When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anybody to choose whether to purchase second-hand or new. In terms of purchasing a forklift and trying to choose between the two options, the best thing to do is figure out the application requirements for the lift truck. For instance, figure out the kind of machine that is required, how long you intend to keep it and how many hours per year or per week you will utilize it.
Usually, an expensive forklift will hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive new lift truck may not have the overall value, dependability and capability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced kind.
When considering a purchase of a new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you should take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. 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, especially if you would 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.
If you only need your lift truck for approximately 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, a lower cost brand new model or second-hand lift truck might be optimal. Some of the newer units 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 rental program or a used lift truck might best available choice and can possibly save you lots of money.
It is vital 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 required for your certain application.