When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a huge decision for anyone to determine whether to buy second-hand or brand new. When it comes to purchasing a lift truck and trying to decide between the two options, the best thing to do is figure out the application needs for the lift truck. Like for example, figure out the kind of equipment which is needed, how long you plan to keep it and the number of hours per week or per year you would use it.

Higher priced forklifts will typically hold its value over time. It is good to know that an inexpensive new forklift might not have the overall value, reliability and ability of a used unit of a higher priced model.

When considering a purchase of a brand new or used lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you should take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of utilizing your lift truck for 4 or more hours per day, it is better that you buy a brand new model, particularly if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving numerous loads per hour which are near or at the capacity truck.

However, if you expect to use your lift truck for less than 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, than buying a lower cost new model or a used forklift might be the right option. Several of the newer units are available at lower costs that are made for lower-duty cycles. In addition, if you think that you will expect to use the forklift only during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a used lift truck or a rental program might best available alternative and can potentially save you lots of money.

It is important to know whether the machinery will be always used. This will mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.