Top 5 Features to Look for in an Electric Walkie Pallet Jack

If you need to transport and mobilize heavy loads from one side of your facility to another, a pallet jack is the prime tool to get the job done. With a capacity of up to 4,500 pounds, a pallet jack can transport heavy loads with relative ease.

Before you pick just any pallet jack, it’s crucial to know the multiple types of pallet jacks. A manual pallet jack is a popular variant that’s known to be accessible and fairly affordable. However, companies with a higher budget are typically much better off spending for an electric (or motorised) pallet jack. 

These pieces of equipment have a significantly higher load capacity and multiple other great features to support just about any load-bearing activities in an industrial workplace.

One specific electric pallet jack type is a walkie-pallet jack. These models are designed specifically to allow operators to manoeuvre through tight and crowded spaces with relative ease.

The distinctive feature of a walkie pallet jack is the need for the user to walk alongside or behind the machine. This is different from the far more expensive ride-on electric pallet jack, which has a special seat and control wheel designed for operator use.

If you’re looking to improve your facility’s operations, getting a walkie-pallet jack is a great start. That said, there are a plethora of these equipment in the market, and they can be quite difficult to sift through. To help you decide, let’s walk through the various features you should consider when picking a walkie-pallet jack from a retailer.

1. Manoeuvrability 

One of the major reasons why people and companies choose a walkie-pallet jack over a ride-on one is its superior manoeuvrability. Unlike an electric ride-on pallet jack, a walkie-pallet jack can easily navigate through cramped spaces like narrow aisles and packed warehouses. This makes it better suited and more productive in those types of environments.

When picking a walkie-pallet jack, be sure to consider its ability to navigate through its intended work environment. 

There are many basic electric pallet jacks, but you’d also need to take into account features such as variable speed control, ergonomic handles, and turning radius controls to help move the pallet jack efficiently.

The jack’s ability to move freely underscores its utility in its intended workspace. It can dictate whether your company’s productivity will be enhanced through a smoother and quicker operation or worsened through constant bumps and re-adjustments—or injuries in the worst of cases. 

As such, be sure to consider your pallet jack’s manoeuvrability. This can help you save money as you avoid navigating an ill-fitted machine in a cramped space or hitting inventory and goods constantly due to difficulty manoeuvering around obstacles. 

If you need a lead, you can take a look at these Materials Handling Products from Noble Lift to browse through a quality catalogue of industry-relevant machinery.

2. Controls and Safety Features

The walkie-pallet jack’s control list is also critical for businesses to consider. Most businesses seek to balance both utility and price, and taking a look at the walkie jack’s master control list as well as its safety features can help lead them to the decision that satisfies both ends.

Some controls that can benefit the operator, include an ergonomic handle, a reverse button, a speed control button, and an anti-rollback mechanism. An automatic braking system is also often an inclusion in these electric pallet jacks, which helps prevent unintended movement.

Not only are these helpful in fulfilling the machine’s primary purpose of transporting goods in one piece, but they also help increase safety in the workplace due to their inherent safeguarding measures.

An overload protection mechanism can prevent operation when the load exceeds capacity, which helps keep the operator and jack safe. A battery indicator can display the machine’s power levels, allowing your operator to charge optimally. A horn can also be used to alert the incoming vehicle in crowded or public spaces.

In any case, it’s important to consider the flexibility of your machine’s control system. This helps you balance your budget with the safety and productivity perks of the machine.

3. Durable Body and Wheels

Another important thing to consider when picking a walkie-pallet jack is its construction quality and durability. Your pallet jack will inevitably be used in multiple load-bearing situations, perhaps multiple times a day and at full capacity. You want to ensure that your brand-new machine can withstand the rigours of constant operation.

There are several ways you can gauge the durability of your machine. The first is to look at its reinforcements. A high-quality walkie-pallet jack is often reinforced with a heavy-set steel frame that can withstand the pressure of various forms of cargo. The machine’s fork must also ideally be coated with a corrosion-resistant layer to help slow down rusting and wear and tear.

The chassis should also be stable and heavy enough to bear the weight of the maximum load capacity—and a little bit over that value. The hydraulic system should also have adequate pressure to ensure that the oils get passed through the system without friction—enabling smoother load-bearing.

The wheels are also key components to consider when choosing a pallet jack. Ideally, you should pick either a polyurethane or rubber wheel construction. Either of these two can withstand heavy loads across different floor types like tiles and cement. They should also not leave any tyre tracks or skid marks across these different surfaces.

By picking a durable and superior quality electric walkie-pallet jack, you’ll benefit from having a smoother day-to-day operation with the machine as well as increased projected longevity. This can make your asset pay itself off better than low-quality builds in the long run.

4. Price and Warranty

Electric walkie-pallet jacks are priced somewhere in the middle of manual pallet jacks and electric ride-on pallet jacks. 

While manual models offer an affordable price of no more than $1000 (and as low as $300) from most hardware suppliers, electric walkie-pallet jacks can range anywhere between $2000 to $10,000. Naturally, the higher you go in price, the better the pallet jack’s construction and overall features.

Of course, there will be some exceptions to this rule. If you want to ensure that you’re getting the best bang for your buck, be sure to compare and contrast different electric walkie-pallet jacks and their value proposition—that is, how they match up in performance, load-carrying capacity, controls, and other vital features.

The warranty of the machine should also be considered. While these pallet jacks are fairly durable, they may not always sustain the stresses of a heavy load. Choose a machine with a warranty plan that covers not just the equipment, but repairs and spare parts as well. A good rule of thumb is to get a warranty for the full piece of equipment that can last one to three years or more. 

This way, you’ll be able to maximize the utility of this vehicle, while having peace of mind knowing that your machine’s life has ample protection during its earlier years.

5. Battery Life

Another crucial element to consider is the walkie-pallet jack’s battery life and charging flexibility. Businesses need pallet jack for a variety of reasons—and if your business needs their pallet jack to undergo constant uptime or frequent use, you may need to pick a machine with a long-lasting battery life to ensure continuous and non-stop operation across multiple shifts.

Most top-of-the-line walkie electric pallet jacks operate on a lithium-ion battery, which is good for fast and intermittent charging sessions during periods of rest. 

Some electric pallet jacks operate on a lead-acid battery set, and although it’s serviceable and more affordable, it requires a full and uninterrupted charging cycle to ensure the machine’s longevity. And even so, it may require regular maintenance throughout its life cycle too.

In any case, a walkie-pallet jack can last anywhere between 6 to 12 hours on a full charge when in continuous use. Some walkie-pallet jacks have quick-swap battery options to ensure nonstop continuity during operations. If your business prefers to have a pallet jack with minimal downtime, a lithium-ion and quick-swappable battery may be the best thing to get for your business needs.

However, if you only plan on using the machine sporadically, you can get away with the significantly cheaper lead-acid battery variant.