Buying Tips
There are lots of things to take into account when purchasing a forklift. Choosing the right machine could have a big effect on everything from productivity to operating expenses, to equipment downtime and worker morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a brand new or second-hand forklift, the following is a brief list of things to take into consideration. There is certainly some particular questions the sales consultant should address in order to help you select the best alternative which is right for your company.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Making the time to identify your requirements will help ensure that you could find a capable machinery. What size are your standard loads? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours every day will you be using this machinery? Will you be running the equipment indoors or outdoors or potentially both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to go through? Answering these questions accurately will ensure you are happy with the unit you choose.
Step2: Second-hand Vs. New Forklifts
If you are planning to utilize your lift truck more than 4 hours per day, you will probably want to purchase a brand new unit. The warranty benefits alone would come in handy. A second-hand option would probably be enough for light duty and infrequent applications.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The big electric forklift batteries would allow the forklift to run for around 8 hours. These particular power sources make lift trucks uniquely suited for indoor use since they produce no harmful emissions. Although electric units are normally more expensive than other units, they have less operating costs. Electric forklifts are much quieter to run and do not have fuel storage needs to take into account. Furthermore, these machines have fewer moving parts so they have a longer life span since they have less parts to get worn down.
The electric lift truck is not without its downsides however. These machinery require recharging posts that may take as much as 8 hours th charge. There is an additional 8 hours required for cooling. Recent changes have made their way onto the market in order to significantly reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a great new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Lift Trucks are equipped with either pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires or cushion tires which are made up of solid rubber. There are also solid pneumatic tires which are a combination of the two. The pneumatic tire style is best suited for outside applications. Cushion tires are great for interior applications and solid pneumatic tires are the best choice for dangerous work environments where there is potential for standard tires being popped by sharp objects on rough terrain.