For anybody determine whether to purchase used or brand new lift truck, it is a very big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to figure out the application needs for the lift truck, when trying to choose between the two options. For instance, know the kind of machinery that is needed, how many hours per week or per year you will use it and how long you intend to keep it.
Usually, a higher priced forklift will hold its value longer over time. It is good to remember that an inexpensive new forklift might not have the overall value, dependability and capability of a used unit of an expensive model.
When deciding whether or not to purchase a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage which you might want to take note of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is recommended that you purchase a brand new unit, especially if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving a lot of loads per hour that are at or near the capacity truck.
Nevertheless, if you expect to utilize your lift truck for less than 4 hours a day or on an intermittent basis, than purchasing a lower cost brand new unit or a used lift truck might be the right option. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs that are manufactured for lower-duty cycles. What's more, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift only during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a used lift truck or a rental program might best alternative available and can potentially save you a lot of money.
It is important to know whether the machine will be in constant use. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.