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Pallets vs. Skids - What is Best for You?

January 9, 2019

In order to help you determine whether a pallet or a skid would be best for you, you first need to know what the differences are between the two.

Skid

A skid offers a different style of support than a pallet. A skid is similar to a pallet in that it has a deck and stringers but differs in that it only has a top deck, instead of both a top and bottom. A skid is also a mobile platform like a pallet but varies due to its lower profile. A skid is a great option for storing machines off the ground while allowing you to still be able to move it with your lift truck.

this is a skid take notice of the deck boards on top of the stringers and no boards on the bottom.

Pallet

When looking at a pallet you will notice that it has two decks: one on top and another on the bottom. Having two decks increases support and makes for a stronger option over a skid. A wooden pallet normally has three to four stringers. A stringer is a board that runs the full depth of the pallet and sits between the two decks. On the top level of the pallet you will see deck boards covering the area of the stringers. This creates the area for your product to rest on. Underneath, on the bottom side of the pallet, you will see less deck boards than on the top. These deck boards on the bottom of the pallet are for structural support. Having this bottom deck allows for added stability which is especially helpful for storing product that will move around pallet racking or will be shipped.

this is a 2-Way pallet notice how the stringers sit on top of decks boards and have another set of deck boards on top, compared to the skid which has only one deck on top. Also notice how the pallet allows for a lift truck to enter from 2 sides

Now that we know the difference between a pallet and a skid, let’s look at the different type of pallets available. There are 2 main style of pallets available: 2-Way Pallets and 4-Way Pallets.

2-Way Pallet

With a 2-Way Pallet, the idea is to lift it from the deck boards with your pallet jack which comes through two sides of the pallet.

4-Way Pallet

A 4-Way pallet is designed to be lifted by the more sturdy stringers. Being that they are built from stringers, they are stronger than the 2-Way Pallet. They can be lifted by the electric pallet jack from all 4 sides making it the strongest and most efficient option.

This is a 4-Way Pallet notice how a lift truck can enter from any of the 4 sides and is a stronger structure compared to the 2-Way Pallet.

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