When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anyone to determine whether to purchase second-hand or brand new. When it comes to buying a lift truck and trying to decide between the two options, the best thing to do is know the application requirements for the lift truck. For instance, know the type of machine which is required, how long you intend to keep it and the number of hours per year or per week you would use it.
Normally, an expensive forklift would hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive new forklift might not have the overall reliability, capability or value of a used unit of an expensive type.
When considering a purchase of a new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects that you must take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for 4 or more hours per day, it is better that you purchase a new model, specially if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving many loads per hour that are at or near the capacity truck.
If you only need your lift truck for approximately 4 hours a day or on an intermittent basis, a lower cost new model or used forklift might be optimal. Several of the newer units are available at lower costs that are made for lower-duty cycles. Additionally, 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 choice available and can potentially save you a lot of money.
It is vital to anticipate if the forklift is going to be always used or not. This will mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability required for your particular application.