Narrow Aisle & Reach Truck
When a reach truck beats a forklift in high-bay narrow-aisle warehouses.
What a reach truck does
A reach truck extends the forks forward to pick and put pallets in narrow high-bay aisles. Versus a counterbalance forklift, it focuses on tighter aisles and higher lift. CHL’s G2 series is the main family here; related reach / VNA codes such as CQDH also appear in the catalog.
Narrow aisle vs classic forklift
Classic forklifts (G3/H4) stay flexible for floor transport, ramps, truck loading and wider aisles. As rack spacing tightens and lift needs rise, reach trucks gain the edge. Occasional high-bay work is not the same investment as all-day high-bay work.
- Wider aisles + floor / ramp / dock → forklift candidate
- Narrow aisles + high-bay pallet putaway → reach truck candidate
- Both intensive → define two equipment types or one primary duty
How VNA differs
Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) solutions target even tighter aisles than a standard reach truck and usually need matching rack layout. In the catalog, reach and related models are listed under the VNA / narrow-aisle category. Clarify whether your aisle is “narrow” or “very narrow (VNA)” before quoting—or you may pick the wrong class.
Rack height and key specs
Lift height, free lift, aisle width, wheelbase and battery type are the critical rows. Models like G2 1.6–2t keep CQD16/CQD20 capacity columns and lithium/lead-acid options separate in the table. Measure top rack height and clearance above the pallet on site.
Order pickers
For piece or case picking with an operator at height, OPD/OPDS order pickers fit better than reach trucks. Do not confuse the roles: one is pallet logistics, the other is man-up picking.
Selection checklist
Confirm before a narrow-aisle investment.
- Aisle width (with pallets) and turn needs
- Maximum rack / lift height
- Share of daily high-bay work (frequent vs occasional)
- Battery type and charge area
- Is pallet putaway or piece/case picking dominant?
