When confronted with the purchasing cycle, it is a big decision for anyone to choose whether to purchase used or new. In terms of buying 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 machinery which is needed, the number of hours per year or per week you will use it and how long you plan to keep it.
Higher priced forklifts would typically hold its value over time. It is good to remember that a lower priced new lift truck might not have the overall value, reliability and ability of a used unit of an expensive kind.
When considering a purchase of a brand new or second-hand lift truck, there are 3 aspects that you must take heed of: duty cycle, seasonality and utilization. If you are thinking of using your lift truck for 4 or more hours a day, it is better that you buy a new model, particularly if you would have a high-duty cycle. A high-duty cycle means moving numerous loads per hour that are at or near the capacity truck.
If you just need your lift truck for approximately 4 hours per day or on an intermittent basis, a lower cost new model or second-hand forklift might be optimal. 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 used lift truck might best option available and can potentially save you a lot of money.
It is important to anticipate if the lift truck is going to be always used or not. This would mean determining the amount of uptime and dependability required for your particular application.