When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anybody to determine whether to buy used or brand new. In terms of buying a forklift and trying to decide between the two options, the best thing to do is figure out the application needs for the lift truck. For instance, figure out the kind of equipment which is needed, how long you plan to keep it and the number of hours per year or per week you would utilize it.
Expensive forklifts would normally hold its value over time. It is good to know that a lower priced new forklift may not have the overall dependability, capability or value of a used unit of a higher priced type.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you must take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for 4 or more 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 numerous loads per hour which are near or at the capacity truck.
If you only need your lift truck for around 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, a lower cost new model or second-hand lift truck might be optimal. 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 only during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a used lift truck may best option available and can possibly save you a lot of money.
It is important to know whether the machinery would be in constant use. This would mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.