Buying Tips
When purchasing a lift truck, there is certainly numerous factors to take into account as this decision may impact a lot of things such as productivity, operating costs, equipment downtime, and even worker morale.
Below is a brief list of things to think about when deciding on a brand new or second-hand forklift. There can be some particular questions the sales consultant should address to be able to help you pick the best option which is most suitable for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Needs
Identifying your requirements would eventually help that you could find the best most capable forklift for your business. How large are your standard load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours every day will you be using this machine? Would you be running the machine outdoors or indoors or potentially both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Accurately answering these questions would make certain that you are happy with the model you choose.
Step2: Second-hand Vs. New Forklifts
You might want to buy a new model of forklift if you are planning to utilize your lift truck for more than 4 hours per day. The warranty benefits alone would come in handy. A used choice will more than likely be adequate for light duty and infrequent applications.
Step 3: Fuel Options
Usually, the huge batteries that power electric forklifts could run for an 8 hour shift. The electric models are best suited for indoor use since they generate no harmful emissions. Though electric units are usually more expensive compared to other models, they have less operating costs. Electric forklifts are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to consider. Furthermore, these machinery have less moving components so they have a longer life span since they have fewer parts to get worn down.
Among the downsides of the battery operated lift trucks is that they require battery recharging posts and this can take around 8 hours. There is an added 8 hours needed for cooling. Recent changes have made their way onto the market in order to considerably reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a wonderful new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common forklifts utilize cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they will be equipped with pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires. Some lift trucks will utilize a solid pneumatic tires, which is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire style is perfect for outdoor applications. Cushion tires are best for interior applications and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect choice for hazardous work environments where there is potential for standard tires being popped by sharp objects on rough terrain.