For anyone determine whether to buy second-hand or new forklift, it is a really big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to figure out the application requirements for the lift truck, when trying to decide between the two options. For example, know the kind of machine that is required, the number of hours per week or per year you would use it and how long you plan to keep it.
Typically, an expensive forklift would hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive new lift truck might not have the overall dependability, capability or value of a second-hand unit of a higher priced model.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you must take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is recommended that you buy a brand new model, particularly if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving a lot of loads per hour that are near or at the capacity truck.
If you just need your lift truck for around 4 hours per day or on an intermittent basis, a lower cost new model or used lift truck may be optimal. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. As well, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift only during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a second-hand lift truck may best available option and can possibly save you lots of money.
It is essential to know whether the equipment would be in constant use. This will mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability required for your particular application.