Abstract: An industrial truck, which may be a fork-lift truck, has steering wheels 1,2 at the rear which can attain high steering locks. In order to counteract the possibility of overturning the truck by accidental heavy depression of the accelerator pedal at such high steering locks, switches 16,17 are provided on the truck which are actuated by trip plates 24,25 when steering angles in excess of, for example, 78.degree. (measured as the angle turned through from the straight ahead position by the inner steering wheel) are reached. The switches reduce the engine power by setting a maximum rate of pulsing of the electric traction motor of the truck. In another embodiment, one switch is attached to a king-pin, and the bearing which rotates about that king-pin carries two lugs, one of which is actuated on each steering lock of 78.degree..

Abstract: An industrial truck has an overhead guard made in two parts 7,8. The rear part 8 of the overhead guard is pivotable about the rear end of the truck to provide access to the vehicle battery box 4 from above so that the battery box can be lifted out from above via lifting eyes 14 to enable the batteries to be recharged. The battery 4 has a cover 5 which must also be pivoted to permit removal of the battery box. The battery box 4 is located against horizontal movement in the truck. In accordance with the invention, the battery box 4 has a projecting lug (not shown) which co-operates with the rear part of the overhead guard such as to prevent vertical movement of the battery box when the overhead guard is closed. Consequently, when the overhead guard is operative (that is, in its closed position), the battery box is positively located against movement relative to the truck in all directions and cannot fall out if the truck overturns.

Abstract: An industrial truck has at least one axle with a road wheel mounted on each end. Each end of the axle is coupled to a sub-frame which is in turn coupled to the truck chassis by a main suspension spring and by an elastomeric spring.The sub-frame at one end of the axle is coupled to the axle by a pivot. The sub-frame at the other end of the axle is coupled to the axle by way of a strut whose length can be controllably varied.