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 needs for the lift truck. Like for example, know the kind of equipment which is required, the number of hours per year or per week you will use it and how long you intend to keep it.
Higher priced forklifts will typically hold its value over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive brand new lift truck might not have the overall value, dependability and ability of a used unit of an expensive kind.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects that you should take heed of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours a 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 that are at or near the capacity truck.
However, if you expect to use your forklift for less than 4 hours per day or on an intermittent basis, than buying an inexpensive new model or a second-hand lift truck might be the best alternative. Some of the newer models 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 second-hand lift truck or a rental program might best available option and could possibly save you lots of money.
It is essential 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 needed for your particular application.