For anyone determine whether to buy used or new lift truck, it is a really big decision when confronted with the purchasing cycle. The best thing to do is to know the application needs for the lift truck, when trying to decide between the two options. For instance, know the type of equipment that is needed, how many hours per week or per year you would utilize it and how long you intend to keep it.
Expensive forklifts will usually hold its value over time. It is good to remember that an inexpensive new lift truck may not have the overall reliability, capability or value of a second-hand unit of a higher priced model.
When considering whether or not to buy a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects of usage that you might want to take note of: utilization, duty cycle and seasonality. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for at least 4 hours a day, it is better that you purchase a new model, particularly if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving many loads per hour that are near or at the capacity truck.
If you only need your lift truck for about 4 hours per day or on an irregular basis, a lower cost brand new unit or second-hand lift truck might be optimal. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. Additionally, if you think that you will expect to utilize the forklift just during specific times of year on a seasonal basis, then a used lift truck or a rental program might best available option and can potentially save you lots of money.
It is important to anticipate if the forklift is going to be in nearly constant use or not. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability needed for your particular application.