For anyone determine whether to buy used or new forklift, it is a very big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to know the application needs for the lift truck, when trying to choose between the two options. For example, figure out the kind of equipment that is required, how many hours per week or per year you would utilize it and how long you plan to keep it.
Expensive forklifts will usually hold its value over time. It is good to remember that a lower priced brand new forklift might not have the overall value, reliability and capability of a used unit of a higher priced type.
When considering whether or not to purchase a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage which you may want to take note of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for at least 4 hours a day, it is recommended that you buy a brand new unit, particularly if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving many loads per hour that are near or at the capacity truck.
If you only need your lift truck for roughly 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, a lower cost brand new model or second-hand forklift may be optimal. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. As well, 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 may best alternative available and can potentially save you a lot of money.
It is vital to know whether the machinery would be always used. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.