If there’s one thing that’s great about forklifts, it’s that they’re incredibly versatile machines. Add some proper attachments to your forklift and you can extend its use and productivity to complete a wide variety of tasks. 

Even simple things like using a safety cage attachment can help your business save money in the long run, as you won’t need to hire or purchase a separate scissor lift if you need to move workers into high areas. With a wide range of attachments available, it’s little wonder forklifts are the workhorse of tens of thousands of businesses across the country that help move people, products and parts.

Questions to ask before choosing a forklift attachment

There are several questions you may want to ask before you go out and hire or purchase a forklift attachment. We run through some of the more common questions that need to be answered before discovering if the particular attachment you had in mind is fit for purpose. 

What’s the weight of the loads you’re lifting?
Before you jump in and hire or purchase forklift attachments, it’s important to know the weight of the loads you will be lifting. Some attachments have load limits and may not be able to safely handle loads if you’re getting to the extreme of loading capabilities of the attachment. 

Lifting loads that exceed an attachment's capacity is not only a surefire way to put staff, workers and the load in jeopardy, but it’s also the perfect way to void any warranty on the attachment. 

How high do you need to lift?
Similar to weight limitations, some forklift attachments will have limitations on how high they can safely lift a load. If an attachment has a height range and you’re lifting loads higher than suggested, this will invariably lead to unstable loads and risk tipping over your forklift. 

Note - take a look at our article The four main reasons forklifts tip over if you’re after more info about why forklifts tip over.

Does your current forklift have the hydraulic functions required for the attachment?
Depending on the attachment type, you may require more than just raise, lower and tilt functionality. If you’re looking at having a bin rotator or something that can tip bins forward for example, you will need an additional hydraulic function for these attachments to work properly. 

Permanent or temporary attachments
If your business is looking at moving products in and out of shipping containers well into the future, it’s likely worth investing in something like a container ramp. If however, you only need to move product form a shipping container for a temporary project, hiring one might be a better option. 

Rerating forklifts with attachments
If you have an attachment fitted to your forklift, it’s important to have it re-rated as the additional weight of the attachment or accessory may change the safe rated capacity of your vehicle. 

Typically when an attachment is added to a forklift, the rated safe lifting capacity of the unit reduces, so it’s important to know the numbers to make sure staff and operators don’t overload the forklift.

Will your staff need additional training to operate the attachment?
Depending on the type of attachment you have installed on your forklift and the complexity of its operation, forklift operators in your business may require additional training so they can safely operate the vehicle. 

What types of forklift attachments are available at Eureka Forklifts?

Container Ramps
Made of high-quality checker-plate steel, a container ramp is the perfect solution for providing a stable entry point in and out of shipping containers for your forklift. 

See our range of container ramps>>

Safety Cages or Work Boxes
Safety cages provide a safe platform for workers performing occasional or short term tasks when it’s not an option to install scaffolding or hire a scissor lift. 

See our range of safety cages>>

Forklift Jibs
Great for carrying heavy, awkward loads, forklift jibs turn your forklift into a mini crane. The great thing about these attachments are they slide over standard fork tynes. 

See our range of forklift jibs>>

Forklift Slippers
Perfect for load stabilisation, forklift slippers give your tynes additional length which helps lift larger and longer loads. 

See our range of forklift slippers>>

If you have any questions about our range of forklift attachments, please contact us today and we would be more than happy to talk with you about your requirements.