Buying Tips
There is certainly a lot of things to take into account when purchasing a lift truck. Deciding on the right machinery could have a big impact on everything from production to operating costs, to machine downtime and worker morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a new or used lift truck, the following is a short list of things to take into account. There can be some specific questions the sales consultant has to address in order to help you pick the best alternative which is most suitable for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Needs
Making the time to identify your needs would help ensure that you can find a capable equipment. What size are your average loads? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours every day will you be using this machine? Will you be running the equipment outdoors or indoors or possibly both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Correctly answering these questions will make certain that you are satisfied with the model you select.
Step2: Brand new Vs. Used Forklifts
If you are planning to use your forklift more than 4 hours a day, you would probably want to purchase a brand new unit. The warranty benefits alone will come in handy. A second-hand alternative 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 roughly 8 hours. These specific power sources make forklifts uniquely suited for indoor application since they produce no harmful emissions. Although electric units are usually more pricey compared to various other kinds of forklifts, they have lower operating expenses. Electric forklifts are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to take into consideration. As well, these equipment have fewer moving parts so they have a longer life span because they have fewer components to get worn down.
The electric lift truck is not without its disadvantages though. These machines need recharging posts that 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 considerably lessen 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 would be equipped with pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires. Some forklifts would use a solid pneumatic tires, which is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire type is best suited for outdoor applications. Cushion tires are great to be utilized inside and solid pneumatic tires are the best option for hazardous work settings where there is a risk for standard tires being popped by sharp objects on rough terrain.