Hand pallet truck buying guide

Hand pallet truck buying guide

Which hand pallet truck is right for you? How do you decide which steering wheels you need? Single or tandem rollers? What fork length? Which width across the forks?

This pallet truck buying guide will help you decide which fork dimensions, wheels, and rollers are best for you.

Nylon Steering Wheels

  • • Ideal for hard surfaces.
  • • The easy-to-clean rims are great for indoor applications requiring high levels of hygiene (e.g., the food industry).
  • • Hard but brittle (less impact-resistant than alternatives).
  • • Low rolling resistance.
  • • Create more noise when traveling than Rubber or Polyurethane.

Rubber Steering Wheels

  • • Ideal for irregular floors.
  • • Recommended for soft surfaces or areas liable to moisture (due to increased grip).
  • • Flexible, absorbs shocks.
  • • Not suitable for areas requiring high levels of hygiene (can leave traces on the floor).
  • • Do not use on floors with metal debris.

Polyurethane Steering Wheels

  • • Suitable for all applications.
  • • Recommended for heavy loads.
  • • Crosses obstacles (such as expansion joints) with ease.
  • • Almost silent during travel.
  • • Low rolling resistance.

Examples of steering wheels

Roller Wheel Options

Single roller wheel

Single

  • • For flat surfaces.
  • • Suitable for entering the open side of pallets.
Tandem roller wheel

Tandem (Double)

  • • Improves travel on uneven ground and obstacle clearance.
  • • Suitable for entering pallets lengthways and sideways.

Fork Lengths

Fork length 795/800 mm

795 / 800 mm

• Suitable for carrying pallets sideways.

Fork length 950 mm

950 mm

• Suitable for carrying pallets sideways and lengthways.

• Ideal for use in confined spaces.

Fork length 1150 mm

1150 mm

• Suitable for carrying pallets sideways and lengthways.

• Ideal for general warehouse use.

Fork Widths

Fork width 520 mm

520 mm

  • • Suitable for lifting 'Euro Pallets'.
  • • May be unstable in some applications.
Fork width 680 mm

680 mm

  • • Useful for larger pallets.
  • • Cannot enter 'Euro Pallets' lengthways.

Normal vs. Quick Lift

Function Normal Lift Quick Lift* (up to 120 kg / above 120 kg)
No. of pump strokes to lift pallet off the floor 7 3 / 7
Lift per pump stroke 10 mm 25 mm / 10 mm
No. of pump strokes to maximum lift height 12 5 / 12

*The fast lift is effective up to 120 kg. For heavier loads, the hand pallet truck switches to normal lift. In fast lift mode, the maximum lift height is reached with 5 pump strokes; in normal lift mode, with 12 strokes.

For pallets over 120 kg, the fast lift is used only when entering under the pallet. Once lifted, the truck switches to normal lift with 10 mm per pump stroke.