Buying Tips
When purchasing a forklift, there are actually lots of factors to take into account as this decision can impact a lot of things like production, operating costs, equipment downtime, and even employee morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a new or second-hand lift truck, the following is a brief list of things to take into account. There are several particular questions the sales consultant should deal with to be able to help you select the best option that is right for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Needs
Identifying your needs would eventually help that you can find the best most capable lift truck for your company. How big are your typical load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours each day would you be utilizing this equipment? Will you be running the machinery outdoors or indoors or potentially both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Answering these questions accurately will make certain that you are happy with the unit you pick.
Step2: New Vs. Used Forklifts
You might want to buy a new model of forklift if you are intending to utilize your forklift for more than 4 hours per day. The warranty benefits alone will truly be handy. A second-hand option will more than likely be enough for infrequent applications and light duty.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The huge electric forklift batteries would allow the lift truck to run for roughly 8 hours. These specific power sources make lift trucks uniquely suited for indoor use because they generate no harmful emissions. Although electric units are normally more pricey compared to other models, they have less operating costs. Electric lift trucks are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to think about. In addition, these types of equipment have fewer moving parts so they have a longer life span since they have fewer parts to get worn down.
The electric lift truck is not without its downsides though. These machines need recharging posts that may take as much as 8 hours th charge. There is an additional 8 hours required for cooling. Recent innovations have made their way onto the market so as to considerably reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a great new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common lift trucks use cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they will be outfitted with pneumatic or inflated, air-filled tires. Some forklifts would utilize a solid pneumatic tires, which is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire kind is perfect for outdoor use. Cushion tires are perfect for interior use and solid pneumatic tires are the best option for dangerous work environments where there is potential for standard tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.