When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anyone to choose whether to buy second-hand or brand new. When it comes to purchasing 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 instance, know the kind of machinery which is needed, how long you plan to keep it and the number of hours per year or per week you will utilize it.
Usually, an expensive forklift would hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive new forklift may not have the overall reliability, capability or value of a second-hand unit of an expensive model.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you must take heed of: seasonality, utilization and duty cycle. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is better that you purchase a new model, especially if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving a lot of loads per hour that are near or at the capacity truck.
If you only need your lift truck for approximately 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, an inexpensive new unit or used lift truck might be optimal. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs that are made for lower-duty cycles. In addition, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift only during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a used lift truck or a rental program might best available choice and could possibly save you a lot of money.
It is essential to anticipate if the lift truck is going to be in nearly constant use or not. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.