Sit-Down vs. Stand-Up Forklifts: Tips from a Forklift Dealer in Lafayette, LA

The traditional sit-down forklift is quite ubiquitous in the warehouse world. But the truth is that most warehouse operators simply opt for these sit-down forklifts because that’s all they’ve ever been exposed to. There’s nothing wrong with that—sit-down forklifts are often quite sufficient for the needs of most warehouses. But if you’re in need of a new forklift at your facility, it’s at least worth looking at the variety of other types of forklifts for sale in Lafayette, LA so you can make sure you’re getting the absolute best solution for your needs.

You’ll want to consider, for example, the nature of the area in which you operate the forklift, whether you have any tight aisles or spaces to navigate, the percentage of time you’re moving on and off the lift and whether your productivity would be affected based on your choice of a sit-down or stand-up forklift.

With this in mind, here’s some information about these two main options to help you reach a conclusion that works for your situation.

Sit-down forklifts

Forklift manufacturers, much like auto manufacturers, always have just as much of a focus on comfort as they do on performance and operational capabilities. The focus on comfort is unique for forklifts because manufacturers know these pieces of equipment are most likely going to be used in industrial settings, meaning comfort can have a direct impact on productivity. The theory is that a forklift driver who is happy and comfortable is much more likely to be highly productive than a driver who is uncomfortable in operating the machine.

Driver positions on a sit-down truck are also typically forward facing, which means the operator will be able to see the load at all positions of the lowering and lifting process and during the forward and reverse movements of the machinery.

Stand-up forklifts

Stand-up forklifts, while they do not offer drivers quite the same level of comfort that sit-down forklifts do with their cushy seating, can offer the driver greater visibility in forklift operation. The operator can easily turn his or her body in any number of directions quite easily so they can watch the load or survey their surroundings while operating the vehicle.

The disadvantage of this type of forklift is that because it’s not quite as common as sit-down forklifts are in industrial settings, transitioning to this type of lift can be difficult, as the control systems are in different locations and the two function in slightly different manners. Sit-down forklifts usually have traditional lever controls, while stand-up units likely will have hand and wrist controls for the lifting and lowering, tilting and side shifting processes.

For more information about the differences between sit-down and stand-up forklifts, we encourage you to contact George’s Lift Truck Service, LLC, your local forklift dealer in Lafayette, LA, with any questions you have about the technology. We will be happy to answer these questions and give you the opportunity to take some of our high-quality forklifts out for a test drive.

Categorised in: Forklift Dealer, Forklift for Sale

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