If you’ve read our Hyster S50FT buyer’s guide, you already have a good idea about what this forklift does and who it works best for. Today, we're deep-diving into the Hyster S50FT specs — every dimension, engine number, and mast option, pulled from Hyster’s own technical documentation so you’re comparing real numbers instead of rounded ones off a listing page.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Type | Hyster S50FT |
| Power Type | LP/Gas |
| Tire Type | Cushion |
| Operator Position | Seated Rider |
| Load Capacity | 5,000 lb. at 24" load center |
| Truck Weight | 8,587 lbs (operating weight, no load, standard 2-stage mast) |
| Turning radius (min. outside) | 78.7 in |
| Mast Type | 85 in |
| Engine | PSI 2.4L LPG, 4-cylinder |
| Engine Power | 59 hp @ 2,700 rpm |
| Engine Torque | 121 ft-lb @ 2,000 rpm |
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall width (standard tread) | 43.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 56.3 in |
| Length to Fork Face | 90.2 in |
| Turning Radius | 78.7 in |
| Standard Mast Lowered Height | 85 in |
| Front Tires | 21 x 8 x 15 |
| Rear Tires | 16 x 6 x 10.5 |
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Travel Speed (Full Load / No Load) | 11.1 / 11.2 mph |
| Lift Speed (Full Load / No Load) | 122 / 126 fpm |
| Lowering Speed (Full Load / No Load) | 114 / 98 fpm |
| Gradability (Rated Load / No Load) | 35% / 24% |
At 90.2 inches to the fork face and a 56.3-inch wheelbase, the S50FT is sized for standard warehouse aisles rather than narrow-aisle racking. A 78.7-inch turning radius is what actually determines whether it can work a given aisle.
Pro tip: measure your tightest turn before you buy, not just your straightaways.
The standard mast sits at 85 inches lowered, which clears most standard 8-foot overhead doors with a few inches to spare. It's worth double-checking against your own dock and doorway heights before you commit to a configuration, especially if you’re adding a load backrest or another accessory that adds height.
The S50FT runs a PSI 2.4L, 4-cylinder LPG engine putting out 59 hp at 2,700 rpm and 121 ft-lb of torque at 2,000 rpm. LP gas means swappable tanks instead of a charging cycle — no downtime waiting on a battery, but you are managing tank exchanges and indoor air quality/ventilation the way you would with any combustion engine running inside a building.
The 5,000-lb rating is tied to a 24-inch load center — the industry-standard reference point measured from the front face of the forks to the middle of the load. That’s the headline number, but it’s a ceiling under specific conditions, not a flat number that applies to every load shape.
A longer or off-center load pushes the effective load center out and reduces what the truck can safely carry, even if it weighs less than 5,000 lbs on a scale.
The S50FT isn’t a single fixed lift height. Hyster offers several mast configurations, and the max height changes significantly depending on which one you order or which used unit you’re looking at:
| Mast type | Max fork height |
|---|---|
| 2-stage, Limited Free Lift (LFL) | 129 in |
| 2-stage, Full Free Lift (FFL) | 130 in |
| 3-stage, Full Free Lift (FFL) | 189 in or 218 in |
| 4-stage, Full Free Lift (FFL) | 240 in or 276 in |
“Limited Free Lift” means the mast’s first stage has to extend before the forks rise very far. This is fine for most indoor work, but a problem if you’re lifting under a low doorway or rack beam.
“Full Free Lift” masts raise the forks without the mast extending first, which matters most inside of trailers, containers, or anywhere overhead clearance is tight.
If overhead clearance matters for your operation, or you’re planning to buy used, confirm which mast type is actually on the unit. It’s not something you can tell from the model number alone, so you'll need to ask your dealer.
Lift speed runs 122 ft/min loaded and 126 ft/min unloaded on the standard 2-stage mast (a small, expected gap since lifting more weight takes a bit more time and power).
The gradeability figures are worth a second look because they run backwards from what most people expect: 35% at rated load versus 24% with no load at all. That’s not a typo — with a load on the forks, more weight sits over the drive wheels, which improves traction and lets the truck climb a steeper grade than it can empty.
It’s a real quirk of counterbalanced forklift design, not an error in the Hyster S50FT specs.
The S50FT uses cushion tires all around: 21 x 8 x 15 up front, 16 x 6 x 10.5 in the rear. Cushion tires are solid rubber molded to a steel band, built for smooth concrete rather than gravel or unfinished ground, and they can’t be aired up to compensate for wear the way a pneumatic tire can. Budget for replacement as a real cost, not an afterthought, when you’re pricing out a used unit.
At 8,587 lbs. empty (standard 2-stage mast, no load), the S50FT is heavier than it looks sitting next to a comparable pneumatic-tire truck. It's worth checking against any weight limits on elevators, trailers, or upper-floor loading docks before you move one, especially with a load on board (operating weight plus a full 5,000-lb load puts the combined weight at roughly 13,587 lbs).
5,000 lbs at a 24-inch load center on the standard configuration.
8,587 lbs empty, with the standard 2-stage mast and no load.
It depends on the mast: 129–130 in on a 2-stage mast, up to 189–218 in on a 3-stage mast, or up to 240–276 in on a 4-stage mast.
A PSI 2.4L, 4-cylinder LPG engine rated at 59 hp.
The most important takeaway about the Hyster S50FT specs is that the model number alone doesn't tell you everything. Two S50FTs can have meaningfully different lift heights, tire sizes, and even engine outputs depending on the mast. Be sure to confirm the actual mast type and max lift height on any specific unit before you buy, and see our buyer’s guide for what else to look for on a used S50FT.
Ready to see what’s actually available? Browse our current forklift listings or request a quote to compare Hyster S50FT pricing near you.
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