DMA's Mobile Forklift at work

By Daphne Haneman

Shepparton forklift business DMA Mobile Forklifts Pty Ltd has been inundated with calls after designing a truck that converts to a forklift.

DMA owner Ray Cox and TMF Engineering Solutions have built a mobile forklift welded to an Isuzu NKR 200 truck chassis. The vehicle has a rearward facing 2-tonne forklift with a 4.8-metre lifting capacity.

Cox said the forklift and truck operated as one. "The truck is the forklift. You just turn up on site."

He said speedy delivery, stability and greater lifting applications were unique features of the vehicle.

"You can jump in the truck and drive anywhere a forklift is needed at road speed limits. It can access places a crane truck or standard forklift can’t. It can even fit under carports and between some fence panels," he said.

A DMA statement said dual gearing and steering was operated from the truck cab and the forklift. New models were fitted with reversing cameras.

Statewide Forklifts Pty Ltd sales & rental manager Lou Pacchiarotta said he liked the forklift but thought it was suitable for small jobs.

"I like the truck/forklift. It looks small and tidy and the up side is you will be able to get to jobs quicker than waiting around for a tilt tray to pick up a forklift then deliver it to the site. However, it’s not very practical for a rough building site which uses all terrain forklifts," he said.

Pacchiarotta said return on investment was another consideration as hire costs for a 2-tonne forklift were "quite reasonable" at about AUD80 a day or AUD180 a week. However transport costs often "blow the budget" and that meant the mobile forklift could be a good investment.

ForkLift Sales Queensland director Steve Cunliffe said it was a clever concept and best suited to pulling a dog trailer.

"It would be best designed to pull a dog trailer which carries up to four pallets. This means when the driver gets on site, he disconnects the trailer, jumps on the forklift and unloads the trailer. He is not limited to delivering one pallet at a time," he said.

Two DMA mobile forklifts operate in Queensland and one in Shepparton. A fourth is being built. Cox said he planned to manufacture a fleet.