How does a piggyback forklift work?
A piggyback forklift attaches to a mounting kit on the rear of a truck or trailer and is carried to the delivery site as part of the load. When the driver arrives, the forklift powers off the truck, drives around to the pallets, and sets them wherever the customer needs them, including soft ground, driveways, and unfinished job sites. Once the truck is empty, the forklift remounts the rear of the truck and locks in for transport. Models come in both three-wheel and four-wheel configurations. The compact build keeps the machine short and tight for maneuvering. Units with hydraulic outriggers or moving-mast reach can place a load over a fence or across a curb. Because the machine travels with the freight, you do not need a dock, a ramp, or a forklift stationed at every destination.
Who should buy a truck-mounted forklift?
Businesses that deliver heavy palletized goods to sites without loading docks get the most value from a truck-mounted forklift. Lumber yards and building-supply dealers use them to drop framing packages, drywall, and block at construction sites. Roofing and masonry suppliers place bundles directly on the ground or onto elevated staging. Agriculture operations move feed, seed, and equipment across yards and fields. Logistics and distribution fleets use them for curbside and residential deliveries where no dock exists. If your trucks arrive at locations that cannot receive freight any other way, a piggyback forklift turns every truck into a self-contained delivery unit and cuts the labor and wait time on each stop.
What should you check before buying a used piggyback forklift?
Before buying a used piggyback forklift, confirm lift capacity, maximum reach, mast type, and whether the mounting kit matches your truck. Capacity is the first number to match to your heaviest palletized load. Check the tires for terrain: cushion tires suit smooth floors, while pneumatic tires suit dirt and gravel. Look at the mast and forks for cracks, worn pins, and hydraulic leaks, and run the lift through a full cycle if you can. Confirm the engine type and fuel, since diesel and gas units suit different fleets. We list only real specs on every machine, and when engine hours were never entered we leave them off rather than guess, so you are working from facts and not filler.
Which piggyback forklift brands do we stock?
We stock seven brands of forklift, led by truck-mounted Moffett units, and also carry Princeton, Sellick, Manitou, Donkey, and Palfinger. Sellick, Manitou, and Donkey round out the truck-mounted lineup, and Palfinger builds mounted units as well. We also sell Navigator RT-series rough-terrain forklifts for buyers who need a dedicated job-site machine rather than a truck-carried one. Our live inventory runs more than 50 units at a time, so the exact models, years, and prices change as machines sell and new ones come in. Call us or send a request-a-quote to see what matches your specs right now.
How do you buy or sell a used forklift through Rainier Machinery?
We sell used forklifts outright by phone or request-a-quote, not through an online cart, so you talk to us before money changes hands. You tell us your truck, your typical load, and your terrain, and we point you to the units that fit, give you a price, and tell you what is recorded on that unit. Once you buy, we ship the machine anywhere in the continental US from our yard at 11901 S 202nd St in Mesa, AZ. We also buy used forklifts directly from owners, so if you are retiring a Moffett, Princeton, or other unit from your fleet, we will make an offer on it. Whether you are buying or selling, the process stays direct: a real conversation and a firm price with no online checkout in between.