For anybody determine whether to purchase second-hand or brand new forklift, it is a really big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to know the application needs for the lift truck, when trying to decide between the two options. For instance, figure out the kind of machinery which is needed, how long you plan to keep it and how many hours per year or per week you would use it.
Expensive forklifts will usually hold its value over time. It is good to remember that a lower priced new forklift might not have the overall ability, value or dependability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced model.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects that you must take heed of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is better that you buy a new unit, especially if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving numerous loads per hour which are near or at the capacity truck.
If you only need your lift truck for approximately 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, an inexpensive brand new model or second-hand forklift might be optimal. Some of the newer models are available at lower costs that 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 second-hand lift truck or a rental program may best alternative available and could potentially save you a lot of money.
It is important to know whether the equipment will be always used. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.