Buying Tips
When buying a forklift, there is certainly lots of factors to take into account since this decision can impact numerous things like productivity, operating expenses, equipment downtime, and even employee morale.
Below is a short list of things to consider when deciding on a brand new or used forklift. There is certainly several specific questions the sales consultant should deal with in order to help you pick the best option which is right for your company.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Identifying your requirements would ultimately help that you could find the best most capable forklift 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 would you be utilizing this equipment? Will you be running the equipment outdoors or indoors or possibly both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to go through? Answering these questions correctly will ensure you are happy with the model you pick.
Step2: Second-hand Vs. New Lift Trucks
You may want to buy a new unit of lift truck if you are intending to utilize your lift truck for more than 4 hours per day. The warranty benefits alone would come in handy. A second-hand option will more than likely be adequate for infrequent applications and light duty.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The big electric lift truck batteries will allow the forklift to run for around 8 hours. These specific power sources make forklifts uniquely suited for indoor use since they produce no harmful emissions. Although electric models are generally more expensive than other units, they have lower operating expenses. Electric forklifts are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to take into account. Moreover, these machines have less moving parts so they have a longer life span because they have less components to get worn down.
Among the disadvantages of the battery operated forklifts is that they require battery recharging stations and this could take approximately 8 hours. There is an additional 8 hours needed for cooling. Recent innovations have made their way onto the market in order to considerably reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a great new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common forklifts utilize cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they would be equipped with pneumatic or inflated, air-filled tires. Several lift trucks will use a solid pneumatic tires, which is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire type is best suited to be used outdoors. Cushion tires are perfect for interior use and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect choice for dangerous work settings where there is potential for standard tires being popped by sharp objects on rough terrain.