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How To Read Toyota Forklift Model Numbers

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Posted: February 28, 2018
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I鈥檝e visited plenty of customers who call their Toyota forklift a nickname like 鈥淏ig Orange鈥 or 鈥淭he Boss鈥 to be able to easily identify it from other forklifts in their fleet. These nicknames are great when communicating internally, but knowing and understanding your forklift鈥檚 model number will help you communicate more effectively with people externally, like your Toyota dealer or other company locations. Now, I know what you鈥檙e thinking. Wouldn鈥檛 it be great if there was a simple way to help you understand those seemingly complicated Toyota model numbers?

Well, look no further, because here鈥檚 your comprehensive guide to Toyota Forklift Model Numbers!

As with most products, Toyota model numbers are a combination of letters and numbers with each one having its own meaning. Once you understand the general sequence and meaning of each of these characters, you鈥檒l be able to identify 鈥淏ig Orange鈥 as a THD2200-24 with pneumatic tires and 22,000 lbs capacity at a 24鈥 load center.

Ready? Let鈥檚 get started.

Toyota Forklift Model Numbers Up To 17,500 lbs.

There are two general model number formats for Toyota forklifts which are split up based on forklift capacity. The first format covers models with base capacities of up to 17,500 lbs.

Model Number

*Rated capacities should always be checked on the forklift data plate, which will be specific to your forklift鈥檚 configuration

As you can see in the diagram above, most models begin with a number signifying which model series it belongs to. For example, an 鈥8鈥 means that this forklift is an 鈥8-series鈥 model. Since model numbers are sequential, a higher number generally translates to a newer model.

The model series is followed by a series of letters, the first of which designates the category of the industrial vehicle. A 鈥淏鈥 after the model series designator indicates the forklift has baselegs, which is commonly seen in model numbers for reach trucks and walkie stackers. The remaining explanations are pretty self-explanatory.

The third character in the model number indicates the type of drive or fuel type:

  • 鈥淕鈥 indicates it is powered by LP or gasoline.
  • 鈥淒鈥 stands for diesel-powered.
  • 鈥淏鈥 stands for battery-powered.
  • On Class III products, a 鈥淲鈥 in this position indicates that a forklift is a walk-behind unit.
  • For Class, I products, an 鈥淣鈥 designates that the forklift has a narrow chassis, which commonly indicates that the product is a stand-up, counterbalanced model.

The next character indicates a unique construction and is not present in all models. A model with cushion tires has a 鈥淐鈥 in this position, and the lack of a letter 鈥淐鈥 means that the forklift has pneumatic tires.

One tricky character here can be the letter 鈥淓鈥, which can mean the truck is a 3-wheel electric听or听an end control rider model. The difference is easily distinguishable by looking at the entire model number. Any model with an 鈥淔鈥 in it is a forklift and any with an 鈥淗鈥 are hand operated. So an 鈥8FBE15U鈥 is a 3-wheel electric model and an 鈥8HBE30鈥 is an end-controlled rider. Three-wheel electric models also have optional pneumatic tires, so you can鈥檛 rely on the model number alone to determine tire type in this case.

The next letter is generally a 鈥淯鈥 signifying that the forklift was built in the United States. If there is no 鈥淯鈥, it means the forklift was built somewhere outside of the United States. There are some models where an 鈥淪鈥 actually appears before the 鈥淯鈥, which indicates the vehicle has a short chassis. An example of this would be the 8FGCSU20. As of 2013, Toyota began placing the 鈥淯鈥 at the end of the model number with the launch of the mid and large IC models built in Columbus, Indiana. This trend will continue to occur going forward.

Last, but not least, is the base capacity indicator. There are some exceptions, as noted above, but generally, the number represents base capacity in tons with one decimal place. So a 鈥25鈥 here would indicate that the base capacity is 2.5 tons or 5,000 lbs. Tonnage is sometimes rounded due to the fact that two numbers for tonnage are used. Be sure to always refer to your forklift鈥檚 data plate for capacity information related to your specific forklift configuration.

Toyota Forklift Model Numbers Above 15,000 lbs.

The second model number format applies to Toyota鈥檚 THD model lineup with capacities of 15,000 lbs and above.

Model Numbers THD

*Rated capacities should always be checked on the forklift data plate, which will be specific to your forklift鈥檚 configuration

THD models have four unique designators, beginning with the model designation. 鈥淭HDC鈥 means it is a cushion tire IC model while 鈥淭HDE鈥 means it鈥檚 a cushion tire electric. 鈥淭HD鈥 alone means that it is an IC forklift with pneumatic tires. Pretty simple, right?

The next part of the model number represents the truck鈥檚 base lifting capacity in pounds. All you have to do is multiply the number by 10 (or add a zero to the end of it). So 鈥2200鈥 means the base capacity is 22,000 lbs and 鈥12500鈥 means the base capacity is 125,000 lbs. As with the lower capacity models, be sure to always refer to your forklift鈥檚 data plate for capacity information related to your specific forklift configuration.

The third designator indicates a special construction with 鈥淪鈥 indicating a short chassis model and a 鈥淏鈥 indicating a box car special model with a special, compact counterweight.

Finally, the last part represents the load center or the container handler type if it鈥檚 a port equipment model. A dash followed by two numbers tells you the truck鈥檚 load center for its rated base capacity. For example, a 鈥-24鈥 means the base capacity is rated at a 24鈥 load center. A dash followed by an 鈥淓鈥 tells you it鈥檚 an empty container handler model, while an 鈥淟鈥 stands for loaded container handler, and an 鈥淩鈥 stands for reach stacker. The number following an 鈥淓鈥 or an 鈥淟鈥 is the maximum container stacking height for the container handler. The number following an 鈥淩鈥 states the maximum lift capacity of the reach stacker for the third row.

And that about does it! Hopefully you understand a little more about how Toyota鈥檚 model designations work and can begin identifying characteristics for all of your forklifts.

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