2017 Freightliner M2 106 Flatbed Moffett Truck For Sale–AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION!
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Our Moffett/Princeton trucks are in operating condition equipped to work, they’re DOT as well as mechanically inspected. The company’s slogan is “Doing Business The Golden Rule Way”, we wish to handle shoppers like we desire to be. Don’t take the potential risk of the purchase of a flatbed delivery trailer/truck for from somebody who doesn’t specialize in trailer/truck mounted forklifts. We have know-how with selling numerous piggyback forklifts annually, we make sure the Moffett/Princeton trucks we put on the market will mount properly to your forklift. Get the work done correctly and safely, purchase your next trailer/truck mounted forklift trailer/truck from us. When has to be across USA, locally or international, we are able to ship your trailer/truck to your front door. You should give us a call now, we might have something nearly ready although not shown on our website. Call (260) 238-4998
With over seven different classes of forklifts available, how do you know which is the best option for your lumber yard? Each class requires the driver to be certified in that particular one and they all have different types of features.
A truck-mounted or piggyback forklift is an ideal option for a lumber yard. Piggyback forklifts can be mounted to the back of a trailer or truck, making transportation easy.
Simple transportation isn’t the only benefit of a piggyback forklift. This guide will go over the benefits of buying a piggyback forklift and how it can improve productivity at a lumber yard.
What Is a Piggyback Forklift?
You may see the terms tailor or truck-mounted forklift used in lieu of piggyback forklift but don’t let it confuse you. They’re the same type of forklift.
It’s a truck that has a payload-carrying and open bed. The forklift attaches to the back with latches, hooks, or chains. This ensures that the forklift doesn’t shift while the truck moves.
The truck carries wood or other types of material to a warehouse or job site. The forklift is then detached from the truck and used independently to unload, move, or load material.
Some common brands of piggyback forklifts include:
Piggyback forklifts are a cost-effective way to handle and transport materials. Especially with a lumberyard, you can use a piggyback forklift to deliver materials to a customer’s home or job site.
The Benefits of a Piggyback Forklift
In addition to being cost-effective, a piggyback forklift has a variety of other benefits.
Load Carrying Ability
The flatbed of the truck gives you plenty of space to stack with materials and other goods. You don’t have to worry about taking up precious space with the forklift since it attaches to the back. Then, both the materials and the forklift arrive at the job site at the same time.
Save on Labor Costs
A piggyback forklift can be operated by a single person. That means the person driving the trailer or truck can be the one operating the piggyback forklift. You don’t have to spend additional labor costs to send multiple people on a lumber delivery.
Since an employee doesn’t have to manually offload the products at a customer’s house or job site, it reduces the chance of accident or injury. Employees are unloading materials in a safe manner, reducing the likelihood of a company having to pay out medical costs.
Efficient Use of Time
A piggyback forklift will greatly improve the efficiency of your lumber yard. Instead of having to deliver materials to a customer’s house and have to wait for the forklift to show up, you’ll be able to bring it with you. Instead of taking an entire day to deliver products, it can be handled in a matter of hours.
Improve Customer Relations
Many customers may come into your lumber yard to buy a large number of materials but they have no way to bring them home or to their job site. Offering a delivery service that includes the safe transportation of their materials is an added bonus that not a lot of places can offer.
Having a piggyback forklift gives you an advantage over the competition. You’re adding value to your customer’s experience. It also gives you an opportunity to increase your revenue by charging extra for delivery or working it into your pricing.
Your customers will appreciate the service you’re offering them. Most people are willing to pay extra to have something delivered. You’ll increase your likelihood of repeat business since they know your company is reliable.
Easy to Drive
Don’t worry if you have to drive your forklift over uneven terrain. A piggyback forklift drives easily through rough ground or weather conditions.
A lot of industrial forklifts are hefty, oversized pieces of equipment. Their capacity is likely more than what you need when delivering materials. A piggyback forklift is compact, lightweight, and easy to maneuver.
Since they’re smaller than industrial forklifts, you can access tighter spaces. For places that don’t have unloading or loading docks, this is crucial. Especially if you’re delivering wood to a home, you can drive your forklift into someone’s backyard.
Piggyback Forklift Maintenance Plan
Routinely performing maintenance on your piggyback forklift is essential to ensuring it continues running properly and safely. You can do the maintenance yourself and connect with a trusted forklift company to do it for you. You’ll want to inspect both the forklift and the truck.
One of the first things you’ll want to do is a comprehensive inspection of the forklift and truck. You’ll want to evaluate if the piggyback forklift is starting and resting the way it should. If there’s a problem with the ignition, then other issues are likely to crop up.
The next step is checking the functions of the vehicle and equipment. You should check the following items during your inspection:
Horns
Lights
Controls
Steering mechanisms
Next, inspect the undercarriage of the truck and piggyback forklift. You’ll want to see if there’s any bodily damage to either vehicle.
Look at all the fluids to make sure they’re filled. If fluid levels are down, that can result in the truck or forklift not operating properly. You’ll also want to fill up both fuel tanks.
A piggyback forklift uses the following fuel types:
LPG
Electricity
Diesel
Gasoline
Biodegradable fuel
Ensure you know what type of fuel your forklift takes. You’ll want to keep backup fuel on hand in case of emergencies.
One of the last things you’ll want to check on your piggyback forklift is the hydraulic system. Hydraulics are what’s used to carry and lift materials. It’s vital to your entire operation.
If you’re running a lumber yard, having a piggyback forklift is a vital part of your business. You can provide an extra value to your customers that doesn’t cost a lot for you in labor costs.
How much stock does your business carry? Do your employees spend hours each week unloading truckloads of new products?
If so, your business needs to invest in forklifts. Forklifts offer incredible benefits to anyone that needs to load or unload large amounts of cargo on a regular basis.
You might be thinking that your store doesn’t warrant a forklift. If you’re a small brick and mortar store, a forklift may not have occurred to you; many people associate forklifts with factories and warehouses.
There’s a forklift that’s perfect for individual stores, however. It’s called a Moffett truck mounted forklift.
Truck-mounted forklifts are small, lightweight forklifts that are just right for stores that need a faster unloading solution. They can be mounted to a Moffett truck–a trailer with a mounting point on the back.
There are many advantages to using a Moffett truck and forklift. Not convinced? Keep reading to see how a Moffett forklift can revolutionize your business.
1. Save Time
A semi-truck’s trailer can hold up to 34,000 pounds of goods. That is a lot of product to load up–and everything that goes on the truck is going to need to come off of it. Loading and unloading can both be lengthy processes.
It’s only going to take longer if your workers have to unload everything by hand.
There are a few reasons for this. The most obvious is that climbing onto the truck, picking something up, and carrying it where it needs to go is inherently a slow process; obviously a vehicle is going to speed things up.
The real issue, though, is that the work is so taxing. Even if your employees are making good time at first, they’ll slow down as the unloading process wears them out.
If they’re able to unload the truck with a truck-mounted forklift, they won’t have to endure the same physical labor. That means they can keep a steady pace throughout the process, saving time (and, as a result, money).
2. A Safe Option
Inefficient use of time isn’t the only danger when it comes to unloading trucks. Injuries can result from improper unloading methods. It’s important to follow safety protocols regardless of how you’re unloading a truck.
Even if you’re following safety guidelines, there’s potential for injury. Often, the products in need of unloading will be heavy, which can lead to back issues and other strain.
If an employee drops something they’re carrying, they might damage the product or injure themselves.
All of these issues can be avoided with the use of a truck-mounted forklift. Forklifts do all the heavy lifting for your workers, meaning there’s no chance they’ll hurt themselves trying to lift something heavy.
Moffett forklifts are small and lightweight, so there’s little danger that anyone will be injured (or cause an injury) while using one. The odds of this are even lower thanks to the training a forklift operator undergoes.
3. Highly Maneuverable
There are a wide variety of quality Moffett trucks available. The trucks themselves are as easy to operate as any comparable truck; the forklifts are lightweight enough that they don’t negatively impact mounted trucks.
Moffett forklifts are also maneuverable. They have a small frame and are much more compact and lighter than an average forklift; as a result, they can move through tighter spaces with ease.
This makes them a perfect choice for retail stores. A large forklift may have trouble working its way around a smaller space, but a Moffett forklift is able to navigate more narrow corridors or take sharper corners.
As an added benefit, Moffett forklifts can operate on less stable ground than many of their larger counterparts. Uneven terrain poses no problem for a Moffett.
This is another boon for smaller businesses that may not have a traditional loading dock. If you need to park your truck in a gravel lot, for example, a Moffett will still be able to assist in unloading.
4. Transportation Is Simple
As noted above, there’s not much difference between a Moffett truck and any other truck in terms of drivability. The only real difference between a Moffett truck and another truck is the presence of the mounted forklift.
As a result, there’s no additional training or other hoops to jump through to drive a Moffett truck–the requirements are the same as any other commercial truck.
As for the Moffett forklift, the simplicity of transport is one of the main selling points. All you need to do is mount the Moffett to the back of the truck and you can take it anywhere it needs to go.
The mounting process is simple, but it adds a huge amount of utility to the forklift. You can use the forklift to load a truck in one area, then mount it and drive somewhere else to unload with the same forklift.
The Moffett forklift is easy to move around your job site, too, thanks to the maneuverability discussed above.
5. Versatile and Easy to Use
Moffett trucks are a great way to transport items for your store. The mounted forklift is ideal for loading or unloading, and the truck itself has a sturdy, reliable trailer.
Moffett forklifts can be used in a huge number of situations. No matter the size of your unloading zone, no matter the terrain you’re working on, a Moffett forklift can get the job done.
They’re no more complicated than an average forklift, either. Training is simple and fast, allowing your employees to get their licenses in a snap. Moffett forklifts are a comfortable, easy option for any forklift operator.
Moffett truck maintenance is simple and consists of the same basic maintenance as any other truck.
Moffett forklifts also require maintenance, which should be trusted to professionals that can service the machines properly.
Improve Your Business With a Moffett Truck
A Moffett truck offers everything you need: a reliable truck with an invaluable forklift attached. Introducing a Moffett truck to your business will increase productivity and cut down on workplace injuries.
Best of all, they are affordable and easy to use. Contact us today for more information about Moffett trucks!
When your employees operate a forklift you want them to practice good forklift safety. Have all of your operators completed forklift safety training?
Read on to learn more from these forklift safety tips and keep your workforce working well.
Why Forklift Safety Is So Important
The work done on a daily basis by your forklift could never be accomplished by humans. Yet, it’s important to remember that a forklift is a powerful machine and if used incorrectly it has the potential to be quite dangerous.
In 2019, 8,140 workers suffered nonfatal injuries. 79 workers had fatal injuries from a forklift accident. The average injury from a forklift caused the worker to miss 16 days of work.
While a good many operators use a forklift on a daily basis with no issue, it’s significant to remember the average forklift weighs more than three times an average-sized car. If used unsafely, there could be a real potential for danger.
Forklift Hazards
It’s worth noting the half of all forklift accidents are completely preventable. With the right training and safety precautions, forklift accidents can be avoided. Let’s take a look at the most common types of accidents as a way to avoid them happening to you.
Overturning Forklifts
Overturning forklifts account for a significant number of the fatalities that happen with forklift accidents. The most common reasons for a forklift overturning include:
Uneven weight distribution
Excess loads
Unusual loads
High heights for heavy loads
Obstructed operator view
The instinct of a driver might be to want to try to jump off if it feels like the forklift is overturning. In fact, the operator is safer remaining on the forklift and leaning away from the direction the forklift is turning.
Pinning and Crushing Accidents
Another unfortunate type of accident is when workers get crushed or pinned by a forklift. This most commonly happens when a worker is in the blindspot of a forklift operator or they get caught under a forklift that is overturned.
One of the best ways to prevent this type of accident is to have carefully laid out workspaces so that pedestrian workers and machinery don’t cross paths.
Loads Falling From a Forklift
Another potential for injury comes when the load being carried falls from the forklift. If the pallet is not properly on the forklift or the load is not even distributed this can cause a load to fall.
Blind Spots
One of the many things a forklift operator needs to learn when participating in forklift safety training is about the blind spots that are created from carrying a load. The load can create blind spots for the operator.
Further, the forklift’s back-end tends to swing wide when making a turn. This can create a danger for those not on the forklift and in the path of the moving machinery.
Speed of the Forklift
Forklifts carrying heavy loads create a real danger when not driving at safe speeds. They take time to stop and if the stop happens too quickly there is the risk of the load falling off the machine overturning.
Forklift Safety Protocols
A trained forklift driver will follow many steps and procedures to maintain safety standards while operating a forklift. Let’s take a look at the things a safe driver will do.
Pre-Operation Inspections
While forklifts are sturdy machines, they need to be inspected before use. An operator should have a regular checklist to inspect the machine. Here are somethings that should be inspected daily:
Controls
Fuel, engine oil, and radiator water levels
Wheels and tires
Electrolyte levels and cells
Chain anchor pins
Hydraulic hose reels
Control levers
Forks
Horn
Brakes
Clutch and gear shifts
All lights and gauges
Steering
Lift and tilt mechanisms
Seat belt
Reverse beeper and warning lights
Because forklifts do heavy work, inspections are important to note any unusual wear and tear that might create a safety risk.
Pallet Handling and Loading
One thing an operator must do is make certain the forks on the machine are level and the pallet is sitting on them level. If this doesn’t happen there is the risk the load could tip.
An operator needs to know the maximum amount a forklift can lift and how high it can lift that load. Exceeding those specifications creates a safety risk.
Raising the Load
Once the load is in place and moved, it’s important to know when and how to lift the load and place it in its new location. When lifting a load to a new height the driver should bring the load straight up, and then tilt it back slightly. The slight tilt back helps to accommodate the instability created with the height of the load.
Drivers should not raise a load until they are completely stopped and the machine has the brakes locked. Loads should never be lifted and then have a human go under the lifted load.
Steering
Remember, that forklifts can’t make fast stops. Their turns can be wide when taking corners.
When loading and unloading trailers it’s important that the operator know how to approach a trailer safely with the machine.
Safety Equipment
OSHA requires that employers provide workers with the appropriate safety gear. Reflective clothing, hard hats, and safety goggles are just some of the personal protective gear needed.
Practice Good Forklift Safety
While forklifts are an important member of your warehouse or worksite team, they require some real skill to handle. It’s important your workers know the necessary forklift safety protocols to operate and be around forklift machinery. If everyone uses good safety measures, workers remain safe.
To learn more about our fleet of used forklifts available or to get information on forklift operator training, contact us today.
Adding a forklift to your machinery inventory can help you move more materials and increase business capabilities. However, with a new forklift, you also need a certified driver and the right equipment to load and unload materials from tractor-trailers.
A Moffett forklift could be the ideal solution for the convenience you need to handle various loading and unloading tasks. A used Moffett lift means you get a 2-way or 4-way workhorse without the costs of a new machine.
What should you look for in used forklifts for sale? Follow this guide to select the best pre-owned Moffett for your needs!
Make Sure It Fits Your Needs
Not every forklift works well for every use. Saving money on a used forklift that isn’t what you need can be a waste of your budget dollars. Depending on the products or materials you haul for your business, choose a lift made to handle the work you need it to do.
Before buying a lift, ask yourself a few questions, including:
How often do you need to use it?
What will it unload, move, and load?
Will you use it indoors or outside?
How much load weight will it carry?
Do you have the space to store and maneuver the machine?
Can it pass through doorways and fit a building’s ceiling height?
Are their local ordinances for fumes or noise?
The answers to these types of questions can help you find the best used Moffett forklift for your needs!
Check for Damage
Expect a used machine to come with at least some damage. Small scrapes and minor dents shouldn’t affect the performance of a reconditioned machine added to your business inventory.
However, significant damage can be a warning of operational defects. Problems like bent parts, cracks, large dents, worn forks, and rust can require additional repairs or part replacements—before a forklift is safe to operate. Look for leaks and gaps between links on the lift chain.
Saving money on a machine shouldn’t require sacrificing quality or safety. If you find too much damage on a used forklift, keep looking for a lift in better condition.
Inspect the Tires
Worn tires on a used forklift can indicate that the resellers neglected critical issues before selling the lift. While used tired will show some signs of wear, look for more significant problems like low tread or chunking.
Tires with too much wear make a forklift unsafe without replacing them. Missing chunks of the tire can lead to a blowout. Unless your budget allows for a new set of tires on a used forklift, don’t get stuck with a machine that has significant tire issues.
Review the Safety Features
A quality used forklift should be in excellent condition, including all safety features. Before operating these machines, owners must ensure the lifts pass safety inspections and function appropriately if something goes wrong.
The safety of your forklift operators is paramount! When considering a used forklift, check the proper functionality of the:
Horn
Seatbelt
Lights
Seat adjustments
Levers
Brakes
Be sure to inspect the overhead guards, too. OSHA won’t allow damage on these guards of more than 3/4″ deflection.
If you find safety problems that violate OSHA regulations, you risk purchasing a forklift that isn’t safe to operate without repairs.
Confirm the Age
How old is the forklift? Does it have plenty of use left before it’s too old to operate safely? Is it too new to deliver enough savings through the used forklift price?
When choosing a pre-owned forklift, avoid anything too old or too new. An aging lift won’t be useful for very long without significant used forklift maintenance to keep it running. A lift less than five years old won’t have a price much lower than a new machine.
Settle for an age that’s “just right!” Balance the savings you need by choosing a used lift with many years of good service left before it shows significant age.
Ask About Usage Hours
In addition to the machine’s age, ask a used forklift company about the usage hours for a forklift. A five-year-old machine with high usage hours might not be a better purchase than an older machine with less usage.
A forklift tracks operating hours every time an operator turns the machine on with the key. However, checking usage logs can be a more accurate measure of a forklift’s time in operation.
Usage puts wear and tear on the parts of a forklift. A machine with excessive usage hours can lead to significant repairs after purchasing the lift.
Look at Battery Life
You don’t want to replace the battery as soon as you buy a new-to-you forklift. With standard operations, a forklift battery can last about five years. When evaluating usage hours and the age of a lift, talk with the seller about the battery’s age, too.
Inspect the battery for acid corrosion or other signs that it’s almost time for a replacement. Needing a new battery might not a make-or-break issue to walk away from a used forklift in excellent condition. However, a quality used forklift company won’t try to sell a machine with a battery near the end of its life.
Check the Engine
Conduct a visual inspection of the engine. Look for hose cracks, loose belts, and check the oil and transmission fluid.
Start the forklift and take it for a test drive. The engine should start right away, and the machine’s operation should present no issues during a test run.
Choose the Best Used Moffett Forklift!
Don’t settle for savings without choosing the best used Moffett forklift! Pre-owned machines are only worth the savings if they operate well and don’t require expensive maintenance immediately after purchase.
When shopping for your next used forklift, let Equipment Remarketing help you find the best machine for your needs! We’re a nationwide leader in reselling used Moffet forklifts, with shipping available to anywhere in the country. Contact us to learn more about our pre-owned inventory!
Cleaning a forklift keeps it running effectively and will make the machine last longer. And it could save you money down the road. But if not done properly, you could risk damaging your machine.
Fortunately, washing your forklift doesn’t require any special expertise. Follow the information below to ensure that your machine is performing as it should and is safe for your crew to operate.
Why Clean a Forklift?
Outdoor forklifts get exposed to dirt and mud. And indoor forklifts accumulate dust and debris. And all forklifts will have the occasional buildup of oil or grease.
Cleaning your forklift on a regular basis is a great way to prolong its life. It helps prevent rust and corrosion.
It also helps the machine operate more reliably and efficiently. This saves money and increases safety for operators.
Like other equipment, the more often you clean your forklift, the easier it will be to do so. Built-up mud or grime can be much more of a hassle to eliminate.
How to Clean a Forklift
Start by removing visible dirt and grime using a broom and hand brush. Work from the top to bottom, so that loose debris doesn’t fall onto surfaces you’ve already cleaned. Smaller brushes can help you get into crevices and cracks.
Note that mud and dirt can accumulate around the chassis. Pay particular attention to this area. Buildup can affect the stability and maneuverability of the forklift, and even make it unsafe to operate.
Next, use a pressure washer on the surfaces of the forklift. This allows you to remove any dirt or mud that has become caked onto the machine. Hot water is especially effective at breaking up oil, grease, and other substances.
Be sure to let the machine dry before using it again. While forklifts are sturdy, and most external parts resistant to moisture, water could damage the motor or other parts of the machine. Making sure it is completely dry will eliminate this risk.
You can use compressed air to dry the equipment, but a large cloth may suffice as well. Leaving the forklift out in the sun for a few hours is an easy way to dry it. And this will ensure that every surface is completely free of moisture.
Final Considerations
It is alright to use soap during these processes, but be mindful of any chemicals that your forklift may have come into contact with. Liquid soap can react with certain chemicals and cause damage to the forklift and be dangerous for workers.
For this reason, you may want to go with an environmentally friendly soap. These have fewer or no chemicals and are less likely to react with any synthetic materials on your forklift.
If you are operating an electric forklift or are otherwise concerned about the potential damage water could cause, you might opt for compressed air for forklift cleaning. Be sure to purchase a device that is strong enough for your needs. Doing so will be comparable to pressure washing, without the risk of water damage.
Whenever you’re cleaning your forklift, always be sure to wear protective gear. This can include, at the minimum, goggles, boots, and gloves.
It’s also a good idea to keep your forklift on a maintenance schedule. Just like changing the oil, inspecting brake pads, or checking fluid levels, adding cleaning to the regimen can ensure the equipment is working properly and safe to use.
Get to Cleaning!
Now that you have a sense of the very simple steps it takes to keep your forklift clean, you can gather the supplies and get your equipment back into shape. Some simple maintenance on these machines can help them operate more efficiently and keep them running for years longer.
Be sure to check out our site for more forklift maintenance tips. Our service team also can answer any questions about forklift functionality and provide you with guidance on the best machines for your business.
Forklifts are the workhorse of the lumberyard as well as pretty much everywhere else. Truck mounted forklifts attach to the back of a transport truck and are shipped to the destination, ready to unload the product as soon as it arrives. This saves time and money by eliminating the need to coordinate with another machine upon arrival. Best of all, it doesn’t take up precious cargo space.
Lumberyards need machines that work at high efficiency keep productivity high – making truck mounted forklifts a great choice. Which models stand up to the lumber industry’s tough demands?
The best truck mounted forklifts for lumberyards are light enough for convenient transport, but still sturdy and durable.
Truck Mounted Forklifts for the Lumber Industry
Truck mounted forklifts save cargo capacity. This is especially important in the lumber industry. Because lumber is often packed in irregular shapes, packing space is a premium.
Plus, lumber makes many stops along the production chain, from the harvest site, to the lumber mill, to the supply yard. Each of those stops takes time to unload and reload the product. Truck mounted forklifts save time at each stop.
However, truck mounted forklifts have to be lighter than traditional forklifts in order to be stored and carried on the back of compatible trucks.
And the lumber industry is tough on its machines. Lumber yard equipment has to be durable enough to last under heavy loads, harsh conditions, long hours, and grueling work. Flimsy machines won’t last long.
That’s why it’s important to find a forklift that does both. Here are our top picks for the best truck mounted forklifts that will maximize your transport efficiency while staying tough in the face of rough lumberyard conditions.
Moffett M8: Best on Rough Terrain
Moffett is known as one of the best forklift brands in the industry. With models that range from indoor to heavy duty, Moffett’s M8 series are among its toughest machines.
The M8 stands out with a lift capacity of up to 8,000 lbs. It’s an outdoor machine through and through, designed for heavy loads and the roughest terrain, making them popular in the fire and rescue industry.
In the lumberyard, the Moffett M8 has a carrying capacity that rivals that of trucks, with a terrain capability that can carry loads to and from places that trucks can’t reach. It’s can handle the logging site, the lumber yard, and everything in between.
It also boasts 4-way steering and 3 drive wheels. This is not an indoor-outdoor machine – it’s the reliable, high capacity transport that the toughest lumberyards need.
Manitou TMT 55: Best Compact Option
The Manitou TMT 55 line is small but mighty. At 4 ft 8 in, it boasts the shortest overhang in the forklift industry. This means it maintains its stability while extending at its full reach of 58 inches.
A short overhang also means that it losing less load capacity even while at full boom extension, so its lift capacity will stay closer to its optimal lifting power of 5500 lbs even at full reach, for heavy lifting over longer distances. Plus, its overall height is just 96.5 inches, making it a compact option for navigating through low doorways and narrow lumberyards.
For rougher terrain, the Manitou TMT 55 series offers High Traction (HT) and Extra Traction (XT) models as well. The HT model adds a 400 cc front driver motor and a 560 cc rear, while the XT boasts a 750 cc motor in both front and rear. These models give the Manitou TMT 55’s small frame extra power for the roughest jobs in the tightest spaces.
Moffett M4: Best All-Purpose Workhorse
While its big brother the Moffett M8 rolls over the roughest terrain, the Moffett M4 series is versatile enough for industrial use in urban settings as well.
With a lift capacity that goes up to 5511 lbs and a lift height of up to 160 in, these road-worthy forklifts are just as capable at the delivery site as in the lumberyard.
The strength of the M4 is precision combined with power. Its lift capacity puts it in the league with the big boys, while some models come with 4-way drive to navigate precise turns. This is a great machine to transition from heavy warehouse loads to paved settings and lumber delivery.
With the quality of the industry’s most popular brand, the Moffett M4 is a good choice for a machine that needs to do it all, from standing up to heavyweight loads to getting the front-end deliveries done.
Honorable Mention: Princeton PB70
Princeton competes with Moffett as one of the best forklift brands in the industry. However, Princeton has the broadest range of products and enjoys a good reputation with over 30 years’ experience.
While Princeton offers models from the 3,300 lb to 8,000 lb lifting capacity range, the PB70 is on the more heavy-duty end with a 7,000 lb lifting capacity. It’s rated well for rough terrain and boasts a 56 horsepower diesel engine, as well as a lift height of 144 in.
All in all, Princeton’s engineering is very similar to Moffett’s. They even promise the same ultra-quick dismount time of less than a minute.
Even though Princeton doesn’t stand out when compared to Moffett’s machines, the PB 70 still belongs on this list because it is a durable forklift with a great reputation. It won’t let you down in the tough jobs of the lumberyard or the warehouse.
Finding the Best Truck Mounted Forklifts for Lumberyards
The lumber industry has steadily increased production over the past decade in the USA. It’s a fast-paced industry that can’t stop for unnecessary machinery problems and transport time.
Lumberyards need reliable machines that make every job as efficient as possible. With the best truck mounted forklifts for lumberyards, you’ll save space, save time, and keep productivity high.
Find the right machines for your lumberyard at the right price. Equipment Remarketing is home to a large selection of pre-owned truck mounted forklifts, professionally refurbished at a competitive price.
If you are a sod farmer, you know that having a good market for your product is 50 percent of success. Being able to transport your product safely and efficiently is the other half. But investing in the right equipment for the task can be a nerve-racking enterprise.
Fortunately, there is a forklift design that stands out when it comes to transportation, maneuverability, and stability. The information below will provide you everything you need to know about the advantages of truck-mounted forklifts. And it includes a discussion of the best piggyback forklift brand for the sod-farming industry.
Reducing the time and labor it takes to get your product out to golf courses, sporting complexes, and other landscaping projects means a lot. It translates to cost-savings and more clients for your business. If you need to transport your products faster and with less man-power, a piggyback forklift may be what your business needs.
What Are Piggyback Forklifts?
Piggyback or “truck-mounted” forklifts are what their name suggests: a forklift you can load onto the bed or the back of a truck or trailer. They go anywhere your transportation trailer does. These forklifts can hoist heavy loads, and they remain stable on almost any semi-level surface.
Developments in piggyback mounting technology have come a long way. It now means a single worker can load, unload, operate, and reload the machine without help. Likewise, the forklifts themselves have become lighter and more agile, while still able to lift heavy materials.
While conventional forklifts have four wheels, piggyback forklifts have three: two in the front and one in the back. The mast, carriage, and forks of the machine sit between the front two wheels. This means that the load center is directly above these wheels, rather than out in front like on a traditional forklift.
What Are the Advantages of Piggyback Forklifts?
An obvious advantage of piggyback forklifts is the ability to transport them. They are compact and lightweight, and you can install a loading system on almost any truck or trailer. But there are other pros as well, including many different choices in the mounting system configurations.
Mounting System Options
The most common mounting composition is a hook system where the forklift rides off the back of the trailer. You can install these on any variety of truck, including on a box trailer or dump bed mount. One big advantage of this configuration is that the mounted forklift takes up very little cargo space on the truck.
But there are other mounting options as well, like top-mounted sliding kits that allow the forklift to ride on top of the flatbed. And you can adjust most mounting kits to accommodate different size hitches or rails. In short, there is no need to buy a special trailer to transport your piggyback forklift.
Efficiency and Reduced Labor
The ability to take your forklift along to any location where you are delivering sod means it can do the bulk of the heavy lifting, so to speak. This affords a huge advantage for jobs that would otherwise require workers to unload cargo by hand. It also means that a single worker can dismount and mount the forklift from the truck, and move materials closer to where they need to be delivered.
All this translates to reduced personnel costs with a faster turn-around. You will save money on labor and from greater efficiency.
Stability
Another big advantage of piggyback forklifts is their stability. Their design gives them a better center of gravity since it does not rely on counterweights. This can be particularly useful in farming environments, where ground conditions may not be as stable as those in a warehouse.
This also means increased safety. There are more than 7,000 forklift-related injuries every year in the United States. Piggyback forklifts can help reduce the likelihood of accidents and related injuries.
Maneuverability
The ability to move around with ease is another big plus of truck-mounted forklifts. Unlike many traditional forklifts, piggybacks do not need a specific loading dock and can move materials around to almost any location.
This includes to and from the trailer bed itself. Whether you are delivering pallets of sod in a confined delivery space or navigating narrow warehouse aisles, agility is a huge asset.
It is worth noting that, despite their reduced weight and compact size, piggyback forklifts still have high lift capacities. So, performance is not sacrificed for the sake of these other benefits.
What Is the Best Piggyback Forklift Brand?
There are many truck-mounted forklift manufacturers on the market today, but a few stand out above the rest. Two of the most reputable brands of piggyback forklifts are Moffett and Princeton. They both offer a wide range of sizes, designs, and varying pricepoints.
Moffett is the brand named after the original developer of this forklift design. Cecil Moffett was an Irish engineer who wanted a forklift that he could transport on a loading truck. In 1986, he invented the Moffett Mounty, which became popular throughout the United States and Europe.
The company is still going strong today and is considered the gold standard for truck-mounted forklifts. In 2013, they launched the world’s first lithium-ion powered piggyback forklift.
Princeton Delivery Systems is another popular piggyback forklift manufacturer. They are an American company that has been making sod-harvesting equipment since 1972.
Princeton prides itself on offering the widest range in lift capacities–from 3,300 to 8,000 pounds–of any three-wheel forklifts on the market. They also are known in the industry for their innovations in mounting systems that are efficient and easy to operate.
Is a Piggyback Forklift Right for Your Sod Business?
Hopefully, the information above gives you a better idea of what piggyback forklifts can do and what advantages they might bring to your sod-farming business.
At Equipment Remarketing we carry a variety of pre-owned Moffett and Princeton truck-mounted forklifts. We can help you select the best piggyback forklift brand for your business. We also have an extensive inventory of trailers that include forklift mounting kits.
We offer compelling financing options for truck-mounted forklifts, trailers, and mounting systems alike. So, we can help set you up with the right equipment that is suitable for your budget.
Anyone in the manufacturing or construction industry knows that moving materials around is an essential component of a business.
The faster you can transport goods or materials the better in terms of customer satisfaction and profits. And using the right equipment for the job means heightened safety for your employees.
For more than 30 years, Moffett trucks have become increasingly popular, and not just for off-site product delivery. They have many advantages for regular usage in your lumber or brickyard.
Here are some reasons to consider Moffett trucks over traditional forklifts.
What Are Moffett Trucks?
In 1986, Cecil Moffett, who ran an engineering business in Ireland, developed a three-wheeled forklift that could be carried on the back of a loading truck. Today, the Moffett truck and the conventional forklift are the two most common loading machines used in manufacturing businesses.
Moffett forklifts have two wheels up front, and one the back. Conventional forklifts have four wheels. The front two are at the fulcrum and rely on heavyweight to counterbalance the load.
On Moffett trucks, the mast, carriage, and forks sit between the front two wheels. So, the load center is above the wheels, rather than out in front of the machine. For this reason, Moffett trucks do not need counterbalance weight to maintain stability.
What Are the Advantages of Moffett Trucks?
Perhaps the biggest advantage of Moffett trucks is the ability to transport them. They are lightweight and compact and can be configured to fit on almost any truck or trailer.
This allows you to take Moffett trucks along to any location where you’re delivering products. They offer a huge advantage for jobs that require unloading heavy materials, or where the only alternative would be to have workers unload cargo by hand.
The Moffett forklift is mounted at the rear of the truck, so it doesn’t take up any valuable cargo space. Also, a single worker can dismount and mount the Moffett forklift from the truck. So, one crew member can transport and deliver heavy materials without extra help.
All of this translates to reduced personnel costs with a faster turn-around. You can save money on labor and from greater efficiency.
Maneuverability is another big advantage of Moffett trucks. Whether you are delivering pallets of lumber in a confined residential space or navigating narrow warehouse aisles, agility is a huge asset.
Moffett trucks are also extremely durable and dependable. Their design provides great stability, even on muddy or soft surfaces. This means increased safety for your crew.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 7,000 forklift-related injuries every year. Due to their design––with the load positioned over the fulcrum––and their low center of gravity, Moffett trucks can go a long way to eliminating potential accidents and related injuries.
Finally, despite their reduced weight and compact size, Moffett trucks still have high lift capacities.
Find Out More
We offer a ride range of Moffett forklifts in a variety of sizes and lift capacities. This includes an extensive used truck inventory. Each of these comes with a warranty guarantee.
Moffett trucks can help your construction or manufacturing business become more efficient, profitable, and safe. We would be happy to provide additional information about the many advantages of these machines, to help you determine which one is right for your business.
Forklifts are a lifesaver for your warehouse needs. This innovative technology is key to moving materials without relying on manpower.
Investing in mounted forklifts has a lot of advantages, but you need to know how they will work to use them to their full ability. Here’s how mounted forklifts work and why it’s worth it to use them.
What are Mounted Forklifts?
Mounted forklifts will let you load and unload any cargo without needing to use your own or others’ manpower. For those cargo loads that are too big for you and a team to handle, mounted forklifts are there to help.
They’re situated on the back end of a truck or trailer. Truck mounted forklifts are more convenient to use because they can help you pick up heavy materials or cargo in hard-to-reach places, like a Moffett forklift.
How Do Truck Mounted Forklifts Work?
Truck mounted forklifts work due to mechanisms to help lift materials. These lifting mechanisms are hydraulic cylinders and a roller chain pulley.
Hydraulic Cylinders
A hydraulic cylinder works when air gets trapped in the cylinder base and gases run through the tube without leaking out of it. Because of this, pressure builds inside the tube.
Pressure put on the piston makes the forklift lift the load. When lifting up, there is more gas in the cylinder. When moving down, the gas is released to help lower the cargo.
Roller Chain Pulleys
The pistons mentioned above connect to two masts. The fork connects to the main part of the vehicle. Roller chain pulleys attach to them both.
When the mast gears are pressed against the roller chains, the gears go clockwise to bring the forks up. The roller chain pulleys help with the reach of the mounted forklift itself.
Controls to Steer and Lift
Truck mounted forklifts also have controls to steer and lift. The steering controls are to steer from the rear wheels of the forklift rather than the front. This allows for better mobility when moving materials.
The lifting controls are for lifting the cargo and also tilting the load from front to back. If you want to tilt your load, the controls to tilt also have their own hydraulic cylinders that operate similarly to the general ones to move the load back and forth.
Where Can I Use a Truck Mounted Forklift?
You can use truck mounted forklifts in different environments, such as for warehouses, at places of construction, dockyards, and more. They can help move the bulk of your cargo quickly and safely.
Also, if you’re in the need of a snowplow, forklifts can serve in this way too. Stay safe when you use them!
Why Mounted Forklifts are the Best
Mounted forklifts are not only convenient for moving important cargo and materials, but it also saves you a lot of trouble from coordinating manpower to move said cargo. Besides, you’re avoiding human injury by using a mounted forklift instead.
The controls for mounted forklifts aren’t too difficult and are worth the investment. Contact us today to get started on purchasing a mounted forklift for your workplace!
