For anybody determine whether to purchase second-hand or new lift truck, it is a very big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to figure out the application requirements for the lift truck, when trying to decide between the two options. For example, know the kind of equipment that is required, the number of hours per year or per week you would utilize it and how long you plan to keep it.
Normally, an expensive forklift would hold its value longer over time. It is good to remember that an inexpensive brand new forklift might not have the overall value, reliability and ability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced type.
When considering a purchase of a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects that you must take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for at least 4 hours a day, it is recommended that you purchase a new unit, particularly if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving numerous loads per hour that are near or at the capacity truck.
If you only need your lift truck for roughly 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, an inexpensive new unit or second-hand lift truck may be optimal. Some of the newer models are available at lower costs which are manufactured for lower-duty cycles. Moreover, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift just during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a used lift truck may best alternative available and could potentially save you a lot of money.
It is vital to anticipate if the forklift is going to be always used or not. This would mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your particular application.