Buying Tips
There can be numerous factors to take into account when purchasing a forklift. Deciding on the best machinery can have a big effect on everything from productivity to operating expenses, to equipment downtime and worker morale.
Below is a brief list of factors to think about when deciding on a new or second-hand lift truck. There are actually some particular questions the sales consultant has to deal with in order to help you pick the best option which is most suitable for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Needs
Identifying your requirements would ultimately help that you could find the best most capable lift truck for your company. How big are your normal load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours each day would you be using this machinery? Would you be running the machinery indoors or outdoors or potentially both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to go through? Answering these questions correctly would make sure that you are happy with the unit you choose.
Step2: New Vs. Used Forklifts
If you are intending to utilize your forklift more than 4 hours per day, you will probably want to purchase a new model. The warranty benefits alone will truly be handy. A second-hand alternative will more than likely be adequate for infrequent applications and light duty.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The big electric lift truck batteries would allow the lift truck to run for approximately 8 hours. These specific power sources make lift trucks uniquely suited for indoor application as they generate no harmful emissions. Even if electric units are usually more expensive than various other types of lift trucks, they have lower operating costs. Electric lift trucks are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to take into account. What's more, these machines have fewer moving components so they have a longer life span since they have less parts to get worn down.
The electric lift truck is not without its disadvantages though. These machinery need recharging stations which could take as much as 8 hours th charge. There is an additional 8 hours needed for cooling. Recent innovations 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
Forklifts are outfitted with either pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires or cushion tires which are made up of solid rubber. There can be also solid pneumatic tires that are a combination of the two. The pneumatic tire style is perfect for outdoor applications. Cushion tires are best to be utilized indoors and solid pneumatic tires are the best choice for dangerous work settings where there is potential for standard tires being popped by sharp objects on rough terrain.