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A standard indoor counterbalance forklift is an exceptionally capable machine on a smooth, level warehouse floor. Take it onto a construction site, a muddy outdoor storage yard, a rural property, or a festival ground, and the limitations become immediately apparent. The tyres are not designed for uneven ground, the ground clearance is insufficient for rough terrain, the stability margins are reduced on slopes, and the drive system is not calibrated for the traction demands of outdoor conditions.
All-terrain forklifts are the answer to exactly this problem. Mars Forklifts’ all-terrain hire range includes machines from Manitou, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of telehandlers and rough terrain forklifts, alongside other proven all-terrain specialists. This guide explains what makes these machines different, what applications they are designed for, and how to select the right machine for your specific rough-ground requirement.
Hire an All-Terrain Forklift from Mars Forklifts
Rough terrain machines for construction, events, rural, and outdoor operations. Same-day delivery available. Call 1300 736 231.
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What Makes an All-Terrain Forklift Different
Tyres
The most visible difference between an all-terrain forklift and a standard indoor machine is the tyres. All-terrain machines use pneumatic tyres with deep, aggressive tread patterns designed to grip on loose, wet, uneven, or sloped ground surfaces. The larger footprint and tread depth provide traction that the smooth solid tyres of an indoor forklift cannot.
Ground clearance
All-terrain forklifts have significantly higher ground clearance than standard indoor counterbalance machines. This clearance is essential for operating on ground with significant unevenness, over rocks and roots, through mud, and across sites where the surface is far from the flat, sealed floor of an indoor facility.
Four-wheel drive and all-wheel traction
Many all-terrain machines feature four-wheel drive systems that distribute traction across all wheels. On slopes, in mud, or on loose ground, four-wheel drive makes the difference between a machine that can operate effectively and one that becomes bogged or loses the ability to manoeuvre.
Stability on slopes
Standard counterbalance forklifts are designed and tested for operation on relatively flat, sealed surfaces. Their stability calculation assumes this environment. All-terrain machines have a wider, lower centre of gravity profile specifically designed for the stability demands of sloped, uneven, and outdoor terrain. This does not mean all-terrain machines are unstable on slopes: it means they are designed with slope operation as a primary use case rather than an exception.
Fuel Type and Performance
All-terrain forklifts are typically powered by diesel engines due to the demanding environments they are designed to operate in. Diesel power provides the reliability, torque, and consistent performance required for outdoor applications, including uneven ground, construction sites, agricultural environments, and other challenging work areas.
Diesel-powered all-terrain forklifts are built to handle long operating hours and variable terrain conditions, making them a dependable choice when businesses need equipment that can perform reliably away from traditional warehouse environments.
Applications: When the Job Requires All-Terrain
Construction sites
Construction is the most common environment for all-terrain forklifts in the Australian market. Sites typically involve compacted gravel, sand, clay, uneven formwork debris, and transitional zones between different surface types, none of which are compatible with standard indoor machines. All-terrain forklifts move structural materials, palletised supplies, steel sections, and equipment across active construction sites daily.
Outdoor storage and logistics
Timber yards, steel service centres, building materials suppliers, and other operations that store product in outdoor yards often have surface conditions that vary significantly with weather. An outdoor yard after heavy rain is very different from the same yard in summer. All-terrain machines handle this variability where indoor forklifts would become stuck or unsafe.
Events and festivals
Events held in parks, showgrounds, racecourses, and outdoor venues require forklifts for staging, equipment movement, and bump-in and bump-out logistics. Grass, gravel, sand, and the compacted dirt typical of outdoor venues all require the tyre and traction capability of an all-terrain machine. Standard indoor forklifts used on these surfaces damage the ground, lose traction in wet conditions, and operate outside their design parameters.
Agricultural and rural operations
Farm operations, orchards, rural storage facilities, and regional construction or infrastructure projects all create environments where all-terrain capability is not optional. The combination of unpaved ground, variable grades, and exposure to the elements makes all-terrain machines the only appropriate forklift choice for these settings.
💡 Check your site before hire: Before hiring an all-terrain machine, do a site assessment for slope gradients, surface type, turning radius requirements, and any overhead obstacles. All-terrain forklifts are physically larger than standard indoor machines, and a site that appears suitable may have turning area constraints that affect which machine size can operate effectively. The Mars Forklifts hire team can assist with site-specific machine selection.
Key Selection Factors When Choosing an All-Terrain Forklift
| Factor | Questions to consider |
| Load capacity | What is the maximum single load weight you need to lift? |
| Lift height | How high does the load need to be lifted? Standard mast or extended boom/telehandler? |
| Terrain type | Compacted gravel, sand, mud, grass, or combination? Affects tyre selection |
| Site slope | What is the maximum grade on the operating surface? Affects machine selection and safe operating parameters |
| Indoor/outdoor transition | Will the machine need to operate on both indoor and outdoor surfaces? |
| Site access | How will the machine be delivered to site? Gate width, turning radius, and surface weight limits affect delivery |
| Hire duration | Short-term for a project, or long-term for an ongoing outdoor operation? |
Contact Mars Forklifts to discuss your specific site requirements. Our team will match you with the right machine from our all-terrain fleet for your application.
All-Terrain Forklift Hire from Mars Forklifts
Manitou and other leading brands. Short and long-term hire. Sydney and east coast. Same-day delivery available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an all-terrain forklift be used indoors?
All-terrain forklifts are designed for outdoor use and have characteristics that make them less suitable for standard indoor operation: they are larger and heavier than indoor machines, their diesel engines produce exhaust that requires adequate ventilation, and their rough terrain tyres can mark or damage sealed floors. For mixed indoor and outdoor operations, discuss the specific requirements with the Mars Forklifts hire team to find the right solution. View the full hire range for alternatives.
Do I need a specific licence to operate an all-terrain forklift?
The licence requirements for all-terrain forklifts in NSW depend on the machine type and its rated capacity. A standard counterbalance all-terrain forklift typically requires the LF class HRWL (up to 10,000 kg capacity). Some specialised all-terrain machines, telescopic handlers, and machines over 10,000 kg capacity may require a different or additional licence class. Confirm the specific licence requirement for the machine you intend to hire with Mars Forklifts and with SafeWork NSW before operation commences.
What is the difference between an all-terrain forklift and a telehandler?
An all-terrain forklift uses a conventional upright mast to lift loads, in the same way as a standard counterbalance forklift but with the rough-terrain design features described in this article. A telehandler uses a telescopic boom that can extend outward as well as upward, allowing it to place loads at distance from the machine’s body, onto scaffolding or upper floors, or into inaccessible locations. Many construction applications require a telehandler because the reach of a conventional mast forklift is insufficient. Contact Mars Forklifts to discuss which machine type is right for your application.
