For anyone determine whether to purchase second-hand or new lift truck, 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 decide between the two options. For example, know the type of machine which is needed, how many hours per year or per week you would utilize it and how long you plan to keep it.
Typically, a higher priced forklift would hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that a lower priced new lift truck may not have the overall capability, value or dependability of a used unit of a higher priced kind.
When considering whether or not to purchase a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage that you may wish to take note of: seasonality, utilization and duty cycle. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is recommended that you purchase a new model, particularly if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving lots of loads per hour that are at or near the capacity truck.
Nonetheless, if you expect to use your forklift for less than 4 hours a day or on an intermittent basis, than purchasing an inexpensive brand new unit or a second-hand forklift might be the best option. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. As well, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift only during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a second-hand lift truck or a rental program might best alternative available and could possibly save you lots of money.
It is important to anticipate if the forklift is going to be always used or not. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.