When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anybody to choose whether to buy second-hand or new. In terms of purchasing a forklift and trying to choose between the two options, the best thing to do is know the application needs for the lift truck. Like for example, know the type of machine which is required, how long you intend to keep it and the number of hours per year or per week you would use it.
Expensive forklifts will usually hold its value over time. It is good to know that a lower priced new lift truck may not have the overall capability, value or dependability of a used unit of an expensive model.
When considering a purchase of a 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 using your lift truck for at least 4 hours a day, it is recommended that you buy a brand new unit, particularly if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving a lot of loads per hour that are at or near the capacity truck.
On the other hand, if you expect to use your forklift for less than 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, than purchasing a lower cost new unit or a second-hand forklift may be the right option. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. What's more, if you think that you would 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 alternative available and could possibly save you a lot of money.
It is important to anticipate if the forklift is going to be always used or not. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability required for your particular application.