Buying Tips
There are numerous factors to take into account when purchasing a forklift. Deciding on the best machinery could have a huge impact on everything from productivity to operating costs, to equipment downtime and worker morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a new or second-hand forklift, the following is a short list of factors to take into account. There are actually some specific questions the sales consultant has to address to be able to help you select the best alternative which is right for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Identifying your requirements will eventually help that you can find the best most capable lift truck for your business. How large are your normal load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours every day will you be using this machinery? Would you be running the equipment indoors or outdoors or potentially both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to go through? Answering these questions correctly will make certain that you are satisfied with the model you choose.
Step2: New Vs. Used Lift Trucks
If you are planning to utilize your lift truck more than 4 hours a day, you would probably want to purchase a brand new model. The warranty benefits alone would truly be handy. A second-hand alternative will probably be adequate for light duty and infrequent applications.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The large electric forklift batteries would allow the lift truck to run for around 8 hours. These particular power sources make forklifts uniquely suited for indoor use since they produce no harmful emissions. Though electric models are generally more expensive compared to different other types of forklifts, they have lower operating costs. Electric lift trucks are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to consider. Moreover, these kinds of machinery have fewer moving components so they have a longer life span as they have fewer components to get worn down.
The electric forklift is not without its disadvantages however. These equipment need recharging posts that could take as much as 8 hours th charge. There is an additional 8 hours needed for cooling. Recent changes have made their way onto the market in order to considerably reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a wonderful new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Forklifts are equipped with either pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires or cushion tires which are made up of solid rubber. There are also solid pneumatic tires that are a combination of the two. The pneumatic tire kind is great for outside applications. Cushion tires are great to be utilized inside and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect alternative for hazardous work environments where there is potential for regular tires being popped by sharp objects on rough terrain.