For anyone determine whether to buy second-hand or brand new lift truck, it is a very big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to know the application requirements for the forklift, when trying to choose between the two options. Like for example, know the kind of equipment that is needed, the number of hours per week or per year you would utilize it and how long you plan to keep it.
Expensive forklifts will typically hold its value over time. It is good to remember that an inexpensive new forklift may not have the overall capability, value or dependability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced model.
When considering whether or not to buy a brand new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage which you might wish to take note of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is better that you purchase a new model, specially if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving a lot of loads per hour that are near or at the capacity truck.
Nonetheless, if you expect to use your lift truck for less than 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, than purchasing an inexpensive new model or a second-hand forklift may be the right option. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs that are manufactured for lower-duty cycles. In addition, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift just during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a second-hand lift truck or a rental program might best choice available and could potentially save you a lot of money.
It is vital to know whether the machine would be in constant use. This will mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.