Practical Tips to Choose a Hydraulic Dock Lift

Practical Tips to Choose a Hydraulic Dock Lift Hydraulic dock lifts are a kind of scissors lift. Usually, these lifts come with a large platform.

These lifts are used to load and unload materials from trucks–either to a dock or the ground.

The fundamental advantage of the lift is that you can load or unload materials from any truck.

The lift works regardless of the height of your dock or the trailer.

Again, a hydraulic dock lift can take loads if there is no dock or a too high or too low dock.

Why Should You Use a Hydraulic Dock Lift?

If you run a business involving loading and unloading materials, you must purchase such a dock lift to ease your operations.

An investment in a hydraulic dock lift will entail the following benefits: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Eases the hassles of loading and unloading trucks at the dockyard Eliminates danger Reduces the space requirements associated with a ramp Increases safety by eliminating manual handling of material from the truck bed height to the ground Available in different sizes and lifting capacities Can cater to a broad range of loading dock applications Customizable Provides more secure unloading from the truck bed Can reach the bed of truck of any size from the ground level–so, ideal for low step vans to large refrigerated reefers Allows lifting equipment to load or unload Can replace concrete ramps and truck wells

Choose a Hydraulic Dock Lift for Your Business Before you invest in a hydraulic dock lift, you should consider the following factors to select the most appropriate lifting equipment for your business.

Suitability to Your Business Needs Depending on your business needs, you can choose a top-of-ground dock lift or a pitmounted recessed dock lift.

Features Top-of-Ground Dock Lifts: ● Allows launching on any flat concrete slabs ● Eliminates the need for pit work ● Allows moving the dock lift without difficulties. ● Bear capacities within the range of 4,000 lbs. to 15,000 lbs.

Although the cost of a top-of-ground dock lift is usually higher than the cost of the recessed units, the price can be justified and competitive if you consider the cost of pit construction.

Features of Pit Mounted Recessed Dock Lifts ● Lesser costs Top of Ground units ● Allows the mounting of flush with surrounding surfaces–thus eliminating obstacles to the truck driver ● Recessed units allow level loading at ground level and truck height.

When you mount the dock lifts within the face of docks, they provide effortless dock-toground access.

Capacities The capacity of your prospective hydraulic dock lift is the next thing to consider. So, you should consider the following factors:

Lifting Capacity It determines the maximum weight of the goods the dock lift can carry. It is the sum of the weight of the goods, the transport equipment, and the operator’s weight.

Axle Rating Capacity The axles divide payload weight equally. Powered pallet jacks and straddle stackers put 60% of the combined weight on their rear axle. And, the jacks can move heavier loads than manual equipment.

Again, fork trucks usually put 80% of the weight on the front axle.

Therefore, you should compare your equipment's axle loads with the dock lifts' rating to be safe.

Roll Over Capacity The capacity refers to the maximum axle load allowed for vehicles driving over a fully lowered lift and applies to recessed units, and it refers. Remember, the capacity is not applicable for large specialty vehicles and high-capacity fork trucks with small hard wheels.

So, you can ask the manufacturer to customize the capacity to allow the vehicles.

Conclusion Given the benefits, investing in a hydraulic dock lift is a good idea. The investment will allow you to bring productivity to your business by easing your loading/unloading operations.

But, you should choose a trusted and reputed manufacturer. Only such a manufacturer can provide quality hydraulic dock lifts.