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Rough Terrain Forklifts for Rent

United Rentals has the largest fleet of rough terrain forklift rentals available below.

For our full list of rough terrain forklifts, view the items below. For more information about rough terrain forklifts, visit our resource section.

Cat Class Code
232-2210

Rough Terrain Forklift, 6,000 lbs., 11 ft.-20 ft., 2WD, Diesel Powered

  • Maximum lift height up to 20’
  • 2-wheel drive for increased agility and a lighter weight
  • Maximum lifting capacity up to 6,000 lbs.
  • Easy-to-operate controls and excellent operator field of vision
  • Uses: Ideal for lifting and handling materials on rough terrain
  • Add this 6k forklift to your cart now
Rough Terrain Forklift
Cat Class Code
232-2211

Rough Terrain Forklift, 6,000 lbs., 11 ft.-20 ft., 4WD, Diesel Powered

  • Maximum lift height up to 20’
  • 4-wheel drive for traction on slippery or muddy sites
  • Maximum carrying capacity of up to 6,000 lbs.
  • Easy-to-operate controls and excellent operator field of vision
  • Uses: Ideal for helping you with your lifting, moving, stacking, picking or handling needs on any terrain
  • Add this 6k forklift to your cart now
yellow rough terrain forklift product shot
Cat Class Code
232-2215

Rough Terrain Forklift, 6,000 lbs., 21 ft.-29 ft., 2WD or 4WD, Diesel Powered

  • Maximum lift height of up to 29’
  • 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive models available
  • Maximum lifting capacity up to 6,000 lbs.
  • Four-wheel drive for maneuvering on rough terrain
  • Uses: Ideal for lifting building materials to high elevations and transporting materials in lumberyards or construction sites
  • Add this 6k forklift to your cart now
Rough Terrain Forklift
Cat Class Code
232-2306

Rough Terrain Forklift, 8,000 lbs., 15 ft.-22 ft., 4WD, Diesel Powered

  • Maximum lift height up to 22’
  • Easy-to-operate controls and excellent operator field of vision
  • Maximum lifting capacity up to 8,000 lbs.
  • Optional attachments include brick forks, material buckets, crane hooks, hoppers, extendable jib and truss booms
  • Uses: Ideal for lifting and handling heavy-duty materials on rough terrain
  • Add this 8k forklift to your cart now
Rough Terrain Forklift 8000lbs yellow
Cat Class Code
232-2305

Rough Terrain Forklift, 8,000 lbs., 16 ft.-22 ft., 2WD or 4WD, Diesel Powered

  • Maximum fork height up to 22’
  • 2-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive models available
  • Maximum carrying capacity up to 8,000 lbs.
  • Easy-to-operate controls and excellent operator field of vision
  • Uses: Ideal for lifting, moving and placing materials on any terrain
  • Add this 8k forklift to your cart now
yellow rough terrain forklift product shot side view
Cat Class Code
232-2400

Rough Terrain Forklift, 10,000 lbs., 16 ft.-21 ft., Diesel Powered

  • Maximum lift height up to 21’
  • Lift speed up to 72 feet per minute
  • Maximum carrying capacity up to 10,000 lbs.
  • Travel speeds up to 19.5 mph
  • Uses: Ideal for lifting and transporting heavy materials on the jobsite
  • Add this 10k forklift to your cart now
Resources

More About Rough Terrain Forklifts

United Rentals provides a variety of rough terrain forklifts for rent to meet your jobsite needs. Straight mast forklifts come in two- and four-wheel-drive models with easy-to-operate controls that help you quickly load, unload and transport materials around the jobsite. Our offroad forklifts come in diesel and electric-powered configurations with a maximum lift height of 22 feet and a ground-level lift capacity of 10,000 pounds. We only carry all-terrain forklift rentals from trusted manufacturers like Case, JCB and more.

What is a rough terrain forklift?

Also known as all-terrain forklifts, rough terrain forklifts are made for uneven surfaces, such as soft ground, mud, hills and rocks. These forklifts have larger tractor tires with better traction and flotation, so they won't get stuck on soft or steep ground. They can also come equipped with four-wheel drive and are often fitted with a cage to protect the operator from debris. Rough terrain forklifts are used in construction, road maintenance, shipyards and more.

What are the basic types of rough terrain forklifts?

Some of the basic types of rough terrain forklifts include vertical mast rough terrain forklifts, variable reach rough terrain forklifts and truck or trailer-mounted rough terrain forklifts.

  • Vertical mast rough terrain forklifts have two large tires in the front to help support the load and two smaller tires in the rear to help with steering on uneven surfaces.
  • Variable reach rough terrain forklifts are vehicle-mounted and have a telescopic boom lift that allows the operator to reach directly in front and above the forklift.
  • Truck/trailer-mounted rough terrain forklifts have a portable, self-propelled design to easily go to and from the jobsite. Not all truck or trailer-mounted forklifts are considered rough terrain, though.

Moving materials over uneven or rough surfaces may need a rough terrain forklift, which is popular on construction and industrial sites. Rough terrain forklifts can be mast forklifts suitable for outdoor use on uneven, rough, soft, sandy or muddy surfaces or heavier-duty small telehandlers.

Choose the correct rough terrain forklift capacity

Rough terrain forklifts don't have the largest capacity, but they are meant to be driven across the most challenging outdoor terrain.

Tips:

  • Choose a forklift with sufficient maximum capacity and make sure it can fit where you need it to go.
  • Think through what materials you plan to lift (single pallets? heavy containers? wood?) and the heaviest loads you'll need to lift.
  • It's common for people to underestimate the capacity of the forklift they need, so when in doubt, go for a larger rough terrain forklift rental.
  • For forklifts with telescopic booms, consult the load chart to figure out the forklift's load capacity.

United Rentals offers rough terrain mast forklift rentals and reach forklift— or telehandler — rentals with a wide range of maximum capacities, including:

  • Small rough terrain telehandler forklifts: This 4,500-pound telehandler can handle medium-duty jobs around an outdoor site and travel on inclines, rocks or mud.
  • Medium rough terrain forklifts: These range from 6,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds and are suitable for medium-duty to heavy-duty jobs. This 6,000-pound mast forklift has large pneumatic tires to transport materials where you need them.
  • Large rough terrain forklifts: With load capacities between 12,000 and 23,000 pounds, large rough terrain forklifts can handle heavy-duty applications.

In addition to capacity, consider the forklift’s dimensions with the space restrictions of your jobsite.

Know the lift height you need

The height to which you need to lift materials will determine the type of forklift you need to rent and the type of mast you need (straight or extending, and how many stages).

Forklift masts are typically two-stage or three-stage, though some are four-stage (quad masts). Remember to consider your overhead clearance and ensure the mast (or boom in the case of a telehandler) at its lowest height will fit. Four-stage masts collapse to a lower height than other masts.

Rough terrain forklifts have the right tires for outdoor use

Rough terrain forklifts typically have large pneumatic tires filled with compressed air to handle rough terrain and uneven surfaces. Forklifts with pneumatic tires are typically used for outdoor work.

Understand the pros and cons of diesel rough terrain forklifts

Because rough terrain forklifts are ideal for outdoor use, they are typically diesel-powered.

Diesel-powered forklifts are bigger and more powerful than the smaller models often used at warehouses or indoor industrial sites. Diesel-powered mast forklifts are the go-to for heavy-duty applications, such as heavy manufacturing, lumberyard work and construction.

The pros of diesel rough terrain forklifts

  • More power and torque than electric or propane forklifts
  • Can lift more weight and easily power hydraulic attachments
  • Faster acceleration and lifting
  • Require less maintenance than propane-fueled engines
  • Run time is limited only by fuel accessibility

The cons of diesel rough terrain forklifts

  • Limited to outdoor use due to exhaust fumes
  • Noisy operation and vibrations cause operator fatigue
  • They can't make short turns or work in tight places due to their size
  • Require more highly trained operators