When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anyone to determine whether to buy second-hand or brand new. When it comes to buying a forklift and trying to choose between the two options, the best thing to do is figure out the application needs for the lift truck. Like for example, figure out the kind of machine which is required, how long you intend to keep it and the number of hours per week or per year you will use it.
Typically, a higher priced forklift would hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that a lower priced new forklift may not have the overall capability, value or reliability of a used unit of a higher priced kind.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you must take heed of: seasonality, utilization and duty cycle. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is better that you purchase a brand 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.
Nonetheless, if you expect to use your forklift for less than 4 hours a day or on an intermittent basis, than buying a lower cost new model or a second-hand forklift may be the right option. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. What's more, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift just during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a used lift truck or a rental program may best available option and could possibly save you lots of money.
It is important to know whether the machine would be always used. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.