Buying Tips
When purchasing a lift truck, there can be lots of things to take into account because this decision could impact a lot of things such as production, operating costs, equipment downtime, and even worker morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a brand new or second-hand forklift, the following is a brief list of factors to take into account. There are actually several specific questions the sales consultant has to deal with to be able to help you choose the best option which is best for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Needs
Making the time to identify your needs would help ensure that you could find a capable equipment. What size are your standard loads? 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 model you pick.
Step2: New Vs. Used Lift Trucks
You might want to buy a brand new unit of lift truck if you are intending to utilize your forklift for more than 4 hours per day. The warranty benefits alone will come in handy. A used choice will more than likely be adequate for infrequent applications and light duty.
Step 3: Fuel Options
Typically, the huge batteries which power electric forklifts could run for an 8 hour shift. The electric units are best suited for indoor use as they generate no harmful emissions. Even if electric models are usually more pricey compared to other models, they have less operating costs. Electric forklifts are much quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to think about. What's more, these equipment have less moving components 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 though. These equipment require recharging stations which may take as much as 8 hours th charge. There is an additional 8 hours needed for cooling. Recent innovations have made their way onto the market in order to considerably reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a great new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common lift trucks utilize cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they would be outfitted with pneumatic or inflated, air-filled tires. Some lift trucks will use a solid pneumatic tires, that is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire type is best suited to be used outdoors. Cushion tires are great for interior use and solid pneumatic tires are the best choice for dangerous work environments where there is a possibility for standard tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.