Four Considerations for Choosing Liftgates
There are diverse types of liftgates, therefore it is important to be cautious when selecting the ideal product for your truck. Poor quality liftgates can present safety hazards during loading, unloading and hauling of goods. Moreover, these can be ineffective in accomplishing tasks which leads to inconvenience and financial losses. Here are the main factors that you should consider to ensure that your liftgate is ideal.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity of the liftgate is probably the most critical aspect in the selection process. Generally, the structures are made from solid steel but they are not infallible. If a liftgate is overloaded, it will collapse or become unhinged due to the excess pressure. Slight wieght excesses can also cause damage, though the deterioration will be slow. You can estimate the required weight capacity in for your liftgate by calculating the potential maximum weight of the loads. In addition, you will need to include the estimated weight of the driver, the pallet and the electric pallet jack. The result should give you a relatively accurate weight capacity approximate.
Truck Bed Height
The height clearance for trucks is different depending on the model so this is an important aspect to consider. Liftgates are designed to be hung from the truck bed and these two dimensions should match. If the liftgate is too short, it will not touch the ground. so loading and unloading will be difficult. Long liftgates will be hard to open fully. Additionally, it is important to understand that the truck bed height will vary depending on whether the truck is full or empty. In simple terms, the body of the truck will be depressed when the truck is full such that the clearance will become shorter. The liftgate should account for this difference so that the liftgate will be useful in both circumstances. The best way to ensure that the height of the liftgate is perfect is to purchase a structure designed for your specific vehicle model.
Liftgate Type
There are different types of liftgates and they are commonly classified by their configuration. Popular examples include fold-away, traditional fold-up, dump-through and even swing-open. These designs can only be used with trucks with a matching rear style. For example, swing-open liftgate is inexpensive compared to other types of rear doors so it is highly desirable. Unfortunately, you cannot purchase it for a truck which needs a rail-style because there is no designated area for hinges. You should get a professional to assess your truck if you are uncertain on the liftgate type required.
