When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a huge decision for anyone to choose whether to buy used or new. In terms of purchasing a lift truck and trying to decide between the two options, the best thing to do is figure out the application requirements for the lift truck. For example, know the kind of machine which is required, how long you plan to keep it and how many hours per year or per week you would use it.
Usually, an expensive forklift would hold its value longer over time. It is good to remember that a lower priced new lift truck might not have the overall dependability, ability or value of a used unit of an expensive type.
When considering a purchase of a new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects which you should take heed of: seasonality, utilization and duty cycle. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for at least 4 hours per day, it is better that you buy a brand new model, specially if you will have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving lots of loads per hour which are at or near the capacity truck.
However, if you expect to utilize your lift truck for less than 4 hours a day or on an irregular basis, than purchasing an inexpensive brand new unit or a used forklift might be the right alternative. Several of the newer models are available at lower costs which are made for lower-duty cycles. Also, if you think that you would expect to utilize the forklift only during particular times of year on a seasonal basis, then a rental program or a second-hand lift truck might best choice available and can potentially save you lots of money.
It is vital to anticipate if the lift truck is going to be always used or not. This will mean knowing the amount of uptime and dependability required for your certain application.