Buying Tips
There is certainly lots of things to take into account when purchasing a forklift. Choosing the right machine could have a huge effect on everything from productivity to operating expenses, to equipment downtime and worker morale.
When you are thinking of choosing a new or second-hand lift truck, the following is a short list of things to take into account. There can be some particular questions the sales consultant has to address in order to help you choose the best option which is most suitable for your company.
Step 1: Identify Your Requirements
Making the time to identify your requirements would help ensure that you can find a capable machinery. What size are your standard loads? Are they 3,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds or even heavier? How many hours every day will you be utilizing this machinery? Would you be running the machinery indoors or outdoors or potentially both? How wide are your narrowest aisles to travel through? Accurately answering these questions will make sure that you are happy with the model you choose.
Step2: Brand new Vs. Second-hand Forklifts
If you are planning to utilize your forklift more than 4 hours per day, you will probably want to purchase a new model. The warranty benefits alone will truly be handy. A used choice will more than likely be enough for light duty and infrequent applications.
Step 3: Fuel Options
Normally, the big batteries that power electric forklifts can run for an 8 hour shift. The electric models are best suited for indoor use since they produce no harmful emissions. Even though electric units are normally more pricey than 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. In addition, these kinds of machinery have fewer moving parts so they have a longer life span since they have fewer parts to get worn down.
The electric forklift is not without its downsides however. These machinery require recharging posts which 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 significantly lessen charging time. The fast-charge technology has become a wonderful new thing.
Step 4: Tire Choice
Common lift trucks utilize cushion tires made up of solid rubber or they would be equipped with pneumatic or air-filled, inflated tires. Several forklifts will utilize a solid pneumatic tires, which is a combination of the two types of tire. The pneumatic tire kind is best suited to be utilized outside. Cushion tires are perfect for indoor use and solid pneumatic tires are the best choice for dangerous work environments where there is potential for standard tires being popped by rough terrain or sharp objects.