Buying Tips
There can be many things to take into consideration when buying a lift truck. Deciding on the best machinery could have a big impact on everything from production to operating expenses, to machine downtime and worker morale.
Here is a brief list of things to consider when deciding on a new or used forklift. There is certainly some specific questions the sales consultant must deal with in order to help you select the best option which is right for your business.
Step 1: Identify Your Needs
Taking the time to identify your needs would help ensure that you could find a capable machinery. What size are your average loads? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours every day would you be using this machine? Would you be running the equipment outdoors or indoors or possibly both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to go through? Correctly answering these questions would make certain that you are happy with the model you pick.
Step2: New Vs. Used Lift Trucks
If you are planning to utilize your lift truck more than 4 hours per day, you would probably want to purchase a brand new model. The warranty benefits alone will really be handy. A second-hand choice would more than likely be enough for infrequent applications and light duty.
Step 3: Fuel Options
The large electric forklift batteries would allow the forklift to run for about 8 hours. These specific power sources make lift trucks uniquely suited for indoor application since they produce no harmful emissions. Though electric models are normally more pricey than different other kinds of forklifts, they have less operating costs. Electric forklifts are a lot quieter to run and do not have fuel storage requirements to think about. Furthermore, these kinds of machinery have less moving parts so they have a longer life span as they have fewer parts to get worn down.
Amongst the downsides of the battery operated lift trucks is that they require battery recharging posts and this could take approximately 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 wonderful new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common forklifts use cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they will be outfitted with pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires. Several lift trucks will use a solid pneumatic tires, that is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire kind is perfect to be utilized outside. Cushion tires are best for indoor applications and solid pneumatic tires are the perfect option for dangerous work environments where there is potential for regular tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.