For anybody determine whether to buy used or brand new forklift, it is a very big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to know the application requirements for the forklift, when trying to choose between the two options. For example, know the type of equipment that is needed, how long you plan to keep it and the number of hours per week or per year you will use it.
Higher priced forklifts will normally hold its value over time. It is good to know that a lower priced brand new lift truck might not have the overall value, dependability and capability of a used unit of an expensive type.
When deciding whether or not to buy 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, particularly if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving many loads per hour which are at or near the capacity truck.
If you just need your lift truck for roughly 4 hours per day or on an intermittent basis, an inexpensive new unit or used forklift might be optimal. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs that are made for lower-duty cycles. Also, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift just during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a used lift truck or a rental program might best available option and could potentially save you a lot of money.
It is essential to know whether the machinery would be always used. This will mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your certain application.