For anybody determine whether to buy second-hand or new lift truck, it is a very 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. For example, know the kind of machine which is required, how many hours per week or per year you would utilize it and how long you plan to keep it.
Higher priced forklifts will usually hold its value over time. It is good to know that a lower priced brand new forklift may not have the overall value, dependability and ability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced kind.
When deciding whether or not to purchase a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage that you might want to take note of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is recommended that you purchase a brand new unit, particularly if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving lots of loads per hour which are near or at the capacity truck.
However, if you expect to use your lift truck for less than 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, than buying an inexpensive brand new unit or a second-hand lift truck might be the right option. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs which are manufactured for lower-duty cycles. Moreover, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift only during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a used lift truck might best available option and can possibly save you a lot of money.
It is essential to know whether the machinery will be always used. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your particular application.