Pallet Trucks, Power and Performance: Choosing the Right Combination
Electric walkie pallet jacks are among the most versatile material handling vehicles, used for pallet transport, dock work and trailer loading and unloading. Some are even designated for mobile duty, traveling with over the road delivery trucks to help facilitate full pallet, liftgate deliveries.
Depending on the application, pallet trucks are also subjected to a wide range of duty cycles. In busy warehouse applications, they may be used nearly continuously throughout the shift. In other applications, such as mobile deliveries, their use is more sporadic, performing in quick bursts at one location then another.
Given the variety of uses and applications for electric pallet trucks, it’s no surprise that they come in many different configurations with several different battery options so you can choose the model that best fits your use case. For many electric pallet truck buyers, the choices may not be obvious as size, weight, usage, and maintenance considerations influence the decision.
This blog will help take some of the mystery out of the process and help you prioritize the factors that will guide your purchase decision.
1. Capacity
There are three different capacity options across Crown’s walkie pallet trucks, ranging from 2,600 pounds in our most compact WJ Series to 8,000 pounds in our heavy-duty PW Series. Between those extremes lies the popular WP Series, with a capacity up to 4,500 pounds.
In some cases, there are multiple models within a series. This enables you to select the series based on capacity, then identify the model within the series that best fits your application. The WJ Series consists of two models: one with a rated capacity up to 2,600 pounds and another rated up to 3,300 pounds. Every model in the WP Series is rated up to 4,500 pounds across all models. The PW Series consists of models with either 6,000 or 8,000 pound capacity.
With these different capacity ranges across the three series, you can narrow your pallet truck search by first considering the weight of your heaviest load and selecting the series that aligns with that maximum. You can narrow your choices further by looking at the other considerations below.
2. Duty Cycle
Another important consideration when choosing an electric pallet jack is comparing duty cycle requirements. While a pallet truck series may fit your capacity requirements, it also needs to support your day-to-day usage requirements.
One way in which pallet trucks can be matched to duty cycles is the amount of runtime needed from a fully-charged battery. A more robust duty cycle may require a larger battery. Different pallet truck models may have different size battery compartments in order to accommodate different battery sizes.
Lithium-ion batteries will behave much differently than lead-acid batteries, so it may be best to determine the type of battery and charging approach that fits your application and budget, then choose the pallet truck model that supports the desired battery. Crown’s WJ Series compact pallet jack is designed to use V-Force lithium-ion batteries exclusively. The WP and PW Series can be equipped to support either V-Force lithium-ion or V-Force lead acid batteries in multiple sizes and capacities.
Some applications will favor smaller batteries due to required runtime, though this runtime can also be enhanced with opportunity charging throughout the day when used in a warehouse setting. Other applications require nearly continuous operation with no option for opportunity charging. In these cases, a larger battery – and a pallet truck with a larger battery compartment – may be the right solution.
The availability of extra batteries, and the time and space to swap them, can also affect this decision. While this decision is more likely to be associated with lead-acid batteries, Crown’s WJ Series does offer swappable lithium-ion batteries that can easily be changed by the operator.
Choosing the right pallet jack can also depend on your operating environment and capabilities. In some applications, especially in large warehouse operations and busy dock work, electric pallet trucks can be used almost continuously, moving pallets from one place to another, sometimes over long distances. In other applications, such as mobile deliveries, pallet trucks run more intermittently, moving pallets relatively short distances for short periods while sitting idle for a major portion of the day.
3. Maneuverability
In tight spaces like loading docks, a pallet truck with a shorter head length – and likely a smaller battery box – enhances maneuverability. This can be helpful on the dock among the staged pallets and within the trucks and trailers in which the pallets are loaded and unloaded.
For mobile deliveries, it may be important that the pallet truck fits securely in a designated storage compartment. It must also navigate within the confines of the delivery truck or even a liftgate in some applications. Once removed from the delivery truck, the pallet truck may also need to maneuver tight spaces in commercial buildings and retail applications, encountering narrow doorways and aisles and possibly even elevators.
In applications where maneuverability is a priority, the WJ Series may be the right solution if it meets the capacity and duty cycle requirements. It features a very short head length and the tightest turning radius available in the industry. Certain WP Series models, especially those with smaller battery boxes, may also be a good fit when the application requires a bit more capacity.
The WJ and WP Series pallet trucks are also equipped with two features that further enhance maneuverability in tight spaces. Position Speed Control allows the operator to engage traction at creep speed with the control handle in a near-vertical position. Vertical Tiller Drive enables the operator to continue to fine-tune the position of the load with the control handle in a completely vertical position. Both features enable the operator to precisely move the pallet truck and load with confidence in confined spaces.
4. Charging and Maintenance
Although Crown offers pallet trucks that can be configured to operate with either lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries, it is still important to consider your application’s battery charging and maintenance requirements. As noted earlier, choosing the desired battery type and charging approach can help narrow your pallet truck decision.
For instance, will one lead-acid battery support an entire shift given your required duty cycle and runtime? If you run more than one shift, will you have the space to maintain extra battery inventory and the external chargers necessary to charge them? Do you have the time and equipment necessary to swap them so you can use, charge and cool down the batteries as they are intended?
Another factor to be considered is the maintenance of the batteries you may choose. Wet-cell lead-acid batteries require a high level of maintenance over their lifetime, including periodic battery watering as well as a disciplined charging procedure that allows for eight hours of charge time, eight hours of cool-down time and eight hours of use. Will your operators perform battery watering regularly and ensure that they swap for and use batteries that have been properly cooled? Also, lead-acid batteries typically require a weekly equalization charge to maintain battery health, essentially taking that battery offline for a usage cycle. Will your staff have the discipline to follow these best practices?
In cases where regular battery maintenance has been or can be challenging, you may consider battery technologies that eliminate some or most of the maintenance requirements. Maintenance-free lead-acid battery options eliminate the watering requirement, but they will still require a disciplined charging process and a weekly equalization charge.
Lithium-ion batteries can eliminate both requirements, with no need for watering, and they can simply be charged when needed. For those choosing to use lithium-ion power, any of Crown’s walkie pallet trucks – the WJ, WP or PW Series – can be utilized.
Opportunity charging can be done conveniently with on-board chargers, which come standard for lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid battery packs. The on-board charger is designed to support opportunity charging, and it can be easily plugged into any 110-volt outlet.
Choosing the Right Electric Pallet Truck
When it comes down to selecting the right Crown electric pallet truck model, think about where and how you believe the pallet truck will be used most frequently. Virtually any model will be versatile enough to handle a variety of applications, but you should base your decision on the tasks it will perform most often.
When considering the application, also focus on the key decision factors: Capacity, Duty Cycle, Maneuverability and Charging & Maintenance. Most consider these factors in this order, but you should rank these factors in order of importance for your specific needs. You can also consult your local Crown dealer for guidance in ranking your requirements and selecting the appropriate model.
For online purchases, visit shop.crown.com and choose from the options that are available for immediate purchase. You can also use Crown’s Build My Truck feature to help you choose the model or options that fit your application. If you have questions, a live chat option will connect you with a representative who can assist you.