Buying Tips
There is certainly numerous things to take into account when buying a lift truck. Choosing the best machinery can have a huge impact on everything from productivity to operating expenses, to machine downtime and worker morale.
Below is a brief list of things to consider when deciding on a new or second-hand forklift. There are actually some specific questions the sales consultant should address in order to help you choose the best alternative that is most suitable for your company.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Taking the time to identify your requirements will help ensure that you could find a capable machinery. What size are your typical loads? 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 machine outdoors or indoors or possibly both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Accurately answering these questions will make certain that you are satisfied with the model you pick.
Step2: New Vs. Second-hand Forklifts
If you are intending to use your forklift more than 4 hours a day, you will probably want to purchase a new unit. The warranty benefits alone would really be handy. A second-hand alternative will probably be adequate for infrequent applications and light duty.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The huge electric forklift batteries would allow the forklift to run for around 8 hours. These specific power sources make lift trucks uniquely suited for indoor use as they produce no harmful emissions. Although electric models are generally more pricey than other units, they have lower operating expenses. Electric forklifts are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to consider. Furthermore, these kinds of machines have less moving components so they have a longer life span as they have fewer components to get worn down.
Amongst the downsides of the battery operated lift trucks is that they require battery recharging posts and this could take roughly 8 hours. There is an added 8 hours required for cooling. Recent changes have made their way onto the market in order to significantly reduce charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a great new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Lift Trucks are outfitted with either pneumatic or inflated, air-filled tires or cushion tires which are made up of solid rubber. There are also solid pneumatic tires that are a combination of the two. The pneumatic tire style is perfect for outside applications. Cushion tires are perfect to be utilized inside and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect choice for dangerous work environments where there is a chance for standard tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.