What to Think About When Buying a Forklift
Choosing a forklift to buy can be a difficult process, especially when you know nothing about them. That’s why we’re here, to help you in your journey to find the most suitable forklift for you and your business!
New or Used?
One of the big questions when buying a forklift is; should I buy a new forklift or a used one? Although buying a new forklift can cost a lot of money, the benefits are outnumbering.
With a new forklift, you have the peace of mind that everything will be in working order and you’re getting a high-end forklift brand new straight from the factory. If you don’t want to pay one big lump sum for a forklift there are also a range of hire options you can look at, which allows you to pay for a truck over a certain period of time. This is beneficial to smaller companies who can’t afford to pay outright for a new truck, therefore using options such as contract hire, leasing and hire purchase gives those companies the opportunity to pay weekly or monthly fees for a set period of time.
On the other hand, buying a used forklift truck can be a better alternative when it comes to deciding between new or used. With a used truck, the price is far more reasonable than it is with a brand new one, and you don’t have to worry about pesky weekly or monthly payments until the time period ends. The more affordable prices allow you to pay outright, giving you the peace of mind that you own the truck and haven’t hired it. A lot of worry’s that come with used Forklift Trucks and Warehousing Equipment are the quality of the trucks and the wear and tear on them from the previous owners. This can greatly depend on the dealer of the truck. Here at Langley Mechanical Services, we offer a great quality and reliable used trucks as an easy alternative to buying a brand new truck.
Forklift Fuel Options
Internal Combustion Engine Forklifts (diesel and gas/LPG) are a lot different to your standard electric forklift. These trucks are a lot cheaper to purchase than electric forklifts however they cost a lot more to run due to refuelling costs and sometimes the installation of a refuelling station. An internal combustion forklift tends to be required for lifting loads over 5 tons and can be used outdoors and in the rain.
If you’re going to buy an electric forklift, then there are a few factors to take into account. The batteries in an electric forklift tend to last around 8 hours at a time before they need recharging and though the cost of the truck itself is usually higher, the operating costs are lower. These trucks tend to be quieter and don’t need extra room for fuel storage however, they need about 8 hours recharging time which requires charging stations as well as another 8 hours for cooling time. They are also not suited for outdoors and cannot be used in the rain.
There you have it, our do’s and don’ts for the maintenance of your forklift. For information about our New and Used Forklift options please contact us on 01773 763546, email us at jane.castledine@langleymechanicalservices.co.uk or contact us here. Make sure to keep up to date with Langley Mechanical Services by following us on Facebook.
