An Alternative to Forklift Trucks – The Electric Tow Tug

Manufacturers need material handling equipment that delivers powerful movements, precision mobility and maximises manoeuvrability.

For the movement of heavy loads, industrial manufacturers have an array of material-handling equipment at their disposal – including electric tugs and forklift trucks.

Forklift trucks and electric tow tugs are both types of industrial equipment used to move large, heavy loads. However, they are both designed for two vastly different purposes.

Electric tug vs forklifts

The operation of a forklift truck is widely understood, with their design focused on lifting heavy loads such as pallets, stillages and crates, typically within warehouses and production environments.

On the other hand, an electric tug is designed to push, pull, steer and position heavy-wheeled loads. The core difference is that electric tugs do not lift loads but move wheeled loads that stay safely on the ground.

Let’s look at the differences in more detail:

What are forklift trucks?

Forklift trucks are motorized vehicles used to lift and transport heavy loads in warehouses, factories, and other industrial settings. They are powered by either a battery or an internal combustion engine (ICE), and the operator uses hydraulic levers to control the lifting and movement of loads.

What are forklift trucks used for?

Forklifts are used for various tasks such as loading and unloading trucks, transferring materials from one area to another and stacking products on shelves. They are essential tools where the lifting of goods is required.

What are forklifts NOT designed for?

With a design focused on delivering a powerful ability to lift loads, a forklift is intended for one operation – lifting.

Despite this, some users stretch the abilities of forklifts and try to use them in the same way as tow tugs.

As any reputable forklift manufacturer will tell you, a forklift should never be used to tow a heavy load, even if they feature what looks like a rear tow pin. The rear tow pin on a forklift truck is only for recovering the vehicle in the event of a breakdown.

There are several reasons you shouldn’t tow with a forklift, but the main one is it creates a tipping risk. This is especially true for models with rear-wheel drive, where front-wheel braking systems can make the units unstable when towing.