Q&A for How to Determine Load Center Distance for Forklifts

When picking up very low pallets/skids (with no bottom boards) off the ground, forward tilt can be quite helpful. When lifting, you should then apply back tilt until mast vertical or tilted back. Slight forward tilt can be used when stacking loads onto racking or onto each other, as it lets you see that the load is fully resting on the rack/load underneath before reversing out. Stacking with mast vertical is also ideal, but harder to achieve. Stacking with back tilt isn't particularly recommended, as the opposite side cannot be seen and may not be fully rested down on the rack/load underneath.

The spacing of the forks won't affect your forklift's load center distance rating; however it will affect the stability of the load being carried on the forks. Set the forks too narrow and the load will be likely to fall off the forks sideways; set the forks too wide and you will need to be extremely precise when picking up loads. For handling pallets, ideally your forks should be spaced equally apart center to the carriage/backrest, around 10 inches out from each side. But really there is no exact measurement; the best rule is to space them just a bit less from as wide as you can have them for the pallets/loads you will be handling.

It depends on what kind of forklift you have. A load center of 535 mm is within the standard 600 mm load center distance for most counterbalance forklifts; however, for a 2450-kg load, a forklift with a 3500 kg - 4000 kg lifting capacity would be most recommended. You can then check the forklift's data plate to see if the lifting capacity is reduced when lifting up to 8 meters (as generally forklifts lifting capacities are often reduced by several hundred kg when lifting loads above 3 or 4 meters).

It depends on the weight of the rolls and how high they are being lifted - if they are relatively light (e.g. less than 1 ton) it should be OK, but for heavy steel rolls, the forklift's manufacturer or a specialized forklift / materials handling consultant should be sought for professional advice. Handling long loads extending sideways (towards the left and right of the forklift) won't affect the forklift's load centre distance, but it will make the forklift more prone to sideways tipovers. Using slippers extends the length of the tines but does not extend the forklift's rated load centre distance - see the "Tips" section of this article for more information on this.

Being able to tell when your mast is vertical can be done by either adjusting your forks on the ground, or when raising a load, when your forks are at eye level. However, it still takes many, many hours of operating experience to get the forklift mast vertical every time.

As low as practical, tilted back, and clear of any floor obstructions, so they are not likely to catch on the floor or any uneven pavement. A general rule of thumb is around the height of the front wheel axle.

In most countries, all forklifts by law must have their rated lifting capacity (how much weight they can safely lift) detailed on the forklift. This comes in the form of a "data plate" which may also have information on the forklifts overall weight, manufacture date, etc. If you cannot find this, ask a coworker or supervisor for assistance. If you are certain the forklift doesn't have a data plate, contact the manufacturer. Common spots a Data Plate can be found on a forklift are: beside the seat, on one side of the mast, behind the mast on the forklift's body, or somewhere on the dashboard near the steering wheel.

So long as the load's load centre distance is 850mm or less from the mast/backrest, the forklift in question should be able to safely lift its rated capacity of 11.0 tons - so long as: - tilt is at "mast vertical" or "back tilt." And, there is no other weight limitation/reduction as specified on the forklift's data plate.

This is a bit of a tricky question as the term "Vertical Load Center" doesn't really address/answer where the load's "Load Center (of Gravity)" will be located. However, if you were to discuss how the vertical location of a load's centre (of gravity) can affect a lift-trucks capacity, this is certainly a valid concern. Typically, Loads with a Low Vertical Load centre (near the bottom) will be quite stable and somewhat resistant to slipping off the forklift- this is in contrast to Loads with a High Vertical Load centre (i.e. all the weight is on the top of the load) These loads will be unstable and much more likely to fall off the fork tines or cause a front tip over if caution is not taken.

If you have loads with a 800mm load centre distance, (if the weight is distributed evenly), it is assumed your loads are 1600mm long (1.6m/5.2ft). Standard length forklift tines come in sizes around 42 - 48 inches (approximately 1000mm to 1200mm) and these will probably be able to lift your size loads safely. However, it also depends on how heavy the loads are - not just for the forklift's rated capacity, but also the pallet load structurally - for example if you tried to lift a very heavy, long pallet, with short tines, it would either fall off, or break the pallet.

If it's an evenly stacked load, all you need to do is half the length of the load. For example, a 1200mm Load will therefore have a Load Centre distance of 600mm.

This one is a bit more complex when Boom & Jib attachments are involved, as the working weight limits and capacities on a standard forklift data plate will be for: "Forks and Carriage", "Forks only" or "Sideshift", not attachments (unless it has already been written on the data plate). Legally according to most countries workplace laws, you will need to get your forklift assessed and "re-rated" with new lifting capacities added to the forklift data plate to safely understand what your forklift's safe lifting capacities are with a Boom or Jib Attachment. It would be highly unadvisable to attempt to move any heavy loads without this information as it could result in a forklift tip-over.

This depends on what the lifting capacity of your forklift is, the load centre distance of your load wouldn't be too much greater, however at 6000 kg (6 tons) this would certainly require quite a powerful forklift that isn't really common in most standard warehouse settings. Your best bet would be to get quotes from your preferred forklift distributors and decide on what brand, make, model, price, fuel type, etc, you're after. Most forklifts with lifting capacities over 5 ton will be LPG or Diesel, however some manufacturers can make Gasoline or Electric models well into the 10+ ton range.

So long this load's weight and horizontal LCD is within your forklift's rated capacity, it should be fine with a standard LF, being a "slightly taller than usual load" some caution should be taken but otherwise it should be able to be safely lifted to whatever height needed.

So long as everything is the same weight and stacked evenly on the pallet, just half any of the numbers to find your load center distance. In this case, the only real value you need is the Horizontal Load Center Distance which will be 1200mm. Quite a lot larger than the standard 600mm, however if the load isn't particularly heavy, for example under 700kg, you could likely safely lift it with forklift extensions ("slippers") to load on a truck or container. This definitely depends on your forklift's rated capacity however, and also legally you will need the forklift's data plate to be altered / re-rated for its lifting capacity using the forklift extensions.