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).