What Is a Reach Truck? Reach Truck vs Forklift for Narrow Aisles
Table of Contents
Most warehouses run out of floor space long before they run out of height. The racking could go higher and the aisles could be tighter, but a standard forklift needs room to turn and can only reach so far up. That’s the gap a reach truck fills. Sometimes called a reach forklift, it’s built to work in tight aisles and to place pallets high up in the rack.
This guide explains what a reach truck is, how it works, how it compares with a regular forklift, and how to tell when narrow aisle equipment is worth it for your building.
Quick Answer
A reach truck is an electric lift truck built for narrow aisles and high racking. Instead of a heavy counterweight, it uses two legs at the front that sit under the load, and its forks or mast reach forward to place pallets into the rack. It works in aisles of approximately 3.0 to 3.35 m (10 to 11 ft) for many conventional reach-truck applications, compared with 3.4 to 4.3 m for a sit-down forklift, and commonly lifts 8 to 12 m. The trade-off is that it’s an indoor machine for smooth floors, not a dock or yard truck.
How a reach truck works
A standard counterbalance forklift carries its load in front of the front wheels and balances it with a heavy weight at the back. A reach truck solves the balance problem differently.
The baselegs
Two legs, often called baselegs or straddle legs, stick out in front of the truck with load wheels at the ends. When the forks are pulled back, the load sits over or between those legs, inside the truck’s footprint. The heavy battery sits behind the operator and adds to the stability. Because the truck doesn’t need a big counterweight, it can be much shorter, which is what lets it turn in a narrow aisle.
The reach mechanism
To pick up or set down a pallet, the forks have to move forward past the legs and into the rack. Reach trucks do this in one of two ways:
- Pantograph or scissor reach. A folding scissor arm pushes the forks forward from the mast. Longer scissors can reach a second pallet deep into the rack. Noblelift’s RT15/20SP uses this design.
- Moving mast. The whole mast rolls forward along the legs, carrying the forks with it. Moving mast trucks are simple, sturdy and well suited to single-deep racking. The RT16-Li, RT16/20Pro and RT15/20/25 ST are moving mast reach trucks.
Once the load is on the forks, the operator pulls it back over the legs before driving, which keeps the truck stable and compact while it travels.
Reach truck vs forklift
“Forklift” usually means a counterbalance forklift, the sit-down truck most people picture. Here’s how a reach truck forklift compares:
| Reach truck | Counterbalance forklift | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical aisle width | Approximately 3.0 to 3.35 m (10 to 11 ft) for many conventional models | 3.4 to 4.3 m (11 to 14 ft) |
| Typical lift height | 8 to 12 m | Often around 3 to 6 m; higher-lift models are available |
| Typical capacity | 1,000 to 2,500 kg | 1,500 to 5,500 kg and up |
| Where it works | Indoors, on smooth level floors | Indoors and outdoors |
| Trailer loading | Poor fit | Good fit |
| Power | Electric | Electric, propane or diesel |
The short version: a reach truck wins on storage density and height, while a counterbalance forklift wins on versatility. A reach truck’s legs can’t get under a trailer floor or over a dock plate easily, and its small load wheels don’t suit rough or wet ground. That’s why many warehouses run both, with counterbalance forklifts at the docks and reach trucks in the racking. Our guide to the 7 main types of forklifts shows where each one fits.
Types of reach trucks
Stand-on vs. sit-down
On a stand-on reach truck, the operator stands sideways in a compact compartment, which gives good visibility both forward and back and makes it quick to step on and off. Sit-down reach trucks are more comfortable for long shifts and long travel distances. Our stand-up vs. sit-down guide covers the trade-offs in detail.
Single-deep vs. double-deep
A standard reach truck reaches one pallet deep into the rack. A double deep reach truck has longer scissors that reach two pallets deep, so the racking can be set up two pallets back to back with one aisle serving both. That removes aisles and adds storage, but it works best when you store several pallets of the same product, since the back pallet can only be reached once the front one is moved. Noblelift’s RT15DP is a double reach truck rated at 1,500 kg.
Very narrow aisle trucks
When even reach truck aisles are too wide, there’s a further step. A very narrow aisle forklift, often called a turret truck, picks pallets from the side instead of turning into the rack, so it can work in aisles of roughly 1.7 to 2.0 m (5.5 to 6.5 ft). These trucks usually need wire or rail guidance in the floor. Noblelift’s options include the VDE160 turret truck with lift heights up to 30 ft (about 9 m), the OPK-150 man-up turret truck with operating heights up to 16.28 m, and the OPX15 sit-down swing reach truck.
Lithium reach trucks
Reach trucks are all electric, and battery choice has a big effect on how much work they get done. A lithium battery can be topped up during breaks instead of being swapped, needs no watering, and holds its voltage as it discharges, which can help maintain consistent performance through the shift. That matters on a reach truck, which spends much of its day raising loads to the top of the rack. The RT16-Li is a sit-down lithium reach truck, and our lithium solution page explains charge times and battery life in more detail.
When narrow aisle equipment makes sense
A reach truck or other narrow aisle forklift usually pays off when most of these are true:
- Your racking goes above about 6 m, or you want it to.
- You need more pallet positions without moving to a bigger building. Narrowing aisles from counterbalance width to reach truck width can add meaningful pallet positions, depending on rack layout, building dimensions and required clearances.
- The work is indoors on smooth, level concrete.
- Most of the work is putting away and retrieving pallets, not loading trailers.
- You run enough volume to justify a dedicated racking truck.
If most of your work happens at the dock or in the yard, a counterbalance forklift is still the better first truck, and a reach truck can be added later as storage grows.
Reach trucks are also a common choice for freezers, where building and cooling space is expensive. Our cold storage forklift guide covers what to look for in that environment.
Safety and training
Reach trucks handle differently from counterbalance forklifts. The operator often stands sideways, steering can feel reversed, and the truck lifts much higher. A few points matter most:
- Capacity drops with height. A reach truck rated at 2,000 kg low down may have a lower rated capacity at maximum lift height, depending on the mast and load centre. Always check the capacity plate at the height you’re working.
- Floors matter. Cracks, slopes and debris that a counterbalance forklift rides over can unsettle a reach truck at height.
- Travel with the load retracted and low. Pull the load back over the legs before moving.
In Canada, operators must be trained and evaluated on the type of truck they use, in line with CSA B335:25 and provincial rules, so operators trained only on counterbalance forklifts need reach-truck-specific training and evaluation before operating one. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety’s guidance on maintaining truck control is a useful refresher.
FAQ
What is a reach truck used for?
A reach truck is used to put away and retrieve pallets in high racking with narrow aisles. It’s the main racking truck in many distribution centres and cold storage warehouses.
What is the difference between a reach truck and a forklift?
A reach truck carries the load over two front legs and reaches forward into the rack, so it works in narrower aisles and lifts higher. A counterbalance forklift carries the load in front of the truck, needs wider aisles, but can also work at docks, on trailers and outdoors.
How narrow an aisle can a reach truck work in?
Often around 3.0 to 3.35 m (10 to 11 ft) for conventional reach trucks, depending on the truck and pallet size. Very narrow aisle turret trucks can work in about 1.7 to 2.0 m.
Can a reach truck be used outside?
Generally no. Reach trucks have small load wheels and low ground clearance, so they are built for smooth indoor floors.
What is a double deep reach truck?
It’s a reach truck with longer scissors that can reach a second pallet stored behind the first. It lets you place racking two pallets deep and remove aisles, which suits warehouses holding several pallets of the same product.
Do you need separate training for a reach truck?
Yes. Operator training in Canada is specific to the type of truck, so operators need training and evaluation on reach trucks even if they’re already trained on counterbalance forklifts.
Choosing the right reach truck for your racking
The right reach truck depends on your rack height, aisle width, pallet sizes and how many shifts you run. Noblelift Canada offers stand-on, sit-down, double reach and very narrow aisle trucks, including lithium models. Browse the reach and stand-up truck range, and multi-site operators can ask about our national accounts program. Call +1 514-697-0117 or request a quote to get started.
