Towing Hitch Attachment
Trailer towing hitch attachments may be used provided truck, fork, and towing hitch capacities are not exceeded, and maneuvers are planned so as to avoid putting the lift truck or its towed load into an unstable condition.
Before using this type of attachment on your forklift truck, you must:
A) Check the capacity rating of your forklift truck for lifting the load (tongue weight of the towed load).
B) Check the capacity rating of your forks. This is stamped into the side of each fork. The combined capacity of the forks should be equal to or greater than the capacity rating of your truck.
C) Do not lift a load that exceeds the capacity rating of the truck, the forks, or this attachment. The component with the lowest capacity rating determines the maximum load weight you can lift (tongue weight of the towed load).
D) Check the thickness of each fork blade at the heel and if it is less than 90-percent the thickness of the vertical back section of the fork, the fork has been worn beyond safe limits, the capacity of the fork is severely reduced, and the fork(s) must be replaced before using this attachment.
E) Most trucks and forks are rated at 24" load center (horizontal center of gravity) measured from the front face of the vertical back section of the forks. Therefore, you should use a towing hitch attachment with safety towing chain such that you can adjust the length of the safety chain to prevent the towing hitch from being more than 24" from the front face of the vertical back section of the forks.
F) If you must position the towing ball or hitch more than 24" from the front face of the forks, you must check with the manufacturer of your truck and the forks to determine the safe capacity rating of all components at the extended load center.
G) Check the forklift truck's capacity rating for towing loads. This is different from the forklift truck's capacity rating for lifting a load (the tongue weight of the load to be towed). The total weight of the towed load must not exceed the forklift truck's capacity rating for towing loads. The truck's capacity rating for towing a load will be based on its ability to move the load and also on its ability to stop the moving load. Once the towed load is in motion, your truck must be capable of controlling its travel speed and capable of safely bringing it to a stop.
H) The towing hitch attachment, its safety towing chain, and fork length, must be assembled or arranged such that when pulling the towed load, there is no longitudinal (pulling) forces on the fork(s) on which the towing hitch attachment is mounted. The pulling forces must be directed from the towed load through the towing hitch and safety towing chain to the truck's fork carriage bar(s). The mounting hooks of the forks are designed for vertical forces created by carrying loads and are not designed for longitudinal forces caused by pulling loads.
I) Position the towing attachment's hitch or ball as close as possible to the centerline of the forklift truck's chassis. Be careful to NOT HAVE either fork's bottom hanger positioned in the cleat (notch) in the bottom fork bar.
J) Keep the forks and towing attachment a low as possible. Do not raise the forks and towing attachment more than 12-inches above the ground.
K) Travel only on a smooth, level surface and at 1 mph or less. (1-1/2 feet per second)
L) Keep the forklift truck and the towed load in a straight line so that the direction of force applied during towing is in a straight line pointing through the length of the forklift truck's chassis. Avoid maneuvers that cause side loading.
M) Keep people a safe distance from the forklift truck and the towed load - at least as far as the distance from the ground to the top of the towed load and not closer than 24-inches.