For those in the market for a forklift for the first time, the thought may be overwhelming in the beginning. If you’re wondering where the best place to buy a forklift is, then let The Forklift Pro help guide you.
How to Buy a Used Forklift
As you begin on your journey to secure used forklifts for your business, you first need to determine the right type of forklift. In the world of material handling equipment, there are several different types, as well as engine and tire variants.
Types of Used Forklifts
While the types vary widely, the four most common types of forklifts are: counterbalance, reach trucks, pallet truck, and order picker trucks.
The counterbalance forklift is versatile enough for indoor use, while rough terrain forklifts can be used for outdoor applications like on construction sites. These have two forks at the front and are designed so you can drive up close to a load, pick it up, and move it. The name comes from the counterweight in the rear of the vehicle designed to compensate for the heavy load being lifted at the front.
Reach trucks are designed to pick up loads located higher up on storage shelves. Best for indoor environments like a warehouse, reach trucks can maneuver easily through narrow aisles.
As the name implies, pallet trucks and pallet jacks are used to lift and move pallets by placing the forks in the slot underneath the pallet and using the pump handle to raise and lower the load.
Finally, order picker forklifts are electric motor lift trucks designed for filling individual customer orders which require case picking, as opposed to entire pallets or units, and piece-part or case picking, rather than full pallets or unit loads. Order pickers are used for extreme heights in a warehouse or distribution center.
One of the decisions you’ll have to make when purchasing a used forklift is electric or internal combustion engine. These different motors will determine the operational and maintenance costs you will face.
Forklifts also have cushion tires or pneumatic tires. The type of tired forklift you should get depends on the environment it will be used in. For example, cushion tires are best for indoor or paved surfaces while air-filled pneumatic tires are more durable for rough, outdoor terrain.
Best Used Forklift For Your Business
Now that you have more knowledge about the types and features of forklifts, it’s helpful to put together a list of requirements for your business. To help you determine what your business needs from a forklift, answer these questions:
- How many hours will you need to use the forklift each day?
- What are the height requirements you need for your lift to reach?
- Will the forklift primarily be used indoors or outdoors?
- Considering the width of your warehouse aisles and doors, will the forklift be able to maneuver safely in your warehouse?
- What kind of forklift tires will you need to operate safely?
Benefits of Buying a Used Forklift
Though you may be first tempted to buy a new forklift, it’s important to know the benefits of buying a used forklift. Used forklifts are less expensive and often more reliable than new forklifts. The cost of one new forklift is comparable to the cost of two used forklifts.
Since used forklifts have already been operated for a couple of years, they’ve already had any issues or malfunctions worked out and repaired. More often than not, used forklifts are on the market because the business’ lease was over, not because the forklift had problems.
Shopping for a Reliable Used Forklift
After you’ve determined the needs for your forklift operators, and the best type for your business, it’s time to start shopping. As you scroll through online inventories, be on the lookout for indicators of dependable used forklifts and know what you should avoid.
The first factor to check on a used forklift is the number of hours on the equipment. Instead of years, the age of forklifts are measured in hours. The average lifespan of a forklift is between 10,000 and 15,000 hours.
Beware of discontinued models as it will be challenging to find parts for a forklift no longer in production, which in turn increases maintenance costs. Keep in mind before buying a discontinued forklift to find out how easy, or difficult, it could be to find replacement parts.
Take a good look at the tires as these are a good indication of the environment the forklift was previously used in, as well as how often it was maintained.
Find the Best Used Forklift Trucks at The Forklift Pro
When shopping for the best place to buy a forklift, especially a used forklift, be sure to ask experts for help to ensure you get the best unit at the best price. With a large inventory and a sales staff with over 200 years of combined experience, The Forklift Pro is the best place to buy a used forklift.
From the front of the truck to the back, every forklift in our inventory is thoroughly inspected by our qualified technicians. All forklifts are put through a rigorous examination, including tires, filters, meters, fluids, lift chain links, and grease fittings. You can be sure that any used forklift you see in our inventory will be dependable.
Contact The Forklift Pro today to get started with your forklift purchase.