When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anybody to determine whether to purchase second-hand or new. When it comes to buying a forklift and trying to decide between the two options, the best thing to do is know the application needs for the lift truck. Like for instance, know the kind of equipment which is needed, how long you plan to keep it and how many hours per year or per week you will use it.
Higher priced forklifts would typically hold its value over time. It is good to remember that an inexpensive new forklift may not have the overall ability, value or reliability of a used unit of an expensive model.
When considering whether or not to buy a new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage that you may wish to take note 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, especially if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving lots of loads per hour which are near or at the capacity truck.
Nevertheless, if you expect to utilize your lift truck for less than 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, than buying a lower cost brand new model or a second-hand forklift may be the right option. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs which are manufactured for lower-duty cycles. Furthermore, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift just during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a second-hand lift truck might best choice available and can possibly save you a lot of money.
It is vital to know whether the machine will be always used. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.