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How Much Does a Forklift Weigh?

How Much Does A Forklift Weigh - Illinois Lift Equipment

One of the most frequent questions we receive from customers is: how much does a forklift weigh? It’s a valid question to take into consideration when you’re wanting to ship a forklift, and when you want to make sure that the forklift you purchase isn’t too heavy for the structure that it will be used on. The average forklift weighs about the same as a female African elephant. Unless you happen to have an elephant willing to jump on scales, this doesn’t help much. If you’re looking for specifics, here are some ways to find out how much the particular forklift you are interested in weighs.

The average automobile weighs approximately 3,000 lbs and the average forklift weighs close to 9,000 lbs.

Also, forklifts are heavier in the rear to counter the weight of items being carried in the forks.

Manufacturer Tag

Most forklifts come with a manufacturer’s tag attached that gives you its service weight. You need to be careful that you look at the service weight rather than the lift capacity. The lift capacity refers to how much weight the forklift can safely manage. The service weight refers to the actual weight of the vehicle and all its attachments. This information can also be found in the service manual that comes with the forklift.

Estimated Weight

Sometimes you need a quick guesstimate of the forklift’s weight but don’t have access to official information. In this case, all you need to know is the lift capacity of the forklift in question. Take that number and multiply it by 1.5 and again by 2. The forklift’s weight will most likely fall somewhere between the two numbers. Let’s look at an example. You know your forklift can safely lift 3000 pounds. First, multiply 3000 by 1.5 and you get 4500 pounds. Next, multiply the 3000 pounds by 2 and you get 6000 pounds. This particular forklift will weigh between 4500 and 6000 pounds.

A Quick Guide

We can’t list the weight of every forklift available, but here is a handy list of a few of the most popular models.

Why Forklifts Weigh So Much

The main reason a forklift is so heavy is that they include the counterweight. This is necessary to keep the forklift from tipping over when it’s in use. Hopefully, now you have a better idea of what determines how much a forklift weighs so that you will be able to work safely in the environment for which it is intended.

Contact Us

Contact Illinois Lift today for a quote on a new or used forklift that meets your lifting requirements.

Feature image: KAMONRAT/Shutterstock


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