When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a huge decision for anyone to determine whether to buy used 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 requirements for the lift truck. For example, know the kind of equipment which is needed, how long you plan to keep it and how many hours per year or per week you will use it.
Expensive forklifts will usually hold its value over time. It is good to remember that an inexpensive new forklift might not have the overall value, dependability and capability of a used unit of an expensive model.
When considering whether or not to buy a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage which you might want to take note of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours a day, it is better that you buy a brand new model, especially if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving many loads per hour that are at or near 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 an inexpensive new model or a second-hand forklift might be the right alternative. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs that are made for lower-duty cycles. Moreover, if you think that you would expect to utilize the forklift just during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a second-hand lift truck might best available option and can possibly save you lots of money.
It is important to know whether the machinery will be in constant use. This would mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.