For anyone determine whether to purchase second-hand or brand new lift truck, it is a really big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to know the application requirements for the forklift, when trying to decide between the two options. For example, figure out the type of equipment which is needed, how long you intend to keep it and the number of hours per year or per week you would utilize it.
Usually, a higher priced forklift will hold its value longer over time. It is good to remember that a lower priced new lift truck might not have the overall capability, value or reliability of a second-hand unit of an expensive kind.
When deciding whether or not to purchase a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage which you may want to take note of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is recommended that you buy a brand new model, especially if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving many loads per hour which are at or near the capacity truck.
If you just need your lift truck for approximately 4 hours a day or on an intermittent basis, an inexpensive brand new model or second-hand forklift might be optimal. Some of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. Furthermore, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift just during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a used lift truck or a rental program may best available alternative and can potentially save you lots of money.
It is vital to know whether the machinery would be always used. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability required for your particular application.