Buying Tips
When purchasing a forklift, there can be many things to take into consideration because this decision can impact a lot of things such as production, operating costs, machine downtime, and even worker morale.
Below is a short list of factors to consider when deciding on a brand new or used lift truck. There is certainly several particular questions the sales consultant has to deal with in order to help you choose the best alternative which is right for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Identifying your requirements will ultimately help that you can find the best most capable lift truck for your business. How large are your normal load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours each day will you be utilizing this machinery? Will you be running the machine indoors or outdoors or potentially both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Correctly answering these questions would ensure you are happy with the unit you select.
Step2: New Vs. Used Forklifts
You may want to buy a new model of lift truck if you are intending to utilize your forklift for more than 4 hours per day. The warranty benefits alone would come in handy. A used option would more than likely be enough for infrequent applications and light duty.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The big electric forklift batteries will allow the lift truck to run for about 8 hours. These particular power sources make lift trucks uniquely suited for indoor use because they generate no harmful emissions. Though electric units are generally more pricey than different other types of lift trucks, they have lower operating expenses. Electric forklifts are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage needs to consider. Also, these kinds of equipment have less moving components so they have a longer life span as they have fewer parts to get worn down.
One of the downsides of the battery operated lift trucks is that they require battery recharging stations and this can take approximately 8 hours. 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 forklifts utilize cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they would be equipped with pneumatic or inflated, air-filled tires. Some forklifts would use a solid pneumatic tires, which is a combination of the two kinds of tire. The pneumatic tire style is perfect to be utilized outside. Cushion tires are best for interior applications and solid pneumatic tires are the best alternative for hazardous work settings where there is a chance for regular tires being popped by sharp objects on rough terrain.