For anybody determine whether to purchase second-hand or new lift truck, 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 forklift, when trying to choose between the two options. For example, figure out the type of machine which is needed, the number of hours per week or per year you will use it and how long you intend to keep it.
Higher priced forklifts would typically hold its value over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive brand new forklift might not have the overall value, reliability and ability of a used unit of a higher priced kind.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects that you should take heed of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is better that you buy a new unit, especially if you will 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 use your forklift for less than 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, than purchasing a lower cost new model or a second-hand forklift might be the right option. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. Moreover, if you think that you would expect to use the forklift just during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a second-hand lift truck might best available choice and can possibly save you a lot of money.
It is essential to know whether the machine will be in constant use. This would mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your particular application.