visibly see. Never, under any circumstances, drive blind. When a load blocks your view, drive in reverse. However, never drive reverse up an incline or it can cause issues with your load.

If you are not having a good time visibly seeing your location get help. Ask a co-worker to help direct you to your destination. It is also a good idea to know blind spots in your environment, which includes blind spots caused by your forklift. The lift’s masts and lift cylinder, for example, tend to cause blindspots for operators. Be aware of this and make compensations.

Before buying or renting a forklift from Dillon Toyota Lift, be sure you know how to use them properly. Visit us online to see our safety guide to ensure a good time. We sell new and used forklifts in Boise. We also have rentals and sales for Salt Lake forklifts.

The first thing you should think of when considering a rental of this nature is the price. Most renters offer reasonable prices and chances are this piece of equipment will speed up your operations and either, save or earn you more money. Always weight the pros versus the cons in order to know if the rental will cost you more than you can afford.

When your budget is in place, choose the rental company that best suits your needs. This should always be one that can provide excellent customer service. To find these businesses, try to visit online forums. These will have posts written by true customers and thus you can evaluate a company before making any final decisions.

Always ask for a contract. This may seem a little biased towards the rental business, but with proper review, you will see it also benefits you. It must have clauses related to safety and operation of the vehicle, repairs and destruction and mobilization.

The safety clauses will most likely state who can operate the vehicle and will speak about those who may come in contact with it. Do not take for granted the need for a trained and experienced operator. Failure to find a suitable, licensed one may result in serious injury, death or the destruction of the equipment. The contract my even go as far as to name the liable party in the event of potential injuries that are detailed in it.

The destruction of the equipment, usually rests in the hands of whatever party holds the most responsibility. The company you rent from will only fix the equipment if it is their doing. Make sure the operator of this machine is competent in its use and does not misuse or abuse the vehicle. Try to refrain from causing any type of damage, this may result in costly repairs. Also ensure that the rental company has a decent history of willingness to repair with its customers. You can easily find this information online.

The transportation of the vehicle is most times handled by the rental company. This is because heavy equipment is not normally allowed to be driven on the roads without proper documentation. Make sure the rental company has the proper permits and the actual transport is done in the time allotted by the relevant authorities. You should not have to pay extra for this as it ought to be included in the final price.

Gaining knowledge of forklift rentals and what to know about renting a forklift is not hard. There are tons of sites on the world wide web that show you the best companies to choose. When selecting, take the time to read through this piece and use it as a guideline. It takes you through all the steps from developing a budget to transportation of the equipment.

1. Get trained before you operate a forklift. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you might be surprised with how many people skip this step. All Toyota forklift operators should receive thorough training, testing and evaluations.

2. Never overload a truck. More than a quarter of all forklift accidents happen as a direct result of excess loads, causing the lift to tip over. Drivers should always be prepared for accidents, such as this, by wearing their seat belts to stop themselves from being thrown out of the vehicle and possibly being crushed when the vehicle topples over.

3. If the forklift does start to tip over, don’t jump! The safest place for you to be is in your seat. Grip the wheel tightly and use your feet to brace yourself.

4. Look for people around you, especially those on foot. Whenever you get to an intersection be sure to follow basic safety procedures. This includes slowing down and sounding your horn any time your vision is partially blocked.

5. Do safety inspections. Before you get on the forklift, make it a habit to do a quick inspection to make sure there are no issues.

6. Drive slowly. Always drive slowly, especially around turns and when there is a possibility that people might be around. You also need to remember to stop gradually. Any inclines, downgrades, or ramps are also things to pay special attention to. Sudden turns or stops can cause a forklift to get unbalanced, which is always a dangerous combination.

7. Don’t take extra passengers. Forklifts aren’t buses for you to pick people up and drop them off places. Unless the forklift is made for more than one person, don’t allow a side passenger to arrive.

8. Avoid lifting others with your forklift. Forklifts aren’t elevators. Don’t try lifting anyone on it, even if you think its secure. You never know what type of accident will arise and you never want to put someone in that type of situation.

All warehouses owned by businesses have a few things in common. One of those is the forklift operation that is going on there. A large portion of them have many other of the modern systems designed to monitor and control the products stored there as well. But the forklifts are a common sight.

Some of the most popular forklifts are those electric stand up versions. They have a fairly short wheel base so they can get into the very narrow aisles that many shelving systems have. These do have an extension under the forks to allow for the stability that is needed. The electric lifts do not have as much lifting power as the gasoline or propane powered models.

The older style gas powered sit down type fork truck, as many of these are called, are not in as wide spread use. This is due to the gas fumes and the enclosed areas. These are used outside and in the very well vented newer warehouses and those that do not have other hazardous gases. The sit down models are still considered as being the best by many old timers.

The number of different types and configurations of forklifts will allow for the lifting and moving of a great many types of material. There are side lift units and those that will handle a long roll of material such as carpet or piping. The ones that will allow the pickup of material in drums and the ability to dump them are handy in the chemical preparation industry.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has mandated the appropriate training for the operation of forklifts. It is, in the United States, required to provide this training to all personnel employed in this area. Other agencies, around the world, have this training recommendation as well. There are several parts to the training and all must be achieved to be certified.

The first portion is composed of the classroom training. This is the basics of Center of Gravity information, rules of the road and how to approach a load. The daily inspection sheet is gone into and the appropriate logs and records of maintenance issues are discussed. The very critical angles of operation are shown and computed as well as the uses of all types of lifts being discussed.

The second portion is the actual application part. The student works on the walk around inspection, checking of the batteries and fuel. They are then instructed in the actual lifting and moving of the controlled loads designed for them. Many different shelving systems are worked with to show the importance of clearances and the control of speed. Loads are taken from trucks and replaced in them as well as a demonstration of driving around and across obstructions.

In maintaining a proper forklift operation, it is important that all models are safe and that safety is observed when operating them. A program of training and management must be installed to provide that safety for them and others who must work around them.

Firstly, forklift rental will make you cut back on a lot of expenses, more particularly if your establishment is new. For a new business, you want your operational cost to be at the minimal. Therefore, purchasing a new one may not be appropriate because of the amount of money being used.

If your need of this equipment is an occasional one, renting will be ideal. This is because you will only pay for it when you need it. It will also eliminate the chance of the lift truck sitting in the warehouse when not in use.

Note that the space the forklift will be occupying in the warehouse when not needed is very valuable. If you need to use the machine sparingly, then you should consider renting it as it may help you save a lot of money eventually.

Another very important benefit of renting this equipment is you will not incur maintenance costs, which come with owned equipment. Additional money and time is normally involved in repairs of this machinery. This is not so with rented equipment because the owner is responsible for maintaining the trucks. Therefore, it will help you avoid additional spending on forklift maintenance.

The other advantage of renting equipment is that it is easier to find. Those who own rental equipment do so with a sole purpose of providing them with a stable income for a longer period of time. They do not just buy and sell them. You can then be certain that you can rent one at any time from these dealers.

Additionally, dealers offering rental service will appropriately advise you on which one will suit your needs perfectly. They will not just give you the machine and stop at that. The dealer will give you a listing of what equipment is available and where they can be properly applied, when striking a contract with them. Therefore, it will not leave room for reduced profits by ignorantly making a choice, as you will obtain professional help from reputable and experienced companies.

Conclusively, different companies will have different reasons why they opt for forklift rentals or not. Getting the services of the lift trucks in this way is very cost effective to keep your warehouse and business going.