Buyer’s Guide: Hook Point, Fixed, Tilting, Angled, and Specialised Jibs.

Forklift jibs are one of the most versatile attachments for forklifts, allowing operators to safely lift suspended loads that cannot be handled using standard forklift tines.

By fitting a jib attachment, a forklift can be transformed into a flexible crane-style lifting solution, improving handling of long, awkward loads. However, not all jibs are the same, understanding the different types can help you choose the right attachment for your operation.

How to Choose the Right Jib

When choosing the right lifting jib for the job, your forklift capacity and load centre must be factored to ensure suitability.

General purpose jibs (hook point, fixed, angled an tilting) provide versatility across many lifting applications, while specialised jibs allow efficient, safe handling of specific loads.

Jib Type		Adjustable Reach	Tilt / Angle	Hook Clearance
Hook Point Jib		❌ Fixed	❌ Fixed	❌ No
Fixed Telescopic		✅ Yes	❌ Fixed	❌ No
Angled Telescopic		✅ Yes	❌ Fixed upward	✅ Yes
Tilting Telescopic		✅ Yes	✅ Up/Down	✅ Yes

Hook Point Jibs

Hook point jibs are our most basic fixed-position jib. It has just two hook positions and a simple design with no telescoping or tilting boom, so loads are lifted directly under the forks.

Best for: Repetitive general purpose lifting tasks where reach isn’t required.

Hook Point Jib Benefits:

• Simple, lightweight and durable design
• Cost effective
• Quick and easy to fitment to a forklift tines
• Provides a safe, controlled lifting point for general-purpose loads

Fixed Telescopic Jib

Hook point jibs are our most basic fixed-position jib. It has just two hook positions and a simple design with no telescoping or tilting boom, so loads are lifted directly under the forks.

Best for: Repetitive general purpose lifting tasks where reach isn’t required.

Fixed Telescopic Jib Benefits:

• Simple, durable design
• Cost-effective
• Quick and easy to fitment to a forklift tines
• Adjustable length suits different load sizes and reach requirements

Angled Telescopic Jib

An angled telescopic jib has a fixed upward boom angle combined with telescopic reach.

Best for: Situations where additional lift height is needed.

Angled Telescopic Jib Benefits:

• Simple, durable design
• Quick and easy to fitment to a forklift tines
• Adjustable length suits different load sizes and reach requirements
• Angle of boom allows extra lift height to compensate hook and sling

Tilting Telescopic Jib

A tilting telescopic jib allows both adjustable reach and an up or down tilt of the boom.

Best for: Applications where precise load positioning and height flexibility are required.  Greater hook clearance makes it ideal for different sized load heights.

Tilting Telescopic Jib Benefits:

• Quick and easy to fitment to a forklift tines
• Adjustable length suits different load sizes and reach requirements
• 3 tilt settings allow extra lift height and hook clearance

Specialised Forklift Jibs

Some loads require specialised jibs designed for specific handling requirements.  There are common custom handling jibs that are readily available such as:

• Battery jibs – for safely lifting forklift or industrial batteries
• Bulk bag jibs – for handling large industrial bulk bags safely
• Wire mesh lifting jibs – for securely handling mesh panels

These specialised jibs are engineered to improve efficiency and safety for tasks that general-purpose jibs cannot fully accommodate.

At East West Engineering, we can also design and manufacture customised jibs to suit any specific handling requirement. Whether it’s a unique load type, tight workspace, or specialised lifting scenario, our in-house engineering team custom design to Australian standards and analyses the design drawing performance in CAD software, ensuring your jib is safe, certified, and fully compliant.

Forklift Lift Jib Types & Models

For advice on selecting the right forklift jib, speak with a material handling specialist at East West Engineering. Our team takes the time to understand your lifting requirements, load and working environment before recommending a solution. We will only recommend the attachment that is right for the job, ensuring safe, efficient and compliant load handling. If an existing product doesn’t meet your specific requirements, our in-house engineering team can work with you to design a customised solution tailored to your application.