When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anyone to determine whether to buy second-hand or brand new. When it comes to purchasing a forklift and trying to choose between the two options, the best thing to do is know the application requirements for the lift truck. Like for instance, know the type of machinery that is required, how long you intend to keep it and how many hours per year or per week you would use it.
Expensive forklifts will usually hold its value over time. It is good to remember that an inexpensive new lift truck may not have the overall ability, value or reliability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced kind.
When considering a purchase of a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects that you should take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for 4 or more hours per day, it is recommended that you purchase a brand new model, particularly if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving many loads per hour that are at or near the capacity truck.
On the other hand, if you expect to use your forklift for less than 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, than buying an inexpensive new model or a used forklift might be the best option. Some of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. In addition, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift just during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a used lift truck may best option available and can potentially save you a lot of money.
It is vital to anticipate if the forklift is going to be always used or not. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.