For anybody determine whether to purchase second-hand or brand new lift truck, it is a very big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to know the application requirements for the lift truck, when trying to choose between the two options. Like for instance, know the type of equipment that is needed, the number of hours per year or per week you would utilize it and how long you plan to keep 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 value, reliability and ability of a used unit of a higher priced model.
When considering a purchase of a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you must take heed of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is recommended that you buy 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 which are at or near the capacity truck.
However, if you expect to utilize your lift truck for less than 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, than purchasing an inexpensive new model or a used lift truck might be the best alternative. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. In addition, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift only during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a second-hand lift truck or a rental program may best available alternative and could possibly save you a lot of money.
It is important to anticipate if the forklift is going to be in nearly constant use or not. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability required for your particular application.