Explain the purpose of fork tilt and mast tilt controls.

• A. Fork tilt moves the forks forward/back to adjust load tilt; mast tilt tilts the mast itself to raise or lower the load, aiding stabilization during lifting and stacking.
• B. Fork tilt only adjusts the speed of lifting.
• C. Mast tilt changes the fork length.
• D. Tilt controls are for cosmetic adjustments only.

Answer: (A)

Tilt controls are all about orientation and stability of the load. Fork tilt changes the angle of the forks themselves, allowing you to tilt the load forward or backward on the forks. This helps keep the load stable on the forks and aligned with a pallet or rack as you lift, move, or set it down.

Mast tilt changes the angle of the mast assembly (the uprights that carry the forks). Tilting the mast backward toward the operator helps counteract the load’s forward weight, improving stability while lifting and especially when placing or stacking loads. Remember, raising and lowering the load is done by the lift mechanism; tilt adjusts orientation, not height.

So the purpose is to control how the load sits and stays secure during lifting and stacking, not to change speed, fork length, or cosmetic aspects.