Pallets are everywhere when it comes to the shipping industry and without one piece of machinery, palletised loads wouldn't be as easy to move around as it is. This machinery is known as a pallet jack or truck. A pallet jack is a carrying platform made specifically for pallets. Some can also move skids and containers but most pallet jacks are made for pallets only.
A pallet jack is considered to be the most basic variation of a forklift as it mimics its operation quite a bit without being as large or as complex when it comes to user controls. Although pallet jacks still require both hands when using them they are much better than forklifts or any other platform when it comes to moving palletised loads around a warehouse.
Types of Pallet Jacks
Low Profile
Standard pallet jacks are manually operated and they are not as versatile as low-profile jacks. Also called a lo-profile jack, this pallet truck is made with a lowered fork design which sits only 5 cm off the ground. The total load capacity of a low-profile power pallet jack may be the same as that of a standard one, it can give you better visibility when working with a tall load.
Sidewinder
When it comes to carrying long palletised loads especially when going down a narrow aisle. The forks can be raised about 17 cm when placed into the pallet and they can be rotated with the help of a handle. This makes the actuates of second rollers which help the jack to be pushed more in a different direction.
All Terrain
The newest addition to the pallet jack family is the all-terrain power jack. This type of jack is made to be used on rough surfaces as well as smooth ones. This makes them ideal in different settings which makes them ideal for landscape companies.
What Matters in a Pallet Jack
Dimensions
The first thing you need to consider is the width and length of a pallet jack. These dimensions will tell you a lot about a pallet jack's manoeuvrability as well as the type of palletised loads it can carry. The larger the pallet jack the more capable it is but also the more difficult it is to move around through tight spaces and vice versa.
Lift Height
Another crucial factor you should consider with a power pallet jack is its lift height. This refers to how much the forks can lift in the air before they reach their limit. The higher the lift height of a pallet jack the more clearance you get but also a less stable load especially if it's a tall one.
Capacity
A piece of information that is directly tied to the size of a pallet truck is its lifting capacity. Typically the larger it is the more it can lift but that isn't always the case as there are some jacks on the smaller side that can lift as much as heavier ones. You can find jacks with a maximum load capacity from as little as 1 tonne up to 3 tonnes and some with even greater capacities.
Mobility
Pallet jacks make use of wheels in order to move around and the type of wheels they have will determine their level of mobility. If you want to have a more maneuverable pallet jack for sale then go with one that has swivel (caster) wheels. These are able to move in all directions, which is not the case with standard ones.
Power Supply
Since these are power pallet jacks we are talking about you need to pay attention to the power supply too. This can be either a rechargeable battery or an electric motor with variable speeds. The latter is more advanced and it makes the operation of a pallet jack for sale more seamless while the former is simpler and it makes repairs a lot easier.
Forks
There are different types of forks that your pallet truck can have. For instance, there are single forks that are wider than standard forks which makes them safe for moving objects such as bending machines and ATMs. Angled forks are made for large rolls, reels and sections of a pipe as they can prevent them from rolling or shifting. Low-profile forks suit low-profile jacks and are great when you need to move low-clearance pallets around.
Pallet Jack Accessories
Stopper
Also known as chocks, pallet jack stoppers are safety accessories that can keep the jack from moving when it's being stored or when you need to make a stop with the load on it. They are essential no matter the environment or the type of loads you work with as they prevent the jack from rolling, especially when on an incline.
Caddy
A caddy is an inexpensive attachment that goes in front of the control lever and it's used to store items that you'd need to use while using the pallet. This can be some pens, tape tools, a torch or maybe some paperwork. Whatever it is it will probably fit in the caddy.
Toe Guard
To protect your feet from getting in contact with the wheels. As an accessory that sits between the wheels and your toes, it's known as a foot or toe guard. This way you will reduce injuries to your feet when the jack rolls back on you accidentally or when you bump them into the wheels accidentally.
