When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anybody to choose whether to buy used or brand new. When it comes to buying a lift truck and trying to choose between the two options, the best thing to do is figure out the application needs for the lift truck. For example, figure out the kind of machine which is required, how many hours per year or per week you will use it and how long you plan to keep it.
Usually, an expensive forklift will hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive brand new lift truck might not have the overall reliability, capability or value of a used unit of an expensive model.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you should take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is better that you purchase a new model, particularly if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving lots of loads per hour which are at or near the capacity truck.
If you just need your lift truck for about 4 hours a day or on an intermittent basis, an inexpensive new unit or second-hand forklift may be optimal. Several of the newer units are available at lower costs that are made for lower-duty cycles. As well, if you think that you would expect to use the forklift only during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a second-hand lift truck might best alternative available and could possibly save you a lot of money.
It is essential to know whether the machine will be in constant use. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your particular application.