Buying Tips
There can be numerous factors to take into account when purchasing a lift truck. Choosing the best machinery could have a huge effect on everything from production to operating costs, to machine downtime and worker morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a brand new or second-hand forklift, the following is a short list of things to take into account. There is certainly some particular questions the sales consultant must deal with in order to help you pick the best option which is most suitable for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Needs
Identifying your needs will eventually help that you can find the best most capable lift truck for your business. How large are your normal load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours every day would you be using this machine? Would you be running the machine outdoors or indoors or possibly both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Answering these questions correctly will make sure that you are satisfied with the unit you select.
Step2: Second-hand Vs. Brand new Forklifts
If you are planning to use your lift truck more than 4 hours per day, you would probably want to purchase a brand new model. The warranty benefits alone will come in handy. A second-hand option will more than likely be enough for light duty and infrequent applications.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The big electric forklift batteries will allow the lift truck to run for approximately 8 hours. These specific power sources make lift trucks uniquely suited for indoor use since they produce no harmful emissions. Though electric units are normally more expensive compared to various other kinds of forklifts, they have less operating costs. Electric forklifts are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage needs to think about. In addition, these equipment have fewer moving parts so they have a longer life span because they have fewer components to get worn down.
The electric forklift is not without its disadvantages however. These machines need recharging stations which could take as long as 8 hours th charge. There is an additional 8 hours required for cooling. Recent changes have made their way onto the market so as to significantly reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a great new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common forklifts use cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they would be equipped with pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires. Some lift trucks would utilize a solid pneumatic tires, which is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire type is great for outdoor applications. Cushion tires are perfect for interior use and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect choice for hazardous work environments where there is a chance for standard tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.