Buying Tips
There are actually lots of things to take into consideration when purchasing a lift truck. Choosing the right machinery could have a huge effect on everything from productivity to operating costs, to equipment downtime and worker morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a new or used forklift, the following is a short list of factors to take into account. There can be some particular questions the sales consultant should address to be able to help you choose the best option that is best for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Needs
Identifying your needs will ultimately help that you can find the best most capable forklift for your company. How large 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? Will you be running the equipment outdoors or indoors or possibly both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Accurately answering these questions will ensure you are satisfied with the unit you select.
Step2: Used Vs. New Forklifts
You might want to purchase a new model of lift truck if you are planning to utilize your forklift for more than 4 hours per day. The warranty benefits alone will come in handy. A second-hand choice will probably be adequate for light duty and infrequent applications.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The big electric forklift batteries would allow the forklift to run for approximately 8 hours. These specific power sources make forklifts uniquely suited for indoor use as they generate no harmful emissions. Though electric models are normally more expensive compared to other units, they have lower operating costs. Electric forklifts are much quieter to run and do not have fuel storage needs to take into account. What's more, these kinds of equipment have less moving components so they have a longer life span since they have less parts to get worn down.
The electric forklift is not without its downsides however. These machinery require recharging stations that can take as much as 8 hours th charge. 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
Lift Trucks are outfitted with either pneumatic or inflated, air-filled tires or cushion tires that are made up of solid rubber. There can be also solid pneumatic tires which are a combination of the two. The pneumatic tire kind is best suited for outdoor applications. Cushion tires are best for interior applications and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect choice for dangerous work environments where there is a risk for regular tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.