For anybody determine whether to purchase used or new forklift, it is a very big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to figure out the application requirements for the lift truck, when trying to choose between the two options. For instance, figure out the type of equipment which is needed, how many hours per week or per year you would use it and how long you plan to keep it.
Usually, a higher priced forklift will hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that a lower priced brand new lift truck may not have the overall ability, value or reliability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced type.
When considering a purchase of a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects that you must take heed of: seasonality, utilization and duty cycle. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is recommended that you purchase a new unit, particularly if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving lots of loads per hour that are near or at the capacity truck.
If you only need your lift truck for roughly 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, an inexpensive brand new model or second-hand lift truck may be optimal. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs which are manufactured for lower-duty cycles. Moreover, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift just during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a second-hand lift truck or a rental program may best alternative available and can possibly save you lots of money.
It is vital to know whether the equipment will be in constant use. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.