Enhance the flexibility and versatility of the material handling ability of your forklift using forklift attachments. For example, use a bucket forklift attachment for moving large buckets or use a forklift attachment for towing trucks to pull different types of vehicles.

You need to analyze various parameters before selecting a forklift attachment. It should be cost-effective, yet operationally safe.

The important parameters you must consider before buying a forklift attachment are:

1. Maximum load carrying capacity of the forklift
2. Maximum load volume that the forklift attachment can handle
3. Weight and dimensions of the forklift attachment

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check the capacity of the forklift before selecting a forklift attachment

You need to calculate different loads acting on your forklift arrangement to get the maximum safe load for your forklift system. In addition, you need to add the weight of the forklift attachments to calculate the maximum load carrying capacity of your forklift setup. Many companies offer online calculators for such calculations. However, it is important to recheck the calculations with your supplier.

I recommend: Rightline Equipment, Inc. offers an online calculator to measure the maximum load capacity of the forklift system. Cascade Corp. offers a calculation guide to show the impact of an attachment on truck lifting capacity.

Purchase a forklift attachment suitable for your application

The leading forklift manufacturers offer attachments suitable for applications in many industries such as construction, agriculture, mining and outdoor recreation. Additionally, many forklift attachment manufacturers offer products for particular applications such as drum handling attachments and tractor forklift attachments.

I recommend: Bobcat is a reputable manufacturer offering a broad array of attachments including scraper, chipper, digger and bucket forklift attachments. You can choose a suitable loader forklift attachment for your tractors from Tytan International Inc.. Granite Earth, LLC offers various forklift attachments like a forklift boom attachment, a specialty fork extension and a hoisting hook attachment.

Buy forklift attachments from an online retailer or a distributor

Online retailers offer a broad spectrum of non-industrial as well as industrial lift attachments. With the help of retailers offering different industrial equipment, including forklift attachments, you can compare the applications and forklift parameters to select the most appropriate forklift attachment.

I recommend: Forkliftaction.com is a retailer for material handling equipment including forklift attachments. You can search for any attachment as per your requirements and compare various options. AttachmentWeb.com is an online distributor with a broad range of forklift attachments including fork extensions, booms, forks and pallet jacks.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Apply a higher degree of safety in your load calculations for industrial lift attachments.
• •  If you are buying a tractor forklift attachment, evaluate the estimated fuel consumption of the new setup.