Buying Tips
There are many things to take into consideration when purchasing a lift truck. Deciding on the right machinery can have a huge impact on everything from production to operating costs, to machine downtime and employee morale.
Here is a short list of things to consider when deciding on a brand new or used forklift. There are actually several particular questions the sales consultant has to deal with to be able to help you choose the best option that is right for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Identifying your requirements will eventually help that you could find the best most capable lift truck for your business. How big are your typical load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours each day will you be using this equipment? Would you be running the equipment outdoors or indoors or potentially both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to go through? Accurately answering these questions will ensure you are satisfied with the model you select.
Step2: New Vs. Second-hand Forklifts
If you are planning to use your forklift more than 4 hours a day, you will probably want to buy a brand new unit. The warranty benefits alone will come in handy. A second-hand choice would more than likely be adequate for light duty and infrequent applications.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The large electric lift truck batteries would allow the forklift to run for about 8 hours. These specific power sources make lift trucks uniquely suited for indoor use as they produce no harmful emissions. Though electric models are normally more pricey compared to other units, they have lower operating expenses. Electric forklifts are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage needs to think about. What's more, these equipment have fewer moving parts so they have a longer life span as they have less components to get worn down.
The electric lift truck is not without its downsides however. These machinery require recharging stations which could take as much as 8 hours th charge. There is an additional 8 hours needed for cooling. Recent changes have made their way onto the market so as to considerably lessen charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a wonderful new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Forklifts are equipped with either pneumatic or inflated, air-filled tires or cushion tires which are made up of solid rubber. There are actually also solid pneumatic tires which are a combination of the two. The pneumatic tire style is best suited to be utilized outside. Cushion tires are perfect for indoor use and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect alternative for dangerous work settings where there is a chance for regular tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.