Counterbalance Forklifts

A counterbalance forklift carries the load out in front and offsets it with weight built into the body of the truck. There are no outriggers and no legs to work around, so it can drive straight up to a pallet, a stillage or a truck tray. It is the machine most sites start with and the one most operators are already licensed and confident on.

Choosing within the range comes down to how much you lift and how tight the space is. Three-wheel models turn in the smallest circle and suit narrow indoor aisles and tight loading docks. Four-wheel models are grouped by capacity, from lighter general handling through to heavy trucks built for container work and yard duty. If most of your lifting happens outdoors on soft or uneven ground, a rough terrain truck will hold its footing better.

The models listed here run on lithium, which allows opportunity charging between shifts, removes the need for a battery change room and produces no exhaust indoors. KJ is an authorised Hangcha partner and handles sales, hire, service and genuine parts in-house, so the team that supplies the truck is the team that maintains it.