When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a huge decision for anybody to determine whether to buy used or brand new. When it comes to buying a forklift and trying to decide between the two options, the best thing to do is know the application needs for the lift truck. Like for example, know the kind of machine which is required, how long you intend to keep it and how many hours per year or per week you will utilize it.
Expensive forklifts will usually hold its value over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive brand new forklift might not have the overall capability, value or dependability of a used unit of an expensive model.
When considering a purchase of a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you must take heed of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for at least 4 hours a day, it is recommended that you purchase a new model, especially 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.
If you just need your lift truck for roughly 4 hours a day or on an intermittent basis, a lower cost new unit or used lift truck may be optimal. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs that are made for lower-duty cycles. As well, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift just during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a second-hand lift truck may best available option and could potentially save you a lot of money.
It is vital to anticipate if the forklift is going to be in nearly constant use or not. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability required for your particular application.