3 Wheel Counterbalance Forklift Trucks

A three wheel counterbalance truck works on the same principle as the four wheel version, with the load on the forks ahead of the front wheels and a counterweight at the back. The difference is at the rear: a single drive or steer wheel, or two wheels set close together, in place of a full axle.

That gives a much tighter turning circle, which is the whole point of the design. In a warehouse with narrow cross aisles a three wheel truck will turn and place a pallet where a four wheel truck has to shunt back and forth, and it will do it in less floor space. These trucks are almost always electric, so they suit indoor work, food and pharmaceutical sites and anywhere exhaust emissions or noise are a problem.

The compromise is stability on poor surfaces. With three points of contact rather than four, these trucks are built for smooth, level floors, not for yards, potholes or steep ramps. If the work is split between indoors and a rough yard, a four wheel truck is usually the safer choice.

What to check before you buy or hire

• Aisle width is the reason to buy one. Measure your tightest working aisle and ask suppliers for the right angle stacking aisle figure for the truck with your pallet on the forks.
• Floor condition decides whether a three wheel truck is suitable at all. They are made for smooth, level surfaces.
• Capacity is typically lower than a comparable four wheel truck, and it falls as the mast goes higher, so check the rating at your working lift height.
• Battery and charging need planning: how many shifts, whether there is space for a charging bay, and whether a lithium option is worth the extra outlay.
• Where it will work matters most. If any part of the job is outdoors on rough ground, look at four wheel counterbalance trucks or rough terrain forklifts instead.

Every truck listed below is offered by a forktrucks.com member. If you cannot see what you need, request a quote and your enquiry goes to members who supply this type of equipment in your area.