For anybody determine whether to buy used or new forklift, it is a very big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to figure out the application requirements for the forklift, when trying to choose between the two options. For example, figure out the kind of machine that is required, the number of hours per week or per year you would utilize it and how long you plan to keep it.
Usually, a higher priced forklift would hold its value longer over time. It is good to remember that a lower priced new lift truck might not have the overall ability, value or reliability of a second-hand unit of an expensive type.
When considering whether or not to buy a brand new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage that you may want to take note of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is better that you buy a brand new model, especially if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving a lot of loads per hour that are near or at the capacity truck.
Nonetheless, if you expect to utilize your forklift for less than 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, than buying an inexpensive brand new model or a used lift truck may be the best alternative. Some of the newer units are available at lower costs that are made for lower-duty cycles. Also, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift only during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a used lift truck might best option available and could potentially save you a lot of money.
It is essential to know whether the equipment will be always used. This would mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability required for your particular application.