When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anyone to choose whether to purchase used or new. In terms of buying a lift truck and trying to choose between the two options, the best thing to do is know the application needs for the lift truck. For instance, know the kind of machinery which is required, the number of hours per year or per week you would use it and how long you intend to keep it.
Typically, a higher priced forklift will hold its value longer over time. It is good to remember that a lower priced brand new lift truck might not have the overall value, dependability and capability of a used unit of a higher priced model.
When considering whether or not to buy a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage which you might want to take note of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is recommended that you buy a brand new unit, particularly if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving numerous loads per hour that are near or at the capacity truck.
On the other hand, if you expect to use your lift truck for less than 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, than buying a lower cost brand new unit or a used lift truck might be the right alternative. Some of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. Additionally, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift only during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a used lift truck or a rental program may best available alternative and could potentially save you lots of money.
It is important to anticipate if the lift truck is going to be always used or not. This would mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.