How Pallet Jacks Compare To Forklifts for Sale
If your work involves dealing with loads of materials of different sizes, a durable and powerful handling machine is what you need to invest in for the better operations of your business. Luckily, many brands are available on the market to offer you the best and wide range of material handling machines.
Right before you make the final purchase, it is important that you determine the type of equipment that will fit the requirements of your business application. In general, you can choose from two types of machines for all your material handling needs, a pallet jack and forklift.
Although the pallet jacks and forklifts for sale today come with goal to serve the need of moving goods around a warehouse, in some terms, they are different. Keep in mind that when setting up a retail location or a warehouse, many things come into consideration. One is the location and the second is its use. Fortunately, knowing about each of these machines will make it easier for you to decide.
Let’s compare the two.
A Pallet Jack and Forklift
If you plan to operate in a small warehouse and the materials that need dealing with are light in their weight, a pallet jack is the ideal and most cost effective solution. This machine is affordable and it requires little maintenance, while offering smooth maneuverability on the site of the job. However, keep in mind that compared to a Moffett Truck forklift, pallet jacks do not have power and versatility. If you operate your forklift in a larger warehouse where you need to handle heavier materials, you will need a forklift.
The forklift on the other hand, provides versatility and it allows you to place loads on higher locations. You will have more floor space to do other things this way. With a pallet jack, all storing and moving tasks require manual handling, which makes it somewhat difficult to place goods that are on higher levels.
Forklifts vs. Pallet Jacks
When it comes to pallet jacks vs. forklifts, here’s what you need to know:
- Forklifts come with the unique design to remove and lift pallets to and from the racking of warehouses. Depending on their need, their reach vertically may even exceed 30ft. However, a pallet jack moves pallet along on the floor. Although there are some jacks that may reach up to 6ft, their main use is to move the product that does not require placement on higher levels.
- Usually, pallet jacks come in two common forms- manual and electric. The electric ones use a large powered battery and do not require any form of physical exertion. Such machines are good when loads greater than 1000lb need moving. The manual jacks are suitable for lightweight items or they are not in use frequently. Even though manual jacks often lift several thousands of pounds, it may require the need of more than one person to move the load.
- Forklifts are more versatile and they come in seven different classes based on their size and specific design. They are capable of moving heavier weight items. Know that larger forklifts have the strength to lift more than 20 tons. They are fuel powered or electric ones available in the market. In most states across the US, operating a forklift requires licensing and training.
- The main differences between the two are their cost and weight.
Know that both forklifts and pallet jacks have their negative and positive sides and the best way to decide the most suitable one for you is to consider exactly how much weight you plan to deal with on a daily basis. Buying the suitable one also depends on how much space you have to use the machine handler and how much you are willing to spend on their cost!