If you’re running a Home Hardware, Castle, or Timber Mart yard, you’ve probably had this debate more than once: should you run Moffetts, or go heavier with truck-mounted forklifts like Princeton or Manitou?
It’s not just a matter of preference or brand loyalty. The choice directly affects your delivery efficiency, driver safety, payload, and how many mornings you’ll spend pulling a machine out of a muddy subdivision.
Let’s get into the real-world pros and cons — and finish with a side-by-side spec sheet you can actually use.
A Moffett (often called a “piggyback forklift”) rides on the back of your delivery truck or trailer and detaches within minutes. Once it’s off, it handles lumber, drywall, shingles — basically anything you’d deliver to a builder or job site.
Where it wins:
Tight Job Sites: Ideal for infill and downtown deliveries. Narrow frame, great turning radius, and low weight make it perfect for residential streets and tight lots.
Speed: A trained operator can unload in two minutes flat. No waiting for site equipment or extra help.
Versatility: Handles everything from siding to trusses with optional pantograph reach.
Where it struggles:
Soft Ground: Limited ground clearance means mud, gravel, or new subdivisions can be a problem.
Payload Loss: You’ll lose around 2,500–3,000 lbs of truck payload to the mounting kit and machine weight.
Upfront Cost: Expect around $45K–$55K CAD for a new setup with mounting hardware.
Still, for fast, multi-stop delivery routes, Moffetts are hard to beat.
Truck-mounted rough-terrain forklifts like Princeton PB55+ or Manitou TMT 55 XT are beefier. They’re designed for heavy materials and job sites that look more like a gravel pit than a cul-de-sac.
Where they win:
All-Terrain Performance: They can handle ruts, mud, and uneven ground.
Heavier Lifts: 5,500–7,000 lbs lift capacity means you can move bulk stone, masonry, or landscaping pallets with ease.
Durability: Built to take abuse. These units often outlast Moffetts in rough-use environments.
Where they struggle:
Weight: Heavier units mean more payload loss and less fuel efficiency.
Size: They’re not ideal for tight urban work — turning and clearance are limited.
Service Costs: Heavier systems and more complex hydraulics mean higher maintenance bills over time.
If your deliveries are mostly rural or heavy construction, a truck-mounted unit is a smarter long-term play.
Let’s be honest — every yard is different. Here’s how it breaks down across Canada:
Downtown Toronto or Calgary: Moffett wins. You’ll save time, and drivers won’t have to fight for space.
Sudbury, North Bay, or Prince George: Go truck-mounted. High ground clearance pays off the first time you drop block on a muddy lot.
Mixed Operations: Many yards run both — Moffetts for quick, local drops; truck-mounted units for bulk or rough deliveries.
Seasonal Deliveries: Moffetts tend to run better year-round since they handle snow and ice with fewer issues than people think, as long as you’re not in deep mud.
Here’s a side-by-side look at the real specs you’ll be comparing when you spec your next delivery truck.
| Category | Moffett M8 55.3 (Piggyback Forklift) | Princeton PB55+ (Rough Terrain) | Manitou TMT 55 XT (Rough Terrain) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lift Capacity | 5,500 lbs @ 24" | 5,500 lbs @ 24" | 5,500 lbs @ 24" |
| Engine | Kubota 3-cyl diesel (56 HP) | Deutz 4-cyl diesel (56 HP) | Kubota 4-cyl diesel (56 HP) |
| Operating Weight | ~5,700 lbs | ~6,700 lbs | ~6,900 lbs |
| Payload Impact on Truck | ~2,700 lbs | ~3,200 lbs | ~3,200 lbs |
| Lift Height | 12 ft | 12 ft | 12 ft |
| Reach (Pantograph) | 67" | 62" | 59" |
| Ground Clearance | 10" | 12" | 13" |
| Drive Type | All-wheel hydrostatic | All-wheel hydrostatic | All-wheel hydrostatic |
| Turning Radius | 100" | 120" | 125" |
| Travel Speed | 7 mph | 7 mph | 7.5 mph |
| Detach Time | 1.5–2 minutes | 2.5–3 minutes | 2.5–3 minutes |
| Mounting Clearance Needed | 60"–66" | 80"–84" | 80"–84" |
| Ideal Applications | Lumber, drywall, siding | Block, landscaping, masonry | Heavy materials, rural deliveries |
| Approx. Cost (CAD) | $48K–$55K | $58K–$68K | $62K–$75K |
| Dealer Support (Canada) | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate |
| Resale Value (5 yrs) | 60–70% | 50–60% | 55–65% |
A well-maintained Moffett typically holds 60–70% of its value after five years, making it easier to upgrade when you replace your trucks.
Truck-mounted units depreciate slower but are harder to sell — there’s less secondary market demand outside of bulk delivery fleets.
Maintenance averages (annual):
Moffett: $1,500–$2,500
Truck-Mounted: $2,500–$3,500
The difference doesn’t sound big until you multiply it by three or four units over a decade.
Don’t underestimate this one. Moffetts are faster to learn — most drivers are comfortable after one or two days. Truck-mounted forklifts take a little more finesse, and some operators simply prefer one type over the other.
If you’ve got seasonal turnover or newer drivers, the Moffett is a safer bet operationally.
Both systems are considered truck-mounted material handling equipment under Canadian CVOR regulations, but insurance can differ slightly:
Moffetts are lighter and often cheaper to insure.
Heavier truck-mounted forklifts can bump premiums a few percentage points if they’re used off-road regularly.
Always double-check with your insurer before ordering — those small differences can eat into your ROI.
Urban/Suburban Routes: Moffett wins for speed, maneuverability, and resale.
Rural/Heavy Construction: Truck-mounted forklifts win for traction, lift capacity, and durability.
Mixed Fleet: Many Canadian yards run both, matched to route type — that’s the real efficiency play.
Before you spec your next truck, take 10 minutes and look back at your last 50 deliveries.
How many were downtown or in tight residential areas?
How many were rural or new-construction sites?
That’ll tell you which machine really makes sense for your operation.
And if you’re not sure, give me a call — I’ve helped a lot of yards across Canada pick the right setup, and a quick chat about your routes can save you thousands before you sign off on the next build.