A forklift jib turns your forklift into a small mobile crane. It slides onto the forks and gives you a hook point out in front of the truck, so you can lift and place loads that won't sit on a pallet: machinery, motors, steelwork, press tools and long fabrications. Choosing one comes down to four things: the capacity of your truck, the reach you need, the shape of the space you're working in, and the size of your forks. This guide takes you through each one so you can pick from our range of forklift jibs with confidence.
How a Forklift Jib Works
The jib is a steel beam with two fork pockets. You drive the forks into the pockets, secure the jib with heel retaining pins so it can't slide off, then hang the load from a hook and shackle at one of the lifting points along the beam. Most jibs have several hook positions, usually set 250mm apart, so you can choose how far out the load hangs.
That choice matters more than anything else. The further the hook is from the carriage, the less the jib can safely lift. Every jib comes with a capacity chart that shows the safe load at each hook position for each size of truck.
How to Choose the Right Forklift Jib
1. Start With Your Truck's Capacity
A jib can never lift more than the truck it's fitted to. Our jibs are rated against the truck's capacity, so the first thing to find is the rated capacity on your forklift's data plate. If you run a 2,500kg truck, read the 2,500kg row of the capacity chart and ignore the rest.
The jib itself also adds weight out in front of the mast, which uses up some of the truck's capacity before you've lifted anything. If you're not sure your truck can handle a jib, check with the truck manufacturer or your forklift dealer before you order.
2. Work Out How Far You Need to Reach
Measure from the face of your forks to the point where the load needs to be picked up or set down. That distance tells you which hook position you'll be using, and the hook position is the load centre that sets your safe working load.
Be honest about the reach. If you're lifting a motor out of a machine, the hook has to be directly above the lifting point, not near it. Lifting off-centre makes the load swing and puts extra strain on the truck.
3. Read the Capacity Chart Properly
Capacity drops quickly as the hook moves out. Here is the chart for the Telescopic Forklift Crane Jib on a 2,500kg truck:
| Hook position (from carriage) | Safe working load |
|---|---|
| 1,000mm | 1,400kg |
| 1,500mm | 1,000kg |
| 2,000mm | 750kg |
| 2,500mm | 440kg |
| 3,000mm | 230kg |
At full reach the jib lifts about a sixth of what it can lift at the first hook point. So work out the heaviest load you'll lift and the furthest point you'll lift it from, then check that combination on the chart. If it's close to the limit, choose a bigger truck row or a shorter reach. Each jib's product page shows the full chart for every truck size.
4. Choose Fixed or Telescopic
A fixed jib has one beam length and is the simplest option. The Fork Mounted Forklift Jib has an 1,800mm beam with hook points from 1,000mm to 1,750mm, which covers most workshop and yard lifts.
A telescopic jib has an arm that you extend by hand, from 2,000mm closed to 3,000mm extended. Choose one if you need to reach over obstacles, into the back of a vehicle or across a machine bed. Just remember the capacity chart: the extra reach is useful for lighter loads, not heavy ones.
5. Choose a Low Profile or Raised Beam
Raised beam jibs, like the Fork Mounted Forklift Jib and the Telescopic Forklift Crane Jib, lift the beam above the forks. That gives the driver a clearer view of the load and keeps the hook off the ground when the jib is parked.
Low profile jibs keep the beam down at fork level, so they can slide under overhead obstructions and into tight spaces such as machine housings and press tool areas. The Low Profile Forklift Crane Jib also has hook points starting much closer to the carriage, from 500mm. On a 2,500kg truck it's rated at 2,200kg at that first point, which makes it the strongest option for heavy loads at short reach. If you need low profile and long reach together, the Low Profile Extender Forklift Jib extends from 2,000mm to 3,000mm.
6. Check Your Fork Size and Spread
The fork pockets on a jib have a maximum fork section (width × thickness) and sit at a fixed spread (the distance between them). Your forks need to fit inside the pockets, and you need to be able to set them to that spread. As a guide, jibs for trucks up to 2,500kg take forks up to 130 × 55mm on low profile models or 140 × 60mm on raised models, while jibs for 3,000kg to 5,000kg trucks take forks up to 170 × 70mm (low profile) or 180 × 80mm (raised). The spread also varies by model, so check both against your forks before you order.
Measure the width and thickness of your forks before you order. Our guide on how to measure your forklift forks shows you how. If you're unsure, send us your fork sizes and truck capacity and we'll confirm the right model.
Which Forklift Jib Suits Which Job?
| Jib | Beam length | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fork Mounted Forklift Jib | 1,800mm fixed | General lifting with a clear view of the load |
| Low Profile Forklift Crane Jib | 1,800mm fixed | Heavy loads at short reach and lifting under obstructions |
| Telescopic Forklift Crane Jib | 2,000 to 3,000mm | Reaching over obstacles or into machines |
| Low Profile Extender Forklift Jib | 2,000 to 3,000mm | Long reach where headroom is limited |
Using a Forklift Jib Safely
A jib changes how your forklift behaves, because the load is hanging rather than sitting on the forks. A few rules keep things under control:
- Always fit the heel retaining pins before lifting, so the jib can't slide off the forks.
- Stay within the capacity chart for your truck and hook position, never the truck's plate rating alone.
- Keep the load as low as practical when travelling, drive slowly and avoid sharp turns, as a suspended load will swing.
- Never lift a load over people, and keep everyone clear of the area under the hook.
- Only trained operators should use the jib.
Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), lifting equipment needs regular thorough examination by a competent person. Hooks, shackles and slings are lifting accessories and need examining at least every six months, unless a written examination scheme says otherwise. Our jibs are tested and certificated, so keep the paperwork that comes with yours alongside your lifting equipment records.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying for reach you don't need. A longer jib is not a better jib if most of your lifts are close in.
- Reading the wrong row of the chart. Use the row for your truck's rated capacity, not the next one up.
- Guessing fork sizes. Forks that are too big won't go in the pockets, and forks that are too small let the jib move.
- Forgetting the rigging. Slings and shackles under the hook need to be rated for the load too.
Forklift Jib FAQs
Can any forklift use a jib?
Most counterbalance forklifts can, as long as the truck has enough capacity and the forks fit the jib's pockets. Check your truck's data plate and fork sizes first, and ask your forklift manufacturer or dealer if you're unsure.
How much can a forklift jib lift?
It depends on your truck's capacity and which hook position you use. On a 2,500kg truck, our jibs are rated at up to 1,400kg at the 1,000mm hook point, and the Low Profile Forklift Crane Jib is rated at 2,200kg at its 500mm point. Capacity falls as you move further out.
How is a jib attached to the forks?
You drive the forks into the jib's fork pockets, then fit the heel retaining pins behind the fork heels so the jib can't slide forward.
Do I need a LOLER inspection for a forklift jib?
Yes. A jib used for lifting is lifting equipment under LOLER, so it needs thorough examination by a competent person at regular intervals. Your examiner or insurer can confirm the right schedule for your site.
What's the difference between a jib and a fixed hook?
A fixed forklift hook gives you a single lifting point close to the forks and suits simple, short lifts. A jib gives you several hook positions and much more reach.
Browse Forklift Lifting Jibs
Every jib in our forklift lifting jibs range is tested and certificated. Delivery is usually 7 to 10 working days. If you'd like us to check a model against your truck and forks, request a quote and we'll come back to you.
Looking for other ways to handle awkward loads? See our forklift fork extensions for long loads, forklift drum grabs for drums, and forklift carpet booms for rolls. You can also browse every forklift attachment we sell or read our complete guide to forklift attachments in the UK.
