Did you know the forklift’s forks don’t directly connect to the mast? They actually attach to a support platform called the forklift carriage. The carriage is important because it is used to mount objects, including forks, the load backrest, and attachments, to the mast chains, allowing loads to go up and down the mast channel.

Selecting a forklift with a dependable carriage is vital to the safety of all those who work in material handling environments and for the long-term efficiency of your operation. Any place where parts of industrial machinery are attached sets and not one piece should be top-of-mind for the product’s durability. The first step in assessing the forklifts that are currently or may eventually be a part of your fleet is having a clear understanding of what each part implies for your operation. This guide will help you understand both carriage height and what that height implies for your potential lifting capacity.

Identifying Forklift Carriage Class

Understanding your forklift’s carriage class is important because it helps you understand what forks and objects will work with your forklift. There are five carriage classes. Each class can be determined by the distance between the top edge of the upper fork bar and the bottom edge of the lower fork bar. The carriage class also gives you a good idea for the lifting capacity of your forklift. Here is the carriage class guideline breakdown:

Class 1

Carriage height: 13”

Lifting Capacity: Less than 2,200 lbs.

Class 2

Carriage height: 16”

Lifting Capacity: Between 2,200 lbs. and 5,500 lbs.

Class 3

Carriage height: 20”

Lifting Capacity: Between 5,500 lbs. and 10,998 lbs.

Class 4

Carriage height: 25”

Lifting Capacity: Between 11,000 lbs. and 17,600 lbs.

Class 5

Carriage height: 28.66”

Lifting Capacity: Between 17,602 lbs. and 24,198 lbs.

Using this guide, you can ask informed question from Dillon Toyota Lift in order to make sure you get the best carriage for your operational needs. Understanding carriage class can also help you get a clear understanding of your fork and attachment capabilities Keep in mind that the carriage’s capacity is only one part of the equation when it comes to your forklift’s lifting capabilities. Always rely on your forklift’s data plate for accurate capacity information based on the entire configuration.

Taking possession of a brand new or new-to-you forklift is fun. One of the reasons the people at Toyota are so dedicated to manufacturing and selling forklifts is that they are really cool machines. So I know operators are excited to jump on their new lift and get to work. Not to worry. We want you to enjoy and use your Toyota forklift to get your work done safely and efficiently.

Relatively quickly, you’ll need to know some quick information about your forklift’s capabilities. Luckily, a forklift data plate is installed on every truck on the market to help you understand what your forklift can do and provide vital information. Let me provide a guide that can help you read your data plate and start lifting better using all of the readily available information.

1. Model number: The model number of your Toyota forklift is extremely important for relaying information to your dealers about repair or technical assistance, understanding your lift capacity, and looking up useful information on the Toyotaforklift.com website.
2. Serial Number: The serial number on your lift is the most important number available for technician communication. The model serial number combination will allow techs to match parts and understand your particular machine before they arrive.
3. Mast Type: Toyota has various types of masts including 2-stage, 3-stage, and 4-stage that vary depending on your specific forklift model and selected specifications to meet your needs.
4. Fuel Type: Shows whether the machine is powered by electricity (E), liquid propane (LP), diesel (DS), gasoline (G), or compressed natural gas (CNG).
5. Back Tilt: This number represents the degrees back the mast can tilt to help keep loads on the forks securely (6 degrees in this example).
6. Attachments: This lets you know what attachments have been added to the forklift to give you a clear indication of its capabilities. In the pictured data plate, we see the side-shifter is in place, meaning the carriage can be shifted left or right.
7. Front Tread: The front tread of a forklift is equivalent to its overall width. It’s like a forklift’s footprint and helps operations managers and operators understand the space a forklift will take up in the working environment.
8. Tire Size: The tire size and type the truck was designed and built to use. “Solid” indicates a solid pneumatic tire, Cushion type tires will state “Smooth” or “Treaded”. Always replace with the same size and type of tire.
9. Truck Weight: The overall weight of the truck.
10. Forklift Diagram: The forklift diagram offers several data points that are important for understanding the function of your forklift. This can help you understand what your forklift can lift and how it can maneuver in your work space.
    • The horizontal load center
    • The vertical load center
    • The maximum fork height
    • The maximum distance the forks can be offset from forklift’s centerline
11. Only trained operators who have read and understood the operator’s manual should operate forklifts.