Buying Tips
There are actually a lot of things to take into consideration when buying a lift truck. Choosing the best equipment could have a big effect on everything from productivity to operating expenses, to equipment downtime and employee morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a brand new or second-hand forklift, the following is a short list of factors to take into account. There are several particular questions the sales consultant must address to be able to help you pick the best option that is most suitable for your company.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Making the time to identify your requirements would help ensure that you can find a capable machine. What size are your typical loads? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours each day will you be using this machinery? Would you be running the machinery outdoors or indoors or potentially both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Correctly answering these questions will ensure you are satisfied with the model you select.
Step2: Used Vs. Brand new Forklifts
You might want to purchase a new model of lift truck if you are planning to utilize your lift truck for more than 4 hours a day. The warranty benefits alone will really be handy. A second-hand option would probably be enough for infrequent applications and light duty.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The large electric forklift batteries would allow the forklift to run for about 8 hours. These specific power sources make lift trucks uniquely suited for indoor application as they produce no harmful emissions. Though electric units are normally more pricey compared to other models, they have lower operating expenses. Electric lift trucks are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage needs to take into account. As well, these types of machines have less moving components so they have a longer life span as they have less components to get worn down.
The electric forklift is not without its downsides however. These machinery require recharging posts which could take as long as 8 hours th charge. There is an added 8 hours required for cooling. Recent innovations have made their way onto the market in order to significantly reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a wonderful new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common lift trucks utilize cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they will be outfitted with pneumatic or inflated, air-filled tires. Several lift trucks would use a solid pneumatic tires, which is a combination of the two kinds of tire. The pneumatic tire kind is best suited to be used outdoors. Cushion tires are great to be utilized indoors and solid pneumatic tires are the best choice for hazardous work environments where there is potential for standard tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.