Basic Information
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C2500CB-OM-EN-16
The very same principle applies to the Combi-CB truck where the front wheels act as
the fulcrum, M1 represents the mass of the trucks heavy chassis and components on
one side of the fulcrum and D1 represents the distance from the fulcrum to the
centre of gravity of the truck. M2 represents the mass of the load on the forks on the
opposite side of the fulcrum and D2 represents the distance from the fulcrum to the
centre of gravity of the load. In the case of the truck F2 must always be less than F1
otherwise the truck will become unstable.
If the mass of the load (M2) is increased or the distance from the fulcrum to the
centre of gravity of the load (D2) is increased such that F2 becomes greater than F1
then the truck will tip forward about the fulcrum.
Other factors that influence the stability of the truck to a lesser degree include
sudden acceleration, harsh braking, unbalanced loads, driving on sloped or uneven
terrain, or turning with elevated loads. Any of these factors alone or in combination
can result in the combined centre of gravity moving outside the boundary of the
stability triangle thus causing the truck to tip over.
For the truck to remain stable both laterally and longitudinally, the combined centre of
gravity of the truck and the load must stay within an area known as the stability triangle.
To visualise the stability triangle, imagine three lines connecting each of the trucks
three wheels. The area inside these three lines forms the stability triangle. If the
combined centre of gravity moves outside the boundary of the stability triangle the
truck will tip over.
Combi-CB & Load
Combined
Centre of Gravity
Combi-CB
Centre of Gravity
Load
Centre of Gravity
Fulcrum
M1
M2
D2
D1
F2 = M2xD2
F1 = M1xD1
