Hi again John an others
The worst situation with a counterbalanced forklift is when it is very lightly loaded and hence is to be driven up a ramp with the forks facing up the ramp. As the ramp gets steeper more and more weight is transferred off the drive. As an indication for the normal range of counterbalance forklifts, and assuming a low friction factor between the forklift tires of 0.4 (normally will be as high as 0.6) then the limits are:
Empty forklift, forks facing down the ramp - on average can traverse a slope up to 24% and worst weight distribution forklifts would be limited to 18%;
10% loaded forklift, forks facing up the ramp - on average can traverse a slope up to 15% and worst weight distribution forklifts would be limited to 12%;
100% loaded forklift, forks facing up the ramp - on average can traverse a slope up to 28% and worst weight distribution forklifts would be limited to 25%;