For anyone determine whether to buy second-hand or brand new lift truck, it is a really big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to figure out the application requirements for the forklift, when trying to choose between the two options. Like for example, figure out the kind of equipment which is required, how long you plan to keep it and the number of hours per year or per week you would utilize it.
Expensive forklifts will usually hold its value over time. It is good to remember that a lower priced new lift truck might not have the overall value, dependability and ability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced model.
When considering whether or not to buy a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage that you might wish to take note of: seasonality, utilization and duty cycle. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is recommended that you buy a new model, specially 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.
On the other hand, if you expect to utilize your lift truck for less than 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, than purchasing a lower cost new unit or a used forklift might be the best alternative. Some of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. Also, if you think that you would expect to utilize the forklift only during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a second-hand lift truck might best option available and can potentially save you lots of money.
It is essential to anticipate if the forklift is going to be in nearly constant use or not. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.