When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anybody to determine whether to buy used or brand new. In terms of buying 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 example, figure out the kind of machine which is required, the number of hours per year or per week you will use it and how long you intend to keep it.
Typically, an expensive forklift would hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that a lower priced brand new lift truck might not have the overall value, reliability and capability 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 using your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is recommended that you buy a new unit, specially if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving numerous loads per hour which are at or near the capacity truck.
If you just need your lift truck for roughly 4 hours a day or on an intermittent basis, a lower cost brand new unit or used forklift might be optimal. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs that are manufactured for lower-duty cycles. Additionally, 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 may best alternative available and could potentially save you a lot of money.
It is vital to know whether the machine will be in constant use. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your particular application.