Last updated: November 2026
Warehouse space in Ireland and Northern Ireland is expensive and hard to find. Narrow-aisle racking is one of the best ways to get more out of the building you already have, without moving or taking on more rent. The catch is that a standard counterbalance forklift can’t work in narrow aisles, so you need the right truck.
What is a narrow-aisle truck?
A counterbalance forklift needs an aisle of about 3.5 to 4 metres to turn into the racking. EP reach trucks work in aisles of about 2.7 metres, because the forks reach out to the racking while the truck stays straight. Narrower aisles mean more rows of racking in the same floor space.
EP’s narrow-aisle range covers:
- Electric stackers, such as the ES16-RS, for smaller warehouses and lifts up to about 5.5 metres.
- Reach trucks for high-bay racking, with lifts up to 9.65 metres.
- Order pickers for picking single items from racking at height.
Do you need one?
- Running out of racking space in your current building? Narrow aisles are likely the answer.
- A large, open building where turning space isn’t a problem? A standard counterbalance forklift will do the job.
- High racking and lots of pallet moves? A reach truck is almost certainly the right tool.
- A yard outside and racking inside? Many sites run a counterbalance forklift outside and a stacker or reach truck in the aisles.
How to choose the right truck
- Aisle width: the narrowest aisle on your site decides which trucks will fit.
- Racking height: how high you lift decides between a stacker and a reach truck.
- Load weight: a truck’s rated capacity drops as you lift higher, so choose one with headroom over your heaviest load at your highest lift. We’ll check the load chart for your loads.
- Shifts: lithium-ion trucks top up on breaks, so one truck can cover two shifts.
- Floors: reach trucks and stackers need a smooth, level warehouse floor.
How narrow aisles pay for themselves
Narrower aisles fit more racking into the same building, which can put off a move to bigger premises. Reach trucks also travel less between picks in a dense layout, so pallets move faster. Use our equipment finder to see which EP trucks suit your aisles and lift height.
Get it right first time
If you run five or more trucks, we’ll visit your site free, check your aisle widths, door heights, floors and loads, and recommend the right trucks in writing. For a smaller site, send us your aisle widths, racking height and heaviest load, and we’ll advise the same working day.
Call 01 5267 411 (ROI) or 028 3833 7038 (NI), or send us a message. You can buy, or hire on a 12-month contract.
