When Should You Buy an Electric Drive Pallet Stacker Forklift or a Manual Drive

I get asked all of the time whether someone should buy and electrically drives or self propelled pallet stacker forklift or a manual drive (push) model.

My first reaction is - how should I know?

Manual drive models are of course less expensive, usually ~40% cheaper than a fully powered model, require less maintenance, and are more reliable - these are all good things for working in a warehouse. A manual drive model is a good choice for:

• small warehouse (under 5000 square feet)
• warehouses with smooth concrete floors
• used for lifting pallets onto racks or off of trucks as opposed to moving pallets
• operators who are average to above size

Keep in mind - an average manual pallet stacker weighs in at 1200-1400 pounds vs 200 pounds for a pallet jack. So it is obviously going to be harder to move a pallet stacker than a pallet jack. Add on a 1500 pound pallet and you are now moving 3000 pounds (the weight of a small car).

An electrically driven pallet stacker forklift is a good choice for:

• larger warehouses
• anytime you are planning to take the stacker out into a parking lot which might have dirt, pebbles, cracks to obstruct the wheels
• going up or down ANY incline

An electrically driven pallet stacker is EASY to move. Many models will have a speed control operated by a thumb switch that allows you to precisely set the forward or reverse speed.