At the beginning of 2022, Toyota went from a single model of reach truck to FIVE models. It was a huge change and we very briefly covered each of the new models. However, we’re going to delve a bit deeper into the “basic” reach truck. Because they are built without a counterbalance, reach trucks work narrower aisles than a standard forklift. The “reach” part of the Reach Truck comes from the pantographic carriage that extends into the rack to pick up the load. Toyota’s reach truck already provided best in class performance so let’s how they made it even better.
Features
The new body of the reach truck included a slew of new stability and quality of life changes that improve the durability and operator comfort. The biggest upgrade came in switching out the steel base legs for ductile iron. We touched on this briefly in the Reach Truck Line Up article but here’s just a little more on why it’s such a big deal.
Ductile Iron (DI) is an alloy with a higher carbon content than steel. This doesn’t alter the tensile strength much, but DI has a higher yield strength, meaning it can handle more compressive stress before it permanently deforms. Other properties of this alloy give it increased abrasion resistance compared to steel. As you operate your reach truck the base legs endure constant rubbing and scraping from the environment and the loads constantly throughout the day. Like water running over a rock, this repetitive abrasion will gradually thin out the metal until it eventually breaks. As part of the building process, oxide is formed on the surface of ductile steel, reducing corrosion. Finally, DI has superior shock absorption properties compared to steel, yet another important factor when lifting loads or simply navigating the warehouse floor.
Another new addition, standard across all trims, is the 7” touchscreen display. From this screen, the operator can program the travel and lift speeds, lift heights and more. They can also keep track of the truck’s performance and perform diagnostics when necessary.
Finally, to better accommodate different roles a reach truck is used in, you can choose between side stance driver position or for longer hauling, a fore-aft stance with an option to install a second control handle for use when travelling “tractor-first”.
Performance
Overall performance remains on par with the previous model. While there is a slight dip in travel speed, reach and retract speeds are reduced. Depending on the configuration, some trims have tighter turning radius’.
Options
There are 17 variations on this truck and a dizzying array of optional equipment that will allow you to create a configuration absolutely perfect for your workplace. Choose from a wide variety of forking options, including top tapers and floor lowered heights, customized fork lengths up to 48”, and various tilting backrest extensions. Swap out the wheels to match your floor surfaces. Add an inch of under clearance. You can add a carriage mounted camera (viewable from the 7” color touch screen) that allows for better fork positioning and load handling at height. You can also throw in an Acculaser attachment for precision pallet entry. There are multiple steering configurations based on the stance you choose, heating options for cold storage operations, and so much more.
Ready to take the next step and add reach trucks to your fleet? Speak with our sales team to schedule a discussion on what configuration is right for your site.
