Sideloaders

Sideloaders carry long loads sideways with forks mounted perpendicular to travel. They're designed for materials like lumber, pipe, steel, and other long products that are difficult to handle with conventional forklifts, enabling efficient narrow aisle operation while transporting lengthy materials that exceed standard pallet dimensions.

They’re best for long-load environments such as lumber yards, building material distribution, steel service centers, pipe/tubing storage, and manufacturing operations handling bulky, lengthy product.

Sideloader capacity varies by model, with configurations ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 lbs. Sideloaders are uniquely designed for handling long, bulky materials such as lumber, pipe, steel, and sheet goods, with models capable of transporting loads approximately 8 to 26 feet in length depending on application requirements and configuration.

Lithium-ion availability can vary by model and configuration. Where offered, lithium-ion can support opportunity charging and reduced battery maintenance, offering maintenance-free operation, consistent power throughout discharge cycles, and longer operational life. This is particularly beneficial for intensive sideloader operations handling heavy, lengthy materials where downtime would impact productivity. See Raymond Lithium-Ion Battery and Energy Solutions.

Technology options, such as telematics and operator assist, vary by truck model and year. These connected technologies aim to enhance operator awareness, reinforce training, and provide actionable data for ongoing optimization. These options may include iWAREHOUSE® Telematics, iWAREHOUSE® FieldSense, and more. Please contact a Raymond representative to learn more about what technologies may be appropriate for your operation.

By carrying long loads sideways, sideloaders can support narrower aisle strategies for long products and simplify maneuvering compared to conventional forklifts that require clearance equal to the load length. This allows warehouses to use narrower aisles while maintaining full load selectivity, dramatically increasing storage density for long goods without requiring specialized racking.

Aisle width requirements depend on load length and truck configuration, but sideloaders are typically selected specifically to reduce aisle width versus conventional forklifts handling the same long materials. They typically operate in very narrow aisles while carrying 8-26 foot loads, representing significant space savings compared to conventional approaches requiring wider clearances.