Buying Tips
There are many things to take into consideration when buying a forklift. Deciding on the best machine can have a huge impact on everything from production to operating expenses, 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 factors to take into account. There are actually some specific questions the sales consultant should deal with to be able to help you select the best option which is most suitable for your company.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Identifying your requirements will ultimately help that you can find the best most capable lift truck for your company. How big are your typical load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours each day would you be using this equipment? Would you be running the equipment indoors or outdoors or possibly both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Answering these questions correctly would make certain that you are happy with the unit you select.
Step2: Used Vs. New Forklifts
If you are planning to utilize your forklift more than 4 hours a day, you will probably want to purchase a brand new unit. The warranty benefits alone will come in handy. A used alternative will more than likely be adequate for infrequent applications and light duty.
Step 3: Fuel Options
Typically, the huge batteries which power electric lift trucks can run for an 8 hour shift. The electric units are best suited for indoor use because they produce no harmful emissions. Even if electric units are usually more pricey than various other kinds of forklifts, they have less operating expenses. Electric forklifts are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage needs to take into consideration. In addition, these types of equipment have less moving parts so they have a longer life span since they have less components to get worn down.
One of the disadvantages of the battery operated forklifts is that they need battery recharging stations and this could take roughly 8 hours. There is an additional 8 hours required for cooling. Recent changes have made their way onto the market in order to considerably reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a wonderful new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common forklifts use cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they would be outfitted with pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires. Several forklifts will utilize a solid pneumatic tires, that is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire kind is best suited for outdoor applications. Cushion tires are perfect for indoor applications and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect choice for dangerous work settings where there is a possibility for standard tires being popped by sharp objects on rough terrain.