Buying Tips
When purchasing a forklift, there is certainly many factors to take into consideration because this decision could impact a lot of things like productivity, operating costs, equipment downtime, and even employee morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a new or used lift truck, the following is a brief list of factors to take into account. There are several specific questions the sales consultant must address to be able to help you pick the best alternative that is right for your company.
Step 1: Identify Your Needs
Identifying your needs would eventually help that you can find the best most capable forklift for your business. How large are your typical load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours every day will you be using this machinery? Would you be running the machinery outdoors or indoors or potentially both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Answering these questions correctly will make sure that you are happy with the unit you select.
Step2: New Vs. Second-hand Forklifts
You might want to purchase a new unit of forklift if you are planning to use your lift truck for more than 4 hours a day. The warranty benefits alone will really be handy. A used alternative will probably be adequate for infrequent applications and light duty.
Step 3: Fuel Options
Typically, the big batteries which power electric lift trucks can run for an 8 hour shift. The electric units are best suited for indoor applications as they generate no harmful emissions. Although electric units are normally more pricey than various other types of forklifts, they have lower operating costs. Electric lift trucks are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to think about. As well, these kinds of equipment have fewer moving components so they have a longer life span since they have less components to get worn down.
Amongst the disadvantages of the battery operated forklifts is that they need battery recharging stations and this can take roughly 8 hours. There is an additional 8 hours required for cooling. Recent innovations have made their way onto the market so as to significantly reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a wonderful new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Forklifts are outfitted with either pneumatic or inflated, air-filled tires or cushion tires which are made up of solid rubber. There are actually also solid pneumatic tires that are a combination of the two. The pneumatic tire kind is great to be used outside. Cushion tires are great for interior applications and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect alternative for hazardous work settings where there is a possibility for regular tires being popped by sharp objects on rough terrain.