Buying Tips
There can be numerous factors to take into account when purchasing a lift truck. Deciding on the right equipment can have a big impact on everything from production to operating costs, to machine downtime and employee morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a brand new or second-hand forklift, the following is a brief list of things to take into account. There can be several specific questions the sales consultant must deal with to be able to help you choose the best option that is best for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Identifying your needs will eventually help that you could find the best most capable lift truck for your business. How large are your normal load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours every day will you be utilizing this machine? Would you be running the machine indoors or outdoors or possibly both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to go through? Answering these questions accurately will ensure you are happy with the unit you select.
Step2: New Vs. Used Lift Trucks
If you are intending to utilize your forklift more than 4 hours per day, you would probably want to buy a brand new model. The warranty benefits alone would really be handy. A used option would more than likely be adequate for light duty and infrequent applications.
Step 3: Fuel Options
Normally, the huge batteries that power electric forklifts can run for an 8 hour shift. The electric models are best suited for indoor applications as they produce no harmful emissions. Even though electric models are usually more pricey than different other types of forklifts, they have less operating expenses. Electric forklifts are much quieter to run and do not have fuel storage needs to take into consideration. As well, these types of machines have less moving components so they have a longer life span because they have fewer components to get worn down.
The electric forklift is not without its downsides however. These equipment need recharging posts which could take as much as 8 hours th charge. There is an added 8 hours needed for cooling. Recent changes have made their way onto the market so as to significantly lessen charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a wonderful new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common lift trucks utilize cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they will be equipped with pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires. Several forklifts would utilize a solid pneumatic tires, which is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire type is great for outside applications. Cushion tires are great to be used inside and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect choice for hazardous work settings where there is potential for regular tires being popped by sharp objects on rough terrain.