For anyone determine whether to purchase second-hand or brand new forklift, it is a really big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to know the application needs for the forklift, when trying to choose between the two options. For instance, figure out the type of machinery which is needed, the number of hours per week or per year you will use it and how long you intend to keep it.
Usually, an expensive forklift will hold its value longer over time. It is good to remember that an inexpensive new lift truck may not have the overall dependability, ability or value of a second-hand unit of a higher priced model.
When deciding whether or not to purchase a new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage that you might wish to take note of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is recommended that you buy a new unit, especially if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving many loads per hour which are at or near the capacity truck.
If you just need your lift truck for about 4 hours per day or on an intermittent basis, an inexpensive new unit or used forklift might be optimal. Several of the newer units are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. Additionally, if you think that you would 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 might best option available and can possibly save you lots of money.
It is important to know whether the machinery will be in constant use. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.