Buying Tips
There are actually a lot of things to take into consideration when buying a forklift. Choosing the best machinery can have a big effect on everything from production to operating costs, to equipment downtime and worker morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a brand new or second-hand forklift, the following is a short list of things to take into account. There are actually several particular questions the sales consultant should deal with in order to help you select the best alternative that is most suitable for your company.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Identifying your needs will eventually help that you could find the best most capable forklift for your company. How large are your typical load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours every day will you be using this equipment? Would you be running the machine indoors or outdoors or possibly both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Answering these questions correctly will ensure you are satisfied with the unit you pick.
Step2: Brand new Vs. Used Forklifts
You may want to purchase a new unit of forklift if you are intending to use your forklift for more than 4 hours a day. The warranty benefits alone will really be handy. A second-hand alternative would more than likely be adequate for light duty and infrequent applications.
Step 3: Fuel Options
Typically, the huge batteries that power electric forklifts could run for an 8 hour shift. The electric models are best suited for indoor applications because they generate no harmful emissions. Though electric units are usually more pricey compared to other units, they have lower operating expenses. Electric forklifts are much quieter to run and do not have fuel storage needs to consider. As well, these machinery have fewer moving parts so they have a longer life span as they have less parts to get worn down.
One of the disadvantages of the battery operated forklifts is that they require battery recharging stations and this can take around 8 hours. There is an added 8 hours required for cooling. Recent innovations have made their way onto the market so as to considerably reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a great new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Forklifts are equipped with either pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires or cushion tires that are made up of solid rubber. There are also solid pneumatic tires that are a combination of the two. The pneumatic tire kind is best suited for outdoor applications. Cushion tires are best to be used inside and solid pneumatic tires are the best choice for hazardous work environments where there is a risk for regular tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.