Makes sense. I never looked that closely at the rear suspension on a lift truck, probably because I can't fit my head under there.

I've been in operations using Bendi's but I haven't actually driven them. When you get up close to one, they are really strange when you are used to standard lift trucks. They are not that uncommon around here (I live between Milwaukee and Chicago) where they are popular in manufacturing plants. I have driven a swingmast (Drexel) and worked around turrets.

Sounds like you need a road trip to a trade show. Promat will be in Chicago in January and they usually have just about everything there. I recall last time they had a Bendi actually operating in a narrow aisle. I felt sorry for the operator that had to keep moving the same load all day long. I'm pretty sure I've seen the Aislemaster there as well and they usually have several brands of turrets. They may even have one of those all-direction airtrax lifts operating. I saw one operating one years ago at Promat and it was pretty cool (though I can't really think of a practical application for one). I believe that driving one is more like flying than driving (though they wouldn't let me drive it). They also had a hydrogen fuel cell powered lift truck there last time and I would bet they would have at least one this time as well. They also usually have a pretty good assortment of lift truck attachments on display (though they usually aren't operational) and a variety of AGVs. And if that isn't enough, last time they even had a full-scale operational automated trailer loading system on display.

Sorry if I got a bit off topic, but I always look forward to Promat (it comes to Chicago every two years).