Buying a brand-new forklift can be very expensive. There are some instances in which you might have to pay $50,000 or even $100,000 for one.
With this in mind, it would be a much better idea for those in the market for forklifts to consider going with used forklifts. You might be able to save yourself a ton of money by purchasing a used forklift as opposed to a new one.
There are, however, several key things that you’ll have to pay close attention to when you’re interested in trying to buy a used forklift. If you don’t do the necessary used forklift inspections, you could end up with a problem on your hands.
Before you buy a forklift, it’s important to learn about what you should look for in one. Continue reading to find out more about these things.
Type
There are so many different types of forklifts available today. So prior to considering used forklifts, it’s important for you to decide which type of forklift you actually need.
Several of the most common types of forklifts are:
- Counterbalance forklifts
- Pallet jacks
- Reach fork trucks
- Order pickers
- Telehandlers
- Rough terrain forklifts
You’ll need to put some serious thought into which type of forklift is going to fit the bill for you. It’ll make it possible for you to narrow down your options when it comes to used forklifts.
Brand
In addition to carefully considering which type of used forklift you would like, you should also think about which brand you want to buy a forklift from. Some brands that can sell you high-quality forklifts are:
- Moffett
- Princeton
- Sellick
- Palfinger
- Manitou
Visit 99lifts.com to discover more about the used forklifts that are manufactured by these companies. It’ll ensure that you only buy a forklift that was made by a name you can count on.
Condition
If you’re going to buy a used forklift, there is no question that you should consider its condition first. The last thing that you want to do is buy a forklift that’s in awful condition and have it break down on you all the time.
In this case, you’ll wish that you had splurged on a new forklift that you could actually use. You should walk around the outside of a used forklift to test its physical condition before climbing onto it and taking it out for a test drive to get a feel for it.
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If you have any hesitations at all about the condition of a used forklift, you should get off of it and think about testing out a different one. You could end up making a big mistake if you agree to buy a used forklift that isn’t in good shape at all.
Age
Most forklifts are built to last for a really long time. It’s not uncommon at all for those who own forklifts to get 10,000 and sometimes even 20,000 hours out of them.
If you’re buying a used forklift, though, you might wind up with one that doesn’t have much life left in it if it’s on the older side. If it has been around for well over a decade and seems to be approaching the 10,000-mile mark, this should serve as a red flag.
You don’t want to get stuck driving around in a used forklift that could conk out on you at any time. That isn’t to say that you can’t invest in a forklift that has been broken in. But you should also avoid taking on a forklift that isn’t going to be around in a year or two.
Capabilities
How much weight can a forklift pick up? Which safety features are included in a forklift? And how often does a forklift need to be charged up before you can use it again?
You need to know about all the capabilities of a used forklift before you buy it. You should know what it’ll be able to do for you so that it can live up to your lofty expectations.
Issues
If a used forklift is getting up there in age, it might have certain issues that will be almost impossible to ignore. These will be the types of issues that could potentially render a used forklift useless and force you to buy another one in the not-too-distant future.
Some of the issues that you should be aware of include:
- Damage that has been done to the forks
- Gaps that exist in the lift chains
- Tires that don’t look like they have much tread left on them
- Safety features that no longer work like they’re supposed to
- Leaks from underneath the forklift
To be clear, there is going to be some wear and tear on a used forklift. That’s perfectly acceptable.
But if a used forklift has issues that look to be major, you’ll want to shy away from buying it.
Price
The whole reason why you’re buying a used forklift rather than a new one is so that you can save money, right? So you shouldn’t get roped into overpaying for a used forklift at any point.
You should ask how much used forklifts cost before buying them and do your research on the prices that you’re given. If any of these prices are on the higher side, you won’t want to even consider purchasing those used forklifts.
Used Forklifts Are Better Options Than New Ones in Many Cases
If you can afford to break the bank on a brand-new forklift, have at it! You’ll appreciate having a state-of-the-art piece of equipment to use.
But if you don’t want to spend a small fortune on a forklift, used forklifts are also an option. They’ll cost just a fraction of what new ones do while providing many of the same great benefits. Just be sure that you keep the factors listed here in mind while shopping for used forklifts.
Read more articles on buying equipment for your business by browsing through the rest of our blog.