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Truck mounted forklifts revolutionized the supply chain in the billion-dollar building industry. 

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.