When space is a premium commodity, shifting to narrow aisles is often a straightforward and effective warehouse solution to accommodate more products in the same space. This blog post explores common and narrow warehouse aisle widths, the forklift solutions available to navigate narrow aisles in your warehouse or distribution center, and why you should rent narrow aisle forklifts before you buy.   

Common and Narrow Aisle Widths  

Here is a quick rundown of regular warehouse aisle widths and narrow aisle widths:  

  • Regular aisles typically span between 10 ½ feet and 12 feet.  
  • Narrow aisles generally are 8 ½ feet to 10 ½ feet.  
  • Very narrow aisles, the most space-saving option, can be as narrow as 5 to 7 feet.  

Four Forklift Solutions for Narrow Aisles  

Many warehouses today rely on forklift fleets designed to navigate standard aisle widths. However, transitioning to narrower aisles often requires upgrading or adding new forklifts to ensure peak efficiency.  

Here are four cutting-edge forklift solutions tailored for narrow and very narrow aisles:  

  1. Toyota Electric Reach Truck—Single or Double Reach: Toyota’s electric reach truck offers unparalleled efficiency, navigating aisles as narrow as seven feet. It can lift loads to 4,500 pounds and reach heights exceeding 30 feet, maximizing productivity, especially in double-reach configurations.  
  2. Toyota Electric Order Picker: Designed to access goods stored at height, Toyota’s Order Picker excels in navigating narrow aisles while ensuring operator safety and efficiency. Equipped with a platform, it facilitates seamless picking of items up to 390 inches in height.  
  3. Aisle-Master Articulating Very Narrow Aisle Truck: Engineered for extreme space optimization, Combilift’s Aisle-Master Articulating Truck effortlessly maneuvers through aisles as narrow as 5 feet and 6 inches. Its robust construction and ability to handle heavy-duty tasks streamline operations, minimizing handling time and costs.  
  4. Toyota’s Core Electric Turret Forklift: Toyota’s Core Electric Turret Forklift offers unparalleled versatility and a swinging fork face that enables handling loads from various angles without turning. With a lifting capacity of 2,500 pounds, it excels in dock-to-stock operations, even in aisles as narrow as seven feet.  

Why You Should Rent Narrow Aisle Forklifts Before You Buy 

Renting a narrow aisle forklift offers flexibility, cost savings, and access to top-notch equipment without hefty upfront investments. It allows businesses to scale their fleet as needed, access newer models with advanced features, and avoid maintenance burdens. With rental agreements often including maintenance services, it’s a practical and cost-effective solution for optimizing material handling operations.  

TMHS offers daily, monthly, or long-term rental needs from our over 1000+ rental units available. All rental equipment includes maintenance and our rental replacement guarantee, which means that if your rental equipment is down for more than 24 hours, we’ll provide a replacement unit at no additional cost. 

Optimizing Your Warehouse Operations with Narrow Aisle Forklifts  

By embracing innovative forklift solutions designed for narrow aisles, warehouses can efficiently utilize space, streamline operations, and stay ahead in the competitive logistics landscape. If you’re considering narrowing aisle widths to increase storage capacity, our team of experts can help. Schedule a consultation today, and let us tailor the perfect narrow aisle solution to optimize your operations, reduce downtime, and enhance overall productivity.  

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