A Walkie Rider Pallet Jack is an electric-powered pallet jack in which an operator stands on an integrated platform while operating. They are designed to easily move products through a warehouse or distribution center. Its power, maneuverability, and ergonomic design allow operators to efficiently make long runs from one end of the facility to the other and comfortably handle multiple stops.

Walkie Rider Pallet Jacks: A Customizable Solution for Many Applications

The Walkie Rider Pallet Jack provides a reliable solution to the challenges faced in a variety of industries and applications, including beverage, cold storage, food storage, general manufacturing, general warehousing, and retail. It operates effectively indoors as a low-level warehouse picker and pallet mover.

With the wide range of options and accessories, the Walkie Rider Pallet Jack can be customized to improve your operation’s productivity and efficiency. For example, customers who move materials in and out of cold climates can add a cold storage conditioning option that helps protect components from water and condensation. The galvanized option includes all the elements of the cold storage option, but adds more protection against corrosive environments.

Some of the popular options and accessories include:

Battery compartment rollers — Provide rollers at the bottom of the battery compartment and dual side gates to allow the pallet jack battery to be rolled out from either the left or right hand side of the truck.
Coast control with jog buttons — Allows the end-controlled rider pallet jack to be moved forward at the touch of a button for low-level order picking while walking next to the forklift.
Load wheels and drive tires — Different compound types and load wheel configurations are available to assist with long runs, tight turns, and pallet entry. See our How to Make Decisions Between Polyurethane and Nylon Pallet Jack Wheels for more information.

Walkie Rider Pallet Jacks Available from Toyota

Toyota offers two models of the Walkie Rider Pallet Jack:

End-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack
Center-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack

Both models are AC-powered with a multifunction control handle with angled handgrips and wrap-around hand guard and have a load capacity of 6,000 to 8,000 pounds.

The major difference between the End-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack and the Center-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack is the positioning of the operator platform. The End-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack operator stands on the platform on the tractor side and rides with the unit, while the Center-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack operator to stands on the platform between the forks and the battery. Also, the End-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack has a maximum fork length of 144 inches and the Center-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack has a 103 inch maximum fork length.

Despite having some design differences, the two models share similar functional advantages. The multifunction control handle allows riders to simply manage all the controls with either hand. In addition, the high-speed interlock allows operators to maintain a top travel speed of 6.2 mph with a full load for long-distance transport without continuously pressing a button.

Other important advantages include:

Programmable performance parameter that can be customized through a digital display to adjust for a variety of job applications.
Self-diagnostics to simplify troubleshooting and eliminate the need for an external hand-held analyzer.
A glance-and-go display that provides a quick summary of key information.

Original Post: Hunter Liggett, TMH Marketing Intern

Different types of pallet racks might offer the best solution for your operations – and Dillon Toyota Lift's Warehouse Solutions team can source whichever you need. But how to choose? Here are some basics to help:

Selective Racking – Usually single-deep, this type of racking makes any pallet in the rack system accessible without having to move another pallet.

Pallet Flow Racking – Often referred to as gravity racking, gravity allows the pallet to roll to the front of the system upon loading. When the pallet is removed from the front of the racking system, the pallets behind roll to the front.

Push Back Racking – Used for high-density storage, carts in the rack are stacked on top of each other. The first pallet is loaded from the front and sits on the top cart. When the second pallet is loaded, it pushes the top cart with the first pallet back, granting access to place the new pallet on the second cart.

Drive-In Racking –Used to store a high number of SKUs, forklifts drive into the racking system to move a pallet. This type of pallet racking system is cost-effective by maximizing storage space.

Toyota’s full line of material handling solutions help our customers get the job done, no matter how large or small the task. Whether you’re looking to acquire your first Toyota or want to expand your fleet of Toyota forklifts, use these videos as a guide to determine which product is the right fit for you.

Internal Combustion Forklift Official Videos:

The Mid IC Pneumatic is ready to help you tackle a wide variety of outdoor challenges.

The THD High-Capacity IC Pneumatic offers massive power, lifting up to 125,000 lbs.

Electric Forklift Official Videos:

The Toyota Core Electric Forklift offers great versatility and maintains high levels of productivity with its fast full-load travel speed.

The 3-Wheel Electric Forklift leads the industry in travel speed and run time and can fit into the narrowest of aisles.

The Stand-Up Rider Forklift offers unique dock-to-stock capabilities that make it one of Toyota’s most adaptable products.

The 80V Electric Forklift is built to handle rugged outdoor work in changing weather conditions and offers a green alternative to IC forklifts for outside applications.

Electric Pallet Jack and Stacker Official Videos:

The Electric Walkie Stacker offers a reliable and efficient warehouse stacking solution for the busiest of spaces.

The Electric Pallet Jack is an ideal solution for unloading and loading trailers while making mid-distance runs quicker and easier.

Reach Truck Official Video:

The Reach Truck allows operators to navigate narrow aisles and feel secure in fork placement when placing and pulling pallets from high racks.

Request a quote, parts or contact us today!

Keeping a warehouse running smoothly and productively is one of the biggest challenges facing business operators across a wide variety of industries. Whether you’re moving pallets full of food, large stacks of tires, or other materials ready for distribution, choosing the right forklift can mean a world of difference in levels of productivity.

Toyota’s line of electric material handling equipment is wide-ranging and includes forklifts, electric walkie pallet jacks, electric stackers, order pickers, and reach trucks. All of these options increase your uptime because of low maintenance requirements, drastically cut the fuel cost of your fleet, and produce no fuel exhausts (which keeps your employees healthy and your goods clean). 

With lifting capacities ranging from 2,000-12,000 lbs., Toyota offers an electric option for almost any warehousing application. Here are just a few options that help make Toyota your full line supplier of material handling equipment.

Core Electric Forklift:

The Toyota Core Electric Forklift is one of the most versatile products available for your warehouse needs. Offering a 6,500 lb. lift capacity and the ability to navigate 11 ft. aisles, the Core Electric is a must-have for operations in large warehouse spaces.

Stand-Up Rider Forklift:

The Toyota Stand-Up Rider Forklift is a warehouse solution for highly mobile operators. If your warehouse applications call for operators to constantly get on and off their forklift, the Stand-Up Rider might just be the right fit in tight spaces.

3-Wheel Electric Forklift:

The Toyota 3-Wheel Electric Forklift lets your operators maneuver tight aisles effortlessly. It can operate nimbly in spaces under 10’ because of its zero-turn radius and compact manufacturing.

80V Electric Pneumatic Forklift:

With its rugged design, The Toyota Electric Pneumatic Forklift is capable of withstanding harsh conditions when warehouses have both indoor and outdoor needs. Built to do similar work as its IC Pneumatic counterparts, these machines allow all-electric fleets to stay that way.

Electric Walkie Pallet Jack:

For mid-distance runs that require more speed and power than a standard hand pallet jack can provide, Toyota’s Electric Walkie Pallet Jack offers operators the flexibility they need to tackle many warehouse challenges. It also gives their backs a break from manual labor, keeping them working, happy, and healthy.

Electric Walkie Stacker:

For your short and mid-distance warehousing needs that require stacking capabilities, the Toyota Electric Walkie Stacker offers an alternative when a full-sized electric forklift just isn’t necessary. It’s ideal for light-duty stacking in busy warehouses.

Order Picker:

The Toyota 6-Series and 7-Series Order Pickers offer easy solutions for your order retrieval needs. With their compact engineering, our order pickers can navigate in very narrow aisles allowing for more efficient warehouse design.

Reach Truck:

With Toyota Reach Trucks, expanding warehouses can grow up instead of out. When you can reach high to several levels of warehouse racks, you efficiently use your space leading to increases in revenue and ROI.

Still not sure what warehouse forklift to choose? Here’s a quick reference by industry:

For more information about Toyota electric warehouse products contact us or request a quote

We understand that forklifts and palletized goods go hand-in-hand. But not all loads fit onto pallets, and we understand that, too. Some loads are bulky, oddly-shaped, and far too heavy to be lifted using a regular sit-down, stand-up rider, or walkie forklift model.

Over the years, Toyota Forklifts has evolved its product line to include some of the most robust, high-capacity material handling equipment on the market. The Toyota Heavy Duty line is built for big jobs.

And big jobs come in all shapes and sizes.

We’ve got massive machines that can move fully-loaded containers. Our High-Capacity Marina Forklift can lift boats – yes, boats – in and out of the water using its unique, galvanized marina forks. These machines take on some of the heaviest, toughest jobs out there – but there is still some uniformity to the loads they move.

The Forklift Rigging Boom Attachment

Why forks and a rigging boom attachment? We’re glad you asked!

When there isn’t uniformity to the stuff you’re moving, you need a solution as unique as the loads you’re lifting. The time may come when you need to move large machinery, molds, or dies in a variety of different locations or warehouse spaces. It can be challenging to move such odd-shaped loads safely and efficiently – especially indoors, where space and maneuverability limitations make jobs unsuitable for cranes or other traditional rigging apparatuses.

Imagine a forklift that can take on the added challenge of rigging materials. That’s where the Toyota High-Capacity Adjustable Wheelbase comes into play. With its hydraulically-powered, multi-stage telescoping boom, it offers the rigging capabilities that can handle unwieldy, oddly-shaped loads that other high-capacity trucks can’t.

Your load may require just the use of the standard boom attachment, which can be easily installed or removed and can be stored on portable stands until it is needed again. Other times, you might need just the forks without the boom attachment. But some loads require the boom attachment and the added support of the truck’s forks. Whatever your high-capacity lifting need, the Adjustable Wheelbase offers the versatility to take on the task.

The Unique Counterweight of the Toyota High-Capacity Adjustable Wheelbase Rigging Forklift

When you think of large industrial equipment, “flexibility” is probably one of the last words that comes to mind. You won’t see our trucks doing cartwheels or walking a tightrope anytime soon – but that doesn’t mean we can’t be masters of flexibility, in the non-traditional sense, with the High-Capacity Adjustable Wheelbase leading the charge.

We know that facilities are growing increasingly tried for storage space, and big trucks that lift several tons aren’t known for being small. But the Adjustable Wheelbase gives you the best of both worlds. With a horizontally-adjustable counterweight that extends with just the push of a button, this truck allows for load capacities up to 80,000 pounds. Then, retract the counterweight with another click of the button to move through tight spaces and store the forklift compactly when not in use.

The High-Capacity Adjustable Wheelbase models are also equipped with removable counterweight slabs, which can be great for rental companies that need to move this truck from place to place. Removing these slabs reduces the overall truck weight, giving you more transportation options.

A Rigging Forklift with Remote-Control Access

Did you ever play with a remote-control car growing up? Well, imagine using a remote control on this rigging forklift beast.

It’s not quite the same as steering a small car around your living room floor, but it can control functions such as lifting and lowering, traveling, and extending the forklift’s counterweight.

This control is built with operator comfort in mind and equipped with a waist/shoulder strap for added comfort so that your operators are focused on the task at hand: ensuring each load is lifted properly and transported safely.

A High-Capacity Rigging Forklift with Today’s Technology

Taking the Toyota High-Capacity model lineup to the next level meant equipping our products with the latest forklift technology. The MD4 seven-inch touch screen display provides advanced diagnostics, performance details, and other vital forklift information right at your fingertips.
With the extendable counterweight of High-Capacity Adjustable Wheelbase, you’ll have more control over capacity options, and the MD4 display is right there with you, calculating the truck’s estimated lifting capacity at each configuration.

Some additional features of the MD4 Display include:

• In-house programming capabilities
• A pre-operation checklist
• Customizable features such as auto-engine shutdown times and password protection
• Onboard diagnostics and wiring diagrams
• Operator and service manuals

A Specialized High-Capacity Rigging Forklift Built with the Toyota Promise

Not all Toyota Forklifts products are – well, forklifts. As a full-line material handling solutions provider, we build specialized equipment for a variety of lifting and material transportation needs. Extend your reach with AICHI E-Series Scissor Lifts, maneuver around airplanes with one of our tow tractors, or add automation to your facility with a Toyota Automated Guided Vehicle.

This rigging machine is one of many unique Toyota products, and it is proudly assembled in the United States to take on tough challenges. And because this is a Toyota, you’re promised a product produced with innovative design, a commitment to safety, and attention to detail.

Plus, when you invest in Toyota, you’re promised the top-of-the-line support and product expertise from the largest North American dealer network, in the industry. Toyota Certified Technicians always come prepared with Toyota Genuine Parts that will keep this high-capacity rigging forklift up and running.

For more information about the High-Capacity Adjustable Wheelbase forklift and our other product offerings for unique applications, contact us or request a quote!

A forklift is a hefty investment, no matter what the case. When you buy a Toyota forklift, you get a powerful basic and powertrain warranty to help bring you peace of mind. Let’s take a look at Toyota Forklift’s basic and powertrain warranty options.

A Breakdown of Toyota Basic Warranty Offerings

No-Cost Basic Forklift Factory Warranty: ITA Class 1, 4, 5 & 6 Forklifts

With this warranty, you’ll get one year or 2,000 hours, whichever occurs first, on all Factory Installed Options, with the exception of tires and batteries on battery powered forklifts

No Cost Powertrain Warranty: ITA Class 1, 4 & 5 Forklifts

This warranty covers three years or 6,000 hours, whichever occurs first, of coverage on engines or electric drive motors, transmission, differential, and drive axle.

No Cost Basic and Powertrain Warranty for ITA Class 2 Trucks 

• Basic coverage: one year or 2,000 hours.
• Powertrain coverage: two years or 4,000 hours, whichever occurs first.

No Cost Basic and Powertrain Warranty for ITA Class 3 Trucks

• Basic coverage: four months or 750 hours.
• Powertrain coverage: one year or 2,000 hours, whichever occurs first.
• Class 3 exception: Floor Runner and Tugger models have a Basic coverage of one year or 2,000 hours and a Powertrain coverage of two years or 4,000 hours, whichever occurs first.

Toyota Basic Warranty and Planned Maintenance: A Winning Combination

A warranty plan will give you the peace of mind you need to run your operation. However, if you want to take your warranty assurance one step further, consider Toyota Forklifts’ Planned Maintenance offering to

1. Help you reduce the cost of repair and equipment downtime by catching problems early.
2. Help you keep your operators safe with regular inspections, with one flat-rate labor fee.
3. Keep variable maintenance costs down, as they’ll only be incurred with the actual replacement of parts. Travel time is often negotiated within the PM contract.

Common Toyota Basic Warranty Mistakes

When it comes to purchasing an expensive piece of forklift equipment, making a mistake is the last thing you want to do. Here are some common forklift warranty mistakes and some tips on how to avoid them:

Not considering a forklift warranty at all. Warranties can have a bad rap, but not considering one at all may end up costing you in the long run. Ask yourself if you can you afford the cost of an expensive repair. If not, consider a warranty. It might just save you a headache and a lot of money.

Not requesting a forklift service inspection. Your local, authorized Toyota dealer can conduct a brief service inspection and help you decide if a problem can be submitted under warranty back to Toyota, or if there is a simple fix that can be done onsite.

Not exploring all of your forklift warranty options. Most equipment comes with a basic warranty, but an extended warranty can offer you additional peace of mind. Most extended warranties can be purchased with or without a planned maintenance (PM) plan, so make sure to ask about all of the options available to you.

Think of an extended warranty as insurance. It’s there if or when you need it.

Not buying an extended forklift warranty within the timeframe. Extended warranties must often be requested within 30 to 60 days after the forklift’s date of first use. Don’t lose the chance to purchase a warranty by waiting too long.

Toyota Forklift Factory Warranties

We understand that a forklift is a big purchase. That’s why Toyota forklifts are protected by industry-leading warranty plans are designed to protect your investment for years to come.

Making the right choice when investing in material handling equipment is very much caught up in it’s cost. While Toyota encourages buyers to take an approach that accounts for overall cost of ownership, we understand that initial investment is one of the most important factors to your business.

How Much Does a Forklift Cost?

While prices vary, most new mid-sized forklifts cost between $20,000 – $50,000. Depending on size, you’ll spend anywhere from $15,000 -$100,000+ for a new forklift.

Forklift Pricing Factors

When it comes to pricing your forklift, remember this:

The higher the capacity, the more expensive the forklift will be. Just like homes, the bigger the forklift, the more expensive it’s going to be. It’s a good idea to know exactly how big you need your forklift to be so you don’t spend more than you need to.

Consider the manufacturer. Not all forklifts are manufactured the same. The better the quality, the better the long-term value.

The long term cost is more important than the upfront cost. When you’re thinking about buying an inexpensive or used forklift, look into what it can end up costing you in the long-run. Sometimes, paying a bit more upfront pays off.

Don’t forget to add in operating costs. The cost of the forklift isn’t the only one you’re going to incur. When you’re buying your forklift, think also about how much it’s going to cost to operate it.

Ask about extended warranties. If a part goes bad on your forklift, your warranty will pay for itself in a hurry. Yes, warranties are an extra cost, but they’re well worth it when something goes wrong.

A forklift is a huge purchase and it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into before you start. Just remember, it’s about much more than the sticker price.

Lead acid batteries are one of the most neglected pieces of equipment in material handling. Low water levels, corrosion, and electrolyte spillage are common issues that need to be monitored on a daily basis, but one practice that tends to be forgotten is the equalization charge. So, what is an equalization charge? I’m glad you asked!

What is an equalized charge on a forklift battery?

An equalization charge occurs when the battery is purposely overcharged after a full charging cycle. Essentially, you are charging the battery at a higher voltage than it is typically charged to help remove built-up sulfate and balance the voltage of each cell.

Why perform an equalized charge on a forklift battery?

If you don’t equalize your lead acid batteries, this sulfate is going to build up over time until it decreases the battery’s capacity. This buildup will effectively reduce your maximum run time, leading to more battery swaps or more time spent opportunity charging throughout the work shift. The voltage imbalance has a similar effect. Batteries work by using multiple cells that are connected in series to provide a certain voltage output. When you have varying power outputs in each cell, your overall battery voltage is reduced and your battery becomes discharged more quickly.

When should I perform an equalized charge on a forklift battery?

Equalization charges should be performed as suggested by the battery manufacturer, but many companies equalize their batteries over the weekend due to the long charging cycle. A full charge cycle is around eight hours for a standard lead acid battery and the equalization charge can be around an additional three hours. Equalization intervals will vary depending on your specific application, type and size of battery, and average operating hours.

How do I perform an equalized charge on a forklift battery?

First, you need a charger capable of equalization, as not all battery chargers have the same capabilities. Dillon Toyota Lift is here to ensure you have the proper charging equipment for all of your forklifts. Some battery chargers will automatically equalize the batteries. This capability is more common in more sophisticated systems on smaller products such as electric walkie pallet jacks. Toyota’s 8HBW23 model, for example, automatically equalizes each battery cell during normal charging.

For batteries that do require manual equalization, be sure to follow all instructions provided by both the battery and the charger manufacturer to ensure you are following the appropriate steps for proper equalization. Equalization charges typically require longer cooldowns than normal charges due to the higher amount of voltage. Allow enough time for cooldown prior to using a battery that has been recently charged.

Original Post:  Trinton Castetter, Product Marketing Specialist, Toyota Material Handling, USA