Giantz Tractor Seat Forklift Excavator Universal Suspension Armrest Truck Chair

Vibration is what wears an operator out over a long day, in the constant small hits coming up through a rigid pan from a forklift's solid tyres or a tractor's rear axle. Giantz model TS-FORKLIFT-B163ARM-BK answers that with a sprung base: 35 mm of deoscillator suspension travel, tuneable across three settings to the weight of whoever is sitting on it.

Three settings, matched to the person in the seat

A suspension seat only does its job when the spring rate suits the load on it. Set up for an 80 kg operator and used by a 60 kg one, it stays rigid and passes the shock straight through; the other way round, the base bottoms out on every bump. Giantz gives this seat three weight ranges, chosen by the operator, so the 35 mm of stroke gets used across its length instead of sitting at one end. Where a machine changes hands between shifts, switching the setting takes seconds.

Armrests that fold, and a backrest that moves 15 degrees

Both armrests fold up out of the way, which counts for more than it sounds: a fixed arm is exactly what catches you climbing into a forklift cage or reaching down to a side lever. The backrest runs on a lock-and-release rotary knob through 90 to 105 degrees, an upright working range that suits watching a set of forks or a bucket. A safety belt is listed as fitted, though the packing list names only the seat itself.

Key features

• Deoscillator suspension, 35 mm travel: a sprung base absorbs axle shock instead of passing it into the operator's spine.
• Three weight ranges: the spring is matched to the operator, so a light driver and a heavy one both get the full stroke.
• Foldable armrests: up and clear for climbing in, down for the long runs.
• 90 to 105 degree backrest: a narrow, upright range set by a lock-and-release knob at the side.
• 150 mm slide: fore and aft travel on a steel track for operators of differing reach.

Specifications

• Model code: TS-FORKLIFT-B163ARM-BK
• Suspension: deoscillator device, 35 mm travel
• Weight adjustment: three ranges, selected by the operator
• Backrest adjustment range: 90° to 105°
• Fore and aft adjustable scope: 150 mm
• Armrests: fitted, foldable
• Seat belt: listed by Giantz as fitted; no type, webbing width or anchorage detail given
• Frame material: steel
• Max capacity: 150 kg. Giantz publishes the figure without stating what it measures.
• Upholstery: PU leather, black
• Cushion: high-density foam
• Overall dimensions: not given by the supplier
• Mounting hole pattern: not given by the supplier
• Assembly: required; Giantz ships it as a single package

What's in the box

• Giantz tractor seat x 1
• Nothing else is itemised; the belt and the armrests appear in the specification rather than in the packing list

What the data does not settle

• Mounting. Hole centres and overall size are both absent from the Giantz data. Check the bolt pattern on your machine against the photographs, and talk to us first if the images leave it open.
• The belt. A safety belt is listed, but no standard, webbing width or anchorage rating comes with it. Have it fitted by a competent person and check it against your workplace requirements before relying on it.
• Machines. The stated applications are tractors, forklifts, bulldozers and excavators, with no make or model named, and Giantz calls the seat universal. That wording is the supplier's, not ours, so confirm it against your own machine.
• Standards and road use. No restraint, seating or rollover protection standard is named in the published data, and there is no statement covering a road-registered vehicle.

The suspension and the folding armrests are what separate this one from the cheaper fixed-base Giantz seats listed here. For anyone spending real hours on a machine, that is where the money goes.