For anybody determine whether to buy second-hand or new lift truck, it is a really 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, know the kind of machinery which is needed, how long you intend to keep it and the number of hours per week or per year you will utilize it.
Typically, a higher priced forklift will hold its value longer over time. It is good to know that a lower priced brand new forklift may not have the overall capability, value or dependability of a second-hand unit of a higher priced model.
When considering whether or not to purchase a new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage which you might want to take note of: seasonality, utilization and duty cycle. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for at least 4 hours a day, it is better that you purchase a brand new model, especially if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving a lot of loads per hour which are near or at the capacity truck.
On the other hand, if you expect to use your forklift for less than 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, than buying an inexpensive brand new model or a used lift truck might be the right alternative. Several of the newer units are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. As well, if you think that you would expect to use the forklift only during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a used lift truck or a rental program might best choice available and can potentially save you lots of money.
It is essential to know whether the machinery will be always used. This would mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.