Do forklift service plans change when Winter comes? You bet they do!

It’s our job to make sure your equipment continues to work for your team. Even when there’s snow on the ground.

Service plans in Winter need to fortify a forklift’s internals against cold weather. Here’s how we do that, so you can be confident that equipment serviced at a Forklifts Group is ready & able to work in Winter.

Maintenance Forklifts Need to Perform in Winter

We could say we ‘adapt our service plans for Winter’ and just go from there. But that’s not enough information. You should know what adaptations our Service Department makes.

Battery Maintenance Change: For electric forklifts, this is the most important service adjustment. Cold weather reduces battery efficiency and can lead to failure.

Our battery inspections become more thorough. Electrolyte levels, terminal corrosion, charge status…all of it.

We may ask about your charging schedule to make sure the battery’s not undercharged (or overcharged).

Operator Comfort & Safety Changes: This is the time of year to service your forklifts’ cab heaters and defrosters. Too often people forget about them, only to discover the heater’s broken in December. Then it’s a rush job to fix!

As you read this, we’ve already added heater & defroster checks to the service list. The earlier we know, the easier it is to fix. Before someone’s trying to operate while shivering!

How old are the wiper blades? If you’re not sure, it’s time to swap them out. Don’t worry, we’ll verify this for you.

Lights check: Chances are these haven’t been used in months. We make a point of checking all lights, front and back, on all forklifts. Visibility for the operator AND those around them is not an option!

Engine and Fuel Systems Change: If it hasn’t been done already, we’ll identify & recommend a winter fuel blend for your forklifts.

We check all fuel lines’ integrity too, so they won’t pull off or crack when temperatures drop.

Tires and Traction Change: Of course, we do thorough inspections on all tires. Pneumatic tires can lose pressure in cold weather. Cushion tires resist cold a bit better, but we check them anyway for cracks or wear.

Cooling Systems Change: Radiators and hoses are more prone to cracking in cold temps (especially when you’re driving through freezing air!).

That’s why we check both. We may even recommend swapping out an older radiator if it appears worn.

Antifreeze is topped up as well, of course.

Storage Change: While running service tasks, we evaluate each forklift on how resilient it is to cold weather. We may recommend storing some forklifts indoors during Winter to avoid causing operational issues.

4 Winter Forklift Performance Protections You Can Put in Place Today

Those are service changes we can make. What changes would we recommend you make in terms of daily operations?

1. On your next service date, request an Undercarriage and Chassis Cleaning & Inspection. This is a highly valuable service, but often overlooked. Why? It’s not part of standard PM checklists. Being underneath the forklift, it’s also "out of sight, out of mind."
   
   Trouble is, when forklifts operate in wet, snowy, or salty environments (like winter conditions or near loading docks), the undercarriage can accumulate corrosive materials. Over time, this leads to rust, premature wear, and even structural damage to the frame, axles, and brakes.
   
   What goes into an undercarriage inspection/cleaning?

• Pressure washing or steam cleaning the undercarriage.
• Full chassis check for any signs of rust, cracks, or loose components.
• Applying anti-corrosion treatments or protective coatings if needed.

2. Switch to Winter-graded hydraulic oil. Standard hydraulic fluid works fine in the temperature range from Spring to Fall. In lower temperatures, it can thicken, reducing a forklift’s efficiency and even leading to seized internals.
   
   A switch to winter-graded hydraulic oil alleviates that concern. It’s an important and low-cost performance improvement.

3. Add one more inspection to the schedule. More frequent inspections can catch cold-weather issues early (e.g., pneumatic tires losing pressure, corrosive buildup, hoses splitting).

4. Switch to winter blends or cold-start additives in each forklift’s fuel, to prevent gelling.

On the Forklifts Group Service Calendar Yet? Now's the Time!

Forklifts Group remains committed to hitting a four-hour window for all service calls. Our Service team is happy to schedule service work based on your availability. Visit ForkliftsGroup.com/Service-Request to start yours.

Until next month!
-The Forklifts Group Team

Deal of the Month

Linde HT25CT Cushion Tire – $34,000

For our September Deal, we have a special on new Lindes – the cushion-tire HT25CT.

These are mighty, efficient LPG forklifts. They have a 5,000# load capacity, 42” or 48” forks, side-shift, a strobe light and a backup alarm. The cushion tires and a 66” wheel base make them ideal for navigating spaces with tight corners.

(Want to test one out? We have a Rental Special running – rent an HT25CT for only $479/month right now!)

Interested in buying? You can pick up a new Linde for only $34,000. Lease-to-own rates are available. These units can be shipped.

To get this Deal, call Forklifts Group at 800-464-3225 and ask for the September Deal of the Month!