When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a huge decision for anybody to choose whether to purchase used or new. In terms of purchasing a lift truck and trying to decide between the two options, the best thing to do is know the application needs for the lift truck. Like for instance, figure out the kind of machine that is needed, how long you intend to keep it and the number of hours per year or per week you will use it.
Higher priced forklifts will usually hold its value over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive new lift truck may not have the overall reliability, capability or value of a used unit of a higher priced kind.
When deciding whether or not to buy a new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage which you may wish to take note of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is better that you purchase a brand new model, specially if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving numerous loads per hour which are near or at the capacity truck.
If you just need your lift truck for approximately 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, a lower cost brand new model or used forklift might be optimal. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs which are manufactured for lower-duty cycles. Additionally, if you think that you would expect to use the forklift only during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a second-hand lift truck or a rental program might best alternative available and can possibly save you lots of money.
It is vital to know whether the machine would be always used. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your particular application.