Hand pallet trucks
Buying Tips
- Entry height of just 51 mm
- Durable high-performance hydraulic pump
- Reinforced tiller
- Quick lift (up to 120 kg)
- Integrated drum brake
- Durable and robust thanks to high-quality materials and first-class construction
- Integrated drum brake
- Extremely agile thanks to short headlength
- Durable and robust thanks to high-quality materials and first-class construction
- Ideal for transport in trucks
- High manoeuvrability thanks to short fork length
- Ergonomic control element
- Minimises the noise produced during load transports
- Tiller for ergonomic operation by right and left-handed users
- Extremely agile in tight spaces thanks to short headlength
- Quick lift up to 120 kg
- Minimises the noise produced during load transports
- Tiller for ergonomic operation by right and left-handed users
- Low entry height of just 51 mm
- Quick lift (up to 120 kg)
- Connections feature lifetime lubrication for maintenance-free use
- Low entry height of just 51 mm
- Quick lift (up to 120 kg)
- Connections feature lifetime lubrication for maintenance-free use
- Low entry height of just 51 mm
- Quick lift (up to 120 kg)
- Connections feature lifetime lubrication for maintenance-free use
Hand pallet trucks for versatile use in warehouses and logistics
Hand pallet trucks are used to transport goods that can be moved on pallets or other load carriers. This buying guide tells you which types of hand pallet lifters you can find in the Jungheinrich PROFISHOP online store and how to choose the right model for your needs.
1. How to find the best hand pallet truck for your application
Pallet trucks are ideal for transporting palletised goods, transport boxes or wire mesh boxes. They are easy to operate and offer uncomplicated functionality and maintenance. The load is picked up via the two forks and the truck is steered manually with the tiller and pulled or pushed over short distances. Pumping several times with the tiller activates the hydraulic pump and causes the fork to be lifted until the ground clearance necessary for transporting the load is reached. To lower it at the destination, a lever on the handle is operated which releases the hydraulic pump and lowers the fork back to ground level. The hand pallet pump truck is then pulled backwards out from under the load carrier.
Below is a brief overview of some features of these industrial trucks:
- Hand pallet truck
- Pallet truck
- Manual pallet truck
- Manual pallet lifter
- Hand pump truck
- Transport and transfer of pallets, mesh and transport boxes as well as other goods that can be moved from underneath
- Can be used in indoor areas
- Can also be used sporadically in dry outdoor areas
- Low maintenance
- Cost-effective in purchase and maintenance
- Annual UVV inspection not required
- Can be used without forklift licence
- Independent of power sources and batteries
- High effort required for travel and lifting movements
- Low handling speed and a limited performance range
Hand pallet trucks are available in the BASIC, Ameise® and Jungheinrich model series in our online shop. Models differ in their equipment and range of functions. In addition, you can buy hand pallet trucks for special applications from us. In order to find the right model for your application, there are some important selection criteria to consider.
Intensity of use
In our range you will find manual pallet trucks that can be used with varying intensity and frequency for transport tasks in both indoor and dry outdoor areas. The intensity of use for the individual model series is largely determined by the lifting hydraulics or the installed hydraulic pump. The performance of the pump determines how many pump strokes must be made to raise the forks and how much manual effort is required by the operator. In addition, the intensity of use is also determined by the robustness and quality of the materials and components used. This results in the following application scenarios for hand pallet trucks from BASIC, Ameise® and Jungheinrich:
DF pump:
- Two welded pump parts
Stable entry-level device:
- Light transport tasks for short distances
- Optimal for occasional use
AC/ACY pump:
- AC pump consists of a cast body
- ACY pump as variant with screwed cover (particularly easy to maintain)
Robust mid-range device:
- Robust and reliable
- Suitable for continuous daily use
Jungheinrich hydraulic system:
- Particularly durable and resilient
- Easy to maintain due to uncomplicated seal replacement
Premium unit:
- Maximum stability and durability
- Suitable for daily continuous industrial use
Load capacity
Manual pallet trucks are used in warehouses, trade, and logistics as well as in many industrial areas. The loads that hand-operated pallet trucks can move in these working environments depend on the load capacity. The value indicates up to which maximum load the equipment may be loaded. You can buy hand pallet jacks with the following load capacities in our online store:
- Up to approx. 2,000kg: BASIC model series
- Up to 3000kg: Ameise® and Jungheinrich model series
Please note: Hand pallet trucks must never be overloaded. In addition to the loads to be transported regularly, you should therefore also consider possible peak loads when selecting the best hand pump truck to meet your needs. The load centre distance should be observed, and the load should always be evenly distributed. You can find more information on this in our pallet truck load capacity guide.
Fork length and fork carriage width
Most of the manual pump trucks available from our range have a standard fork length of 1,150mm and a standard fork carrying width of 520 to 540mm. However, you can also buy pallet trucks with special fork lengths and special fork widths. The different fork lengths and fork carrying widths determine the type and pick-up of the load carriers:
- Standard fork length of 1,150mm (all model series)
- Standard fork width of 520-540mm (all model series)
- Euro pallets
- Short forks between 800 and 1,000mm (Ameise®, Jungheinrich)
- Piece goods such as cartons or boxes
- Display pallets
- Half pallets
- Quarter pallets (CHEP pallets)
- Extra-long forks up to 2,100mm (Ameise®, Jungheinrich)
- Extra wide forks of 685 mm (Ameise®) and 680mm (Jungheinrich)
- Pallets with excess width or length
- Picks up several pallets at the same time
- Transverse pick-up of Euro pallets
Please note: For models with extra-long forks, the load capacity may decrease with increasing fork length.
Tyres
All our hand pallet trucks are equipped with two swivel wheels and at least two fork (load) rollers. To enable you to move loads easily on uneven surfaces or over speed humps, we also stock hand pallet trucks with tandem fork rollers. The load weight is better distributed on the double castors, which results in smoother running and greater stability when moving load carriers. At the same time, the wear of the individual rollers is reduced. Additional entry rollers in the fork tip also make it easier to enter and exit a pallet.
The wheels and castors for pallet trucks are available from us in different materials. In general, we recommend you always choose tyres that are suitable for the operating environmental conditions. Only then can the castors and wheels run safely and smoothly, and the hand pallet trucks be used in a power-saving way.
Wheels and castors for hand-operated pump trucks are available from us in the following materials:
- Particularly flexible and resistant
- Quiet, low noise running
- Shock-absorbing
- Low wear
- Highly resilient
- Long service life
- Low rolling resistance
- Non-marking
- Temperature resistant from -20°C to +80°C
- Oil and grease resistant
- On hard and sensitive floors
- Protects floors that must not be subjected to heavy loads
- Leaves no contact discolouration
- Very smooth running
- Shock-absorbing
- Low wear
- Highly resilient
- Long service life
- Low rolling resistance
- Temperature resistant from -20°C to +80°C
- Oil and grease resistant
- Resistant to many aggressive mediums (alkalis and acids)
- On rough and uneven floors
- Non chalking
- Resistant to acids and alkalis
- Low wear
- Hard and abrasion resistant
- Temperature resistant from -40°C to +90°C
- High running noise
- More susceptible to impact
- High surface pressure
- Low rolling resistance
- In the food and chemical industry
- On smooth and even floors
- Only conditionally suitable for soft or pressure-sensitive floors (e.g., tiles)
- Good grip even on rough, uneven, damp and smooth floors
- Particularly hard-wearing
- Very smooth running
- High elasticity
- Not susceptible to impact
- Good load distribution
- Temperature resistant from -5°C to +80°C
- Higher running resistance
- Slightly chalking
- For environments where smooth running is required, e.g., when loading goods at night
- For applications where special grip is required, e.g., on uneven floors, for outdoor use in damp conditions or for use on ramps
Additional functions
To make picking up, moving and lowering palletised goods even easier and more comfortable, many of our standard and mini hand pallet truck models are equipped with practical additional functions:
- Lift pallets up to 120kg:
- Move directly under the pallet with one pump stroke
- With three pump strokes floor-free, five pump strokes to maximum lift height
- If the pallet weighs more than 120kg, the quick lift switches to the normal lift
- Ideal for work with low weight and many lifting movements
Ameise®, Jungheinrich
- Filling support, via which the lift truck bearings can be supplied with grease via grease gun
- For simplified maintenance and easy greasing of lift truck bearings
BASIC, Ameise® (Jungheinrich models have maintenance-free Teflon bearings instead)
While the above features are already integrated in some of our hand pallet truck models, we also offer accessories that you can additionally purchase or retrofit:
- Steel construction for solid rubber steering wheels
- Ensures safe standing even when loaded and on sloping ground (up to 3% slope)
- Manually operated
- Can be mounted between both castor wheels
- Move-Lock function: brake block is locked by rotation
- Warehouse logistics
- Retail
- On slopes
BASIC, Ameise®, Jungheinrich
- Steering wheels are placed in PU ring and fix the pallet truck in place during transport
- Easy to attach to the truck bed
- Transport safety on trucks or vans
- Can also be used on smooth, uneven or sloping floors
BASIC, Ameise®, Jungheinrich
2. Our hand pallet truck models in detail
You can buy manual pallet trucks in many designs and with different functionalities from our range.
Hand pallet truck Jungheinrich
The hand pallet trucks from Jungheinrich, painted in characteristic yellow, are premium industrial trucks. Not only does the special lifting hydraulics allow intensive and power-saving continuous operation, but the trucks are also particularly comfortable to use. The patented, ergonomic tiller handle is suitable for right- and left-handers, so that the manual lift trucks can be comfortably steered, loads picked up and lowered as well as moved at any time. Impressed markings on the pallet truck also indicate the exact, secure position of the pallets when they are picked up crosswise.
The pallet trucks of our premium series are made of high-performance steel and feature bent joints, sophisticated kinematics, and rear-mounted moulds. This ensures stability with a simultaneously low dead weight. Maintenance-free Teflon bearings and powerful lifting hydraulics also guarantee that the hand pump trucks in the Jungheinrich range require only minimal maintenance.
For the Jungheinrich AM 22 model, extensive additional functions and special equipment are available on request:
- Electrostatic charges are discharged into the floor and punctures are prevented
- Aluminium rim with deep groove ball bearing, tyres made of conductive solid rubber
- Tested according to DIN EN 12526
- Discharge resistance of ≤107 Ω
- Hazardous areas
- Clean rooms
- Laboratories
- Medical areas
- Industrial manufacturing and electromechanics
- Precise positioning possible even under load
- Brake is conveniently locked and released by lever on tiller handle
- Drum brake engages on one side of both castor wheels
- Prevents rolling away
- Warehouse logistics
- Retail
- On slopes and uneven floors
- Resistant ball bearings
- Particularly robust and wear-resistant in extreme ambient conditions
- Function of driving and parking brake only possible to a limited extent after installation of steel wheels
- Heavy industry
- Foundries
- Uneven floors
- Floors with metal chips or other sharp-edged processing residues
- Transport of load carriers with a standard under clearance greater than 90mm
- Folding frame stands vertically when not in use
- When in use, it is folded down onto the forks
- Free lifting and moving of loads with a higher under clearance height
- Special lowering valve ensures even and gentle lowering of the load
- For transporting fragile or sensitive goods
- Achieves up to 50% noise reduction depending on the surface due to:
- Insulating foam mats on the chassis
- Bearings sealed with Teflon shims
- Fork rollers made of low-noise soft polyurethane
- In traffic-calmed areas
- In sales areas with direct customer contact
- For goods delivery during rest periods
- Corrosion-resistant, durable stainless-steel axles
- Simplified maintenance due to grease nipples
- Long service life of moving components
- Intensive continuous operation
- For operating environments where maintenance is to be kept to a minimum
- Own colour design in operating colours possible
- Ensures more care and attention in daily use
- For exhibition and advertising purposes
- Corporate identity
- Anti-theft protection
Ameise® hand pallet trucks
Ameise® manual pallet trucks are robust and reliable mid-level models. These industrial trucks are just as suitable for occasional transport tasks in the retail trade as for demanding continuous use in industrial companies. Depending on the model, these versatile manual lift trucks with an AC or ACY hydraulic pump can pick up and move loads of up to 2500kg. Depending on the model, pallet trucks from Ameise® are available with parking brake, grease nipple and quick lift functions.
Industrial pallet trucks from Ameise® also have an integrated drum brake. This enables safe use of the equipment on slopes and ramps with a gradient of up to 3%. The drum brake is installed between the steering wheels and is released via the operating lever as a driving and/or parking brake. With the infinitely variable brake, the travel speed on slopes can be individually adjusted. The parking function fixes the hand pallet truck in place, so that it cannot roll away.
For special application scenarios, Ameise® trucks are also available as extra-narrow and mini hand pallet trucks. The lightweight mini hand pallet trucks with a small turning radius and low dead weight have a short fork length and short fork carrying width. This makes them ideal to transport in trucks or vans and perfect transport aids in confined spaces such as small salesrooms, narrow corridors or hard-to-reach storage areas. With the mini models from Ameise® you can transport half pallets, display pallets and other special pallets up to a maximum weight of approx. 500kg.
The extra-narrow hand pallet trucks from Ameise® are suitable for picking up and moving narrow pallets safely and comfortably. The practical industrial trucks offer the same load capacities and fork lengths as standard models, but are particularly narrow with a fork width of only 450mm.
As soon as you need to transport and transfer long goods or extra-wide loads in very narrow warehouse aisles, the Ameise® four-way pallet trucks are the ideal solution. With these hand pallet trucks, loads can be moved not only forwards and backwards, but also sideways. This is ensured by the special design technology of the four-way lift truck.
Hand pallet trucks for special applications
In our online shop we also have pallet truck models that are suitable for special applications. These designs are more suitable for special tasks, both in terms of economy and technology.
Flat pallet truck
Flat pallet trucks are available in the Jungheinrich and Ameise® model ranges and offer a very low entry height of only approximately 51mm and particularly flat forks. The industrial trucks, also known as low-floor pallet trucks, can therefore pick up pallets and other load carriers that are almost at floor level. They also enable the pick-up and horizontal transport of:
- Non-standard euro pallets
- One-way pallets
- Other special pallets
Our flat pallet trucks are also available with short forks and with special fork carrying widths as required. These practical hand pallet trucks are best used exclusively on flat, smooth surfaces, as they have very little ground clearance.
Display pallet lifter
With our display pallet lifters, you can lift, lower and move loads manually and quietly on level and paved surfaces. The display pallet lifters are especially ideal in sales areas, when display, CHEP and quarter pallets must be moved. Special pallets can conveniently be raised and lowered via a foot lever, with two rubber buffers ensuring gentle lowering. The two swivel castors with locking brake ensure optimum grip when lifting and moving the goods. Thanks to the protective grid, the load is also protected from falling over.
In order to lift palletised goods or sales displays as well as rolls or roll-off goods, the display pallet lifters in our range are available in two different versions. The practical transport aids are either available with a stable support surface or with a monofork. Further equipment features of our display pallet lifters are:
- Lifting height 120-400mm
- Load capacity 200-250kg
- Versions available in (hot-)galvanised steel
3. FAQ for hand pallet trucks
These types of trucks are ideal for the transport of palletised goods, transport boxes or pallet cages. They are easy to operate and uncomplicated in function, operation, and maintenance. Hand pallet trucks with manual drive and hand-hydraulic lift have the following advantages and disadvantages:
- Low maintenance
- Inexpensive to purchase and maintain
- No need for annual UVV inspection
- Can be used without a forklift licence
- Independent of power sources and batteries
- High effort required for travel and lifting movement
- Low handling speed: limited scope of performance
Manual pallet trucks with quick lift can lift loads of up to 120kg with just a few pump strokes. With only one drawbar stroke, the pallet truck can be moved under the pallet, with only three drawbar strokes, a loaded pallet can be lifted without touching the floor. And with only five pump strokes, the maximum lifting height is already reached. So, if primarily empty pallets or loads weighing less than 120kg have to be lifted, the quick lift function saves a lot of time and energy. However, if loads weighing more than 120kg are lifted, the hand pallet truck automatically switches to normal lift, which requires more tiller strokes.
Dirt and dust can accumulate in the lifting hydraulics over time and impair the functions. Too low an oil level also has a negative effect on the lifting performance of a pallet truck. To ensure that the lifting piston in the hydraulic system remains slippery and works reliably, the hydraulic oils HLP 46 or HLP 32 are mainly used. The number indicates the viscosity of the hydraulic oil. HLP 32, for example, is ideal for normal ambient conditions and temperatures. On the other hand, there are special hydraulic oils for hand pallet trucks that are used in food areas. These have to meet special hygiene regulations and safety standards.