Improving Forklift Stability: Key Measures

I. Equipment: Ensure Basic Stability, No Risky Modifications

• Strictly prohibit alterations to counterweights and body structures

  Do not remove, cut, or weld the rear counterweight.
  • Do not extend forks or install oversized attachments without authorization.
  • Do not arbitrarily modify the mast, tires, or frame.Any modification that changes the center of gravity will directly reduce stability.

• Use properly specified tires

  • Solid tires offer greater stability than pneumatic tires, suitable for heavy loads and hard factory surfaces.
  • Uneven tire wear or abnormal air pressure increases the risk of tipping.
  • ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ aging, cracked, or unevenly worn tires in a timely manner.

• Keep overhead guards and backrests intact

• These structures provide protection and contribute to overall rigidity and center-of-gravity distribution; damaged parts must be repaired immediately.

  Inspect key components regularly

  • Ensure masts, chains, and bearings are free of looseness or deformation.
  • Maintain proper steering system clearance with no deviation or jamming.
  • Ensure sensitive and reliable braking to prevent forward tipping caused by sudden stops.

II. Operation: Control the Center of Gravity (Most Effective Method)

• Strict load control
  • Do not overload or exceed the load center distance.
  • Keep the load centered and inward as much as possible; avoid unilateral heavy loading.
  • Secure long or loose materials to prevent center-of-gravity shift.
• Travel with lowered load center
  • Keep forks 10–15 cm above the ground during travel, with the mast tilted backward.
  • Stability decreases as lifting height increases; do not travel with loads at high positions.
• Low speed and gentle operation
  • Observe factory speed limits; slow down further at turns, intersections, and ramps.
  • Prohibit sudden starts, abrupt braking, and sharp steering.
  • Do not carry loads or lift them while turning to avoid centrifugal rollover.
• Standard ramp operation
  • Uphill: Travel forward with forks facing uphill at low speed.
  • Downhill: Travel in reverse with the mast tilted backward.
  • Do not turn, park, load, or unload on ramps.
• Correct driving posture
  • Fasten seat belts.
  • Do not lean outside the vehicle or stand on the forks.
  • No overloading or passenger carrying.

III. Working Environment: Reduce External Interference

• Ensure flat and solid ground
  • Avoid potholes, soft ground, slopes, waterlogged, or icy surfaces.
  • Lay steel plates or harden the ground if necessary before operation.
• Reserve sufficient working space
  • Keep aisle width larger than the minimum turning radius to avoid forced sharp turns.
  • Confirm no overhead obstacles during high lifting to prevent sudden stops.

• No operation under unilateral stress or suspended loads

• Stability is severely compromised if forks only engage one edge of a pallet or loads extend excessively.

IV. Easy-to-Remember "Three Stability Principles"

1. Lower center of gravity = greater stability: Keep loads as low as possible and tilt the mast backward whenever feasible.
2. Slower speed = greater stability: Slow down at turns, ramps, and during heavy loading.
3. Proper load positioning = greater stability: Keep loads centered, inward, non-eccentric, and non-overextended.