As compared to internal handling equipments, rough-terrain handling equipments are differentiated by 2 characteristics: they are powered by internal combustion (IC) engines and attached with pneumatic tires.

Rough terrain vehicles use IC engines for various purposes. Firstly, due to handling larger loads, IC engines are preferred as compared to electric engines for their durability. Furthermore, IC engine vehicles usually have better acceleration and faster speed level than electric, which can be a big advantage on large job sites. Next, pneumatic tires are rubber tires filled with air, similar to automobile tires. It provides the traction and cushioning necessary for use on uneven ground and rough terrain. .This combination makes rough terrain vehicles suitable to operate in lumberyards, construction projects, landscaping, and other outdoor applications.

• Sit-Down Counterbalanced Truck
• Variable-Reach Truck
• Side-Loading Truck
• Straddle Carrier
• Van Carrier
• Straddle Hoist Carrier
  

This section will cover the 6 major types of rough-terrain vehicles, general information of rough-terrain lift trucks and design parameters for outdoor vehicles.

• The truck elevates and lowers load similar to the conventional indoor counterbalanced lift truck. It has a high degree of flexibility and handles a wide variety of loads
• These trucks are fitted with attachments to handle special task. These attachments include special carriages, set of forks, clamps, rams, booms, winches and load rotation devices.
• Truck operates in a 12 to 30-ft wide aisle. The aisle width varies according to the type of product and weight handled by the truck. Thus, acute angle (45 degrees) floor stacking reduces the aisle width to make a right-angle stack.
• Applicable Work Areas: Loading docks of distribution centre or warehouse and construction site.
• Cost Range:~ US$8000

• Handles pallet loads from 5000 to 10, 000 lb up to height of 35ft.
• These trucks require a wide aisle because of the mast configuration extends from the rear of the vehicle to the front.
• The truck is flexible and is used for two-deep storage or unloading/loading of pallet loads from the side of a flatbed highway truck or railcar.
• Applicable Work Area: Construction Site
• Cost Range:~ US$15000
• The forward extension of the forks is 10 to 26 ft. Within the variable-reach lift truck group, there are two types:

Linkage Mechanism

Lift Truck

• Lifts a 5000- to 8000-lb pallet load straight in front of the truck.
• This feature gives the operator a clear view of the unit load.

Example of Linkage mechanism lift truck

Telescopic Boom Lift Truck

• Lifts pallet loads that weigh from 5000 to 10,000 lbs
• The vehicle is a front-load-handling type and allows the fork extension forward farther than the linkage type of truck. This advantage to extend forward allows the truck to pick up loads that are below ground level.

Example of a side loading lift truck

• It has a pantographic device attached to a telescopic mast. The mast is located in the middle of the truck between the two decks.
• The fork is fixed at a 90 degree angle for loading pallets perpendicular to the lift trucks travel path.
• Handle loads from 2500 up to 10,000 lb at rack heights of 10 to 15 ft.
• The required aisle width is a few inches wider than the truck and load.
• As the vehicle travels down-aisle with a unit load, to stabilize the unit load, the operator allows it to rest on the two decks (outriggers).
• Cost Range:~ US$7500
• Applicable Work Areas: Loading Dock of distribution centre or warehouse and construction site.

• It has a series of shoes (short forks) that are suspended from the arch of top support member. When the load is put in the storage position, a base support device is needed to allow the shoes to be removed or inserted under the load.
• Handles loads from 12,000 to 60,000 lb and to a height of 12 ft. The loads are stored in a 90 degrees position to the storage aisle.
• Applicable Work Areas: Container Yard, Unloading and loading docks at sea ports.
• Cost Range:~ US$200,000

• The van carrier has an elevating frame that attaches to the container under the arch and stacks the container at a maximum of 26 ft of three containers high.
• Applicable Work Areas: Container Yard, Unloading and loading docks at sea ports.
• Cost Range:~ US$210,000

• The straddle hoist has a cross beam on each arm support.
• On the beam is attached an electric trolley and hoist which has a set of arms, sling or magnet that becomes the support member of the unit load.
• The vehicle stacks loads up to 45 ft high.
• Storage loads between 30,000 and 150,000 lb.
• Applicable Work Areas: Container Yard, Unloading and loading docks at sea ports.
• Cost Range:~ US$300,000

Video of a hoister operating

Besides defining the basic specifications of vehicle, there is a need to include the outdoor environmental factors into consideration.

Vehicle Specifications include:

• Definition of equipment application which includes the floor surface, weather conditions, load weights and dimensions, stacking and forward-reach requirements, heights, clearances and aisle widths.
  
• A statement that the lift truck compiles with ANSI Standard B56.6 and fuel storage requirements.