Reach Truck Rental in Dubai & the UAE
A reach truck is a narrow-aisle warehouse forklift whose mast and forks extend forward to place pallets in high racking. It works in aisles from about 2.7 metres and lifts to 8 metres or more, which is why it is the main truck in UAE distribution centres.
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Liftronic rents electric reach trucks to warehouses, distribution centres and cold stores across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates. Every truck is inspected at our Jebel Ali yard before it leaves, delivered to your site, and serviced by our own technicians for as long as you rent it.
If you are planning racking, replacing a truck that has broken down, or covering a seasonal peak, this page explains how reach trucks work, which type suits your building, and what to check before you rent one.
How a reach truck works
A reach truck carries its load inside the wheelbase, between two outriggers (the stabiliser legs at the front). To pick or place a pallet, the forks travel forward — the "reach" — and then retract so the load sits back over the truck. Because it does not need a heavy counterweight to balance the load in front, a reach truck is shorter than a counterbalance forklift of the same capacity and can turn in a much narrower aisle.
There are two ways the forks move forward. On a moving-mast reach truck the whole mast slides forward along the outriggers. On a pantograph reach truck a scissor mechanism pushes the fork carriage out from a fixed mast. Both do the same job; pantograph designs are common on double deep trucks because the scissor can extend further.
- Electric drive, so they are quiet and produce no exhaust — suitable for indoor food, pharmaceutical and retail stock.
- High lift heights, making full use of tall racking in modern UAE warehouses.
- Tight turning, so more racking fits in the same floor area.
- Stand-on and sit-down operator positions, depending on the model.
Reach truck, counterbalance forklift or articulated forklift?
Most enquiries we receive are really about which truck fits the building. The table below is the short answer.
| Reach truck | Counterbalance forklift | Articulated forklift | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical aisle width | About 2.7 – 3.2 m | About 3.5 – 4.5 m | From about 1.4 – 1.9 m |
| Lift height | High — made for tall racking | Moderate | High, in very narrow aisles |
| Outdoor use and loading trucks | Not suitable — needs smooth, level floors | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Dedicated indoor racking | Yards, docks and general handling | Narrow aisles plus truck loading with one machine |
Aisle widths depend on the model, pallet size and how the pallet enters the rack; we confirm them against your drawings before quoting.
Compare articulated forklifts · Electric counterbalance forklifts
Types of reach truck we supply
- Standard reach trucks: For single-deep selective racking, the most common layout in UAE distribution centres.
- Double deep reach trucks: Fitted with telescopic forks to reach a second pallet stored behind the first, so the racking can be two pallets deep and hold more stock in the same floor area. A used Linde R16 double deep reach truck is currently listed on our used equipment pages.
- Cold store reach trucks: Built with cab protection and components rated for chilled and freezer rooms. Tell us the room temperature when you ask for a quote.
- Reach trucks with attachments: Side shift is standard on most trucks; other attachments can be fitted to suit the load.
The numbers that decide which reach truck you need
A reach truck is chosen from the racking, not the other way round. These are the figures we ask for:
| What we need | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Height of the top beam | Sets the lift height and the mast, and the closed height must clear doors and mezzanines. |
| Heaviest pallet placed on the top level | A reach truck's rated capacity falls as the forks go higher. The capacity at your top beam is the number that counts. |
| Aisle width between pallets | Confirms the truck can turn and square up to the rack. |
| Pallet size and entry direction | Affects the aisle width needed and fork length. |
| Single or double deep racking | Decides whether telescopic forks are needed. |
| Shifts per day | Tells us the battery capacity and whether a spare battery or charging break is needed. |
| Floor condition | Reach trucks need smooth, level concrete; cracks and slopes affect stability at height. |
Batteries, charging and shift planning
Reach trucks are electric, so the battery decides how much work a truck can do between charges. A single-shift operation usually charges overnight. For two or three shifts, the options are a larger battery, a spare battery exchanged between shifts, or a lithium-ion battery that can be topped up during breaks. Tell us how many hours a day the truck will work and how many pallets it moves per hour, and we will specify the battery and charger to match.
Chargers need a suitable power supply and a clear, ventilated charging point away from racking and walkways. We agree the charging location with you before delivery.
Site checks before a reach truck arrives
- Aisle widths measured between pallets, not between uprights
- Floor flatness and joints in the aisles, which matter at height
- Door heights and any mezzanine or sprinkler clearances the mast must pass under
- A charging point with the right power supply
- Racking load signs, and damaged uprights or beams repaired
- Pedestrian routes kept separate from reach truck aisles
If you are designing new racking, involve us early: a few centimetres of aisle width or beam height can decide which truck you need.
Reach truck rental in Dubai and across the UAE
We deliver from Jebel Ali Industrial Area to warehouses in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Dubai Investment Park, Dubai Industrial City, Dubai South, Al Quoz and Ras Al Khor, and to KEZAD, Mussafah and Abu Dhabi city, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. We can typically deliver within 3 hours.
Rental periods run from one week to five years, and you can extend a rental at any time. Repairs and maintenance are included in the rental, and our mobile technicians provide 24/7 breakdown support. Licensed operators are available if you need one.
- Send us the top beam height, heaviest pallet, aisle width and how long you need the truck.
- We recommend the right reach truck and send a quote.
- The truck is inspected at our yard and delivered ready to work.
- Our technicians look after servicing and breakdowns; at the end of the rental we collect it.
Forklift rental in Jebel Ali & JAFZA · Forklift rental in Al Quoz · Forklift rental in Abu Dhabi · Forklift rental in Sharjah & Northern Emirates
Where reach trucks are used in the UAE
- Distribution centres and third-party logistics warehouses in JAFZA, Dubai South and KEZAD
- Retail, FMCG and e-commerce fulfilment warehouses
- Food and pharmaceutical storage, where exhaust-free equipment is required
- Cold stores and chilled distribution
- Spare parts, automotive and electronics stores with high selective racking
Renting versus buying a reach truck
Renting suits most UAE warehouses: maintenance, breakdown cover and battery care are handled for you, the cost is fixed per month, and you can change or add trucks as volumes move. Buying makes sense when a truck will run every shift for several years and you have your own maintenance support.
If buying is right for you, we also sell inspected used reach trucks, each listed with its hours, lift height and battery details, with a warranty of 3 months to 1 year depending on the machine.
Safe operation
Reach trucks lift heavy loads to height, so the load chart matters: never exceed the rated capacity at the lift height being used, keep the load retracted while travelling, and travel with the forks low. Operators need to be trained and licensed for reach trucks specifically — experience on a counterbalance forklift is not the same. Racking should be inspected regularly and damaged uprights repaired before they are loaded.
Get a Reach Truck Rental Quote
Send us these details by WhatsApp, phone or the form above and we will recommend the right truck:
- Top beam height
- Heaviest pallet on the top level
- Aisle width
- Single or double deep racking
- Shifts per day
- Site location
- Rental period
Reach trucks gallery
What Our Clients Say
Our logistics facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone required a reliable Reach Truck for high-rack pallet handling. Liftronic Machinery recommended the right machine for our racking height and daily workload. The equipment performance and support service have been very good.
We rented an Electric Pallet Stacker and a Double Deep Reach Truck for our warehouse in Dubai Investment Park. Liftronic recommended the right equipment based on our storage layout. Their team was helpful, professional, and quick to respond.
Our warehouse in RAKEZ required a 4-Way Reach Truck for handling long materials. Liftronic provided a suitable machine and explained the operation clearly to our team. The equipment condition was very good, and service support was prompt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a reach truck and a counterbalance forklift?
A reach truck carries the load inside its wheelbase and extends the forks forward, so it needs far less aisle space and lifts higher. A counterbalance forklift carries the load in front of the wheels, which suits loading bays and outdoor yards but needs wider aisles.
How high can a reach truck lift?
Standard reach trucks lift 6 to 8 metres; high-lift models exceed 10 metres. Residual capacity falls with height, so check the load chart against your top beam level, loaded.
What aisle width does a reach truck need?
Around 2.7 to 2.9 metres for a standard pallet, compared with 3.5 metres or more for a counterbalance forklift. Articulated trucks go narrower still, to about 1.6 metres.
Can a reach truck work in a cold store?
Yes. Cold-store-specification reach trucks with sealed electrics and heated cabins are available for chilled and freezer rooms; ask for the cold store variant when booking.
Can I rent a reach truck short term in Dubai?
Yes. Reach trucks are available daily, weekly, monthly and on long-term contracts, delivered across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the wider UAE.
How much weight can a reach truck lift?
Most warehouse reach trucks are rated at roughly 1.4 to 2.5 tonnes, but the capacity reduces as the forks go higher. Always check the capacity at your top beam height on the truck's load chart.
What is a double deep reach truck?
A reach truck with telescopic forks that extend to reach a pallet stored behind another, so racking can be two pallets deep.
Can a reach truck be used outdoors?
No. Reach trucks have small wheels and need smooth, level floors. For yards and truck loading, use a counterbalance or articulated forklift.
Do you deliver reach trucks outside Dubai?
Yes. We deliver from Jebel Ali to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.