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A forklift mast has five main components which work together to achieve lift. Forklift operators and service personnel must know the dimensional forklift mast specifications to ensure their equipment’s assembly is not too tall for a work area.
Forklift Mast: Operating Specification Terms
Overall Height Lowered (OAHL)
The distance from the floor to the top of the collapsed rail assembly. To learn if the forklift fits through a doorway, check the OAHL.
Maximum Fork Height (MFH)
The distance from the floor to the top surface of the forks with the forklift mast fully extended. This determines the maximum height that loads can be stacked.
Overall Height Raised (OAHR)
The distance from the floor to the top of the carriage/fork assembly with the forklift mast fully extended. This determines the overhead clearance required for full extension stacking.
Free Lift
The distance the carriage/fork assembly can be lifted without increasing the OAHL. All forklift masts have a few inches of free lift so that a load can be raised off the floor. Some forklift masts can provide a full free lift, meaning the forks can be raised to the top of the inner rails without increasing OAHL, an advantage when lifting and stacking in trailers or rail cars, for example.
High Visibility
Term used to describe the “window” an operator has through the forklift mast assembly. The compact, center-mounted primary lift cylinder, and close nesting of rails provides operators with a clear view for loading and stacking operations.
It’s important a forklift’s mast chains are visually inspected by forklift operators every day. ProLift can also assist you with planned maintenance, serving your forklift at regular intervals based on operating hours. Contact us to speak to an equipment specialist!