Buying Tips
When purchasing a forklift, there can be lots of factors to take into consideration because this decision may impact a lot of things such as production, operating expenses, equipment downtime, and even worker morale.
Below is a brief list of factors to consider when deciding on a new or used lift truck. There are several specific questions the sales consultant must deal with in order to help you select the best option which is right for your company.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Identifying your requirements would ultimately help that you can find the best most capable forklift for your company. How big are your typical load sizes? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours each day would you be utilizing this equipment? Will you be running the machinery outdoors or indoors or possibly both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Correctly answering these questions would make certain that you are happy with the model you pick.
Step2: Second-hand Vs. New Lift Trucks
You may want to purchase a new model of lift truck if you are planning to use your forklift for more than 4 hours a day. The warranty benefits alone would truly be handy. A used option will probably be enough for light duty and infrequent applications.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The large electric forklift batteries would allow the lift truck to run for around 8 hours. These particular power sources make forklifts uniquely suited for indoor application as they produce no harmful emissions. Though electric units are generally more expensive compared to other models, they have less operating expenses. Electric lift trucks are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to consider. What's more, these kinds of equipment have less moving parts so they have a longer life span because they have less parts to get worn down.
The electric lift truck is not without its downsides though. These machinery need recharging posts that could take as much as 8 hours th charge. There is an added 8 hours required for cooling. Recent innovations have made their way onto the market so as to considerably lessen charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a great new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common lift trucks use cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they will be equipped with pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires. Some lift trucks would utilize a solid pneumatic tires, that is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire kind is great for outside applications. Cushion tires are great for interior applications and solid pneumatic tires are the best choice for dangerous work settings where there is potential for regular tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.