When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a huge decision for anybody to choose whether to buy second-hand or new. When it comes to purchasing a lift truck and trying to choose between the two options, the best thing to do is figure out the application requirements for the lift truck. For instance, know the type of machine which is needed, the number of hours per week or per year you would use it and how long you plan to keep it.
Expensive forklifts will typically hold its value over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive new forklift might not have the overall value, reliability and capability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced type.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects that you should take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for 4 or more hours per day, it is recommended that you purchase a brand new model, particularly if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving lots of loads per hour that are at or near the capacity truck.
If you just need your lift truck for about 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, an inexpensive new model or second-hand lift truck might be optimal. Some of the newer models are available at lower costs which are manufactured 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 might best option available and could possibly save you a lot of money.
It is important to know whether the equipment would be in constant use. This will mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.