When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a huge decision for anybody to choose whether to buy second-hand or brand new. In terms of buying a forklift and trying to decide between the two options, the best thing to do is know the application requirements for the lift truck. Like for instance, know the type of equipment that is needed, how long you plan to keep it and the number of hours per week or per year you would use it.
Usually, an expensive forklift would hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that a lower priced new forklift may not have the overall ability, value or reliability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced model.
When considering whether or not to buy a brand new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage which you may wish to take note of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for 4 or more hours per day, it is better that you buy a brand new model, 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.
Nonetheless, if you expect to use your forklift for less than 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, than buying a lower cost new model or a used forklift may be the best option. Some of the newer models are available at lower costs that are manufactured for lower-duty cycles. Furthermore, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift just during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a used lift truck or a rental program might best choice available and could potentially save you a lot of money.
It is essential to anticipate if the forklift is going to be always used or not. This will mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.