When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a huge decision for anybody to choose whether to buy second-hand or brand new. When it comes to purchasing a lift truck 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, figure out the kind of machine that is needed, how long you plan to keep it and the number of hours per year or per week you will utilize it.
Expensive forklifts will typically hold its value over time. It is good to know that a lower priced brand new forklift might not have the overall reliability, capability or value of a used unit of a higher priced model.
When considering a purchase of a new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects that you should take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for at least 4 hours a day, it is recommended that you buy a new model, particularly if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving numerous loads per hour which are at or near the capacity truck.
If you only need your lift truck for around 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, a lower cost brand new unit or second-hand forklift may be optimal. Some of the newer models are available at lower costs that are made for lower-duty cycles. Furthermore, if you think that you would expect to utilize the forklift just during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a used lift truck might best option available and can potentially save you a lot of money.
It is essential to anticipate if the forklift is going to be in nearly constant use or not. This would mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability required for your particular application.