Factors you need to know when choosing a forklift mast

When choosing a forklift mast, there are a few factors to consider in addition to type: the lowered and extended height, lift height, and freelift.

Lift Height: (also known as maximum fork height) tells you how high the forks will be with the mast fully extended. When choosing a forklift mast, add at least six inches to the height of your topmost racking shelf. This will allow your operators to safely adjust loads when the mast is fully extended.
Free lift: refers to how high a load can be lifted before the mast starts to extend. The ability to freelift is important if your lift truck will be lifting and maneuvering in areas where overhead clearance is restricted.
Lowered Height or Collapsed Height: This is the distance from from the floor to the top of the mast when the mast is lowered. If your forklift needs to travel beneath a garage or container door, the lowered height may be important.

Extended Height:This measures the height from the top of the mast (or load backrest) with the mast fully extended.