For anybody determine whether to buy second-hand or brand 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 needs for the lift truck, when trying to choose between the two options. For instance, figure out the kind of equipment that is needed, how long you intend to keep it and the number of hours per year or per week you would use it.
Typically, an expensive forklift will hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive new forklift might not have the overall capability, value or reliability of a used unit of an expensive kind.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you must take heed of: seasonality, utilization and duty cycle. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is recommended that you buy a new unit, specially if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving many loads per hour which are near or at the capacity truck.
Nevertheless, if you expect to utilize your forklift for less than 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, than buying an inexpensive new model or a used lift truck might be the right alternative. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. Also, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift only during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a second-hand lift truck or a rental program might best available choice and can potentially save you a lot of money.
It is important to know whether the machinery would be in constant use. This will mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.