For anybody determine whether to buy 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 lift truck, when trying to choose between the two options. For example, figure out the kind of equipment that is required, how many hours per year or per week you will utilize it and how long you intend to keep it.
Typically, a higher priced forklift will hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive new forklift may not have the overall value, reliability and capability of a used unit of an expensive model.
When deciding whether or not to buy a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage which you may want to take note of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is recommended that you purchase a brand new unit, particularly if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving many loads per hour that are at or near the capacity truck.
Nevertheless, if you expect to utilize your lift truck for less than 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, than buying a lower cost brand new model or a used forklift may be the best alternative. Some of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. Furthermore, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift just during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a used lift truck might best choice 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.