You don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on a forklift that doesn’t meet your needs, and you certainly don’t want to purchase one without knowing what you need in the first place. When purchasing a forklift for the first time, many factors must be considered. This article will walk you through some of those considerations so that when it comes time to buy, you can make an informed decision.
Determine what you will be using the forklift for
Deciding to buy a forklift for the first time can be a difficult process, as there is a large variety of products and features to choose from. There are some factors you will want to make sure you take into consideration before making your purchase.
For example, if you will be using it on rough terrains, you might want to consider buying a used one. Try looking around the forklift marketplace to see what they offer before you decide to buy one. After all, the first thing you will need to do is define what you will be using the forklift for.
Are you going to be loading light materials on it? Heavy materials? You also need to figure out what type of material(s) will be handled with the forklift that you are buying.
For example, if load cells are sensitive in nature, your forklift should have adequate load cells. Once you have all of these figured out, it is time to decide what type of forklift you want and need. There are powered and manual ones available, and there is a variety of them in terms of height, width, and weight capacity.
Decide which type of materials you will be handling with it
It will depend on the type of forklift you choose. For example, a powered lift truck is used for transporting loads from one place to another and generally has a much greater lifting capacity when compared to a manual lift truck. Some types of materials that can be handled with a powered lift truck would include boxes, crates, pallets, drums, steel or plastic barrels.
Materials that can generally be handled with a manual lift truck are smaller items such as machine parts, cans, cardboard boxes, and other similar-sized objects.
Ask yourself whether you want a powered or manual one
Powered forklifts provide much more power and speed than manual ones. They also need much less effort and time to operate and require no special skills. Powered models can be expensive, but they are worth it for people who need a lot of power and want to save time.
Manual forklifts take more effort to operate than powered models, but they cost less. They're ideal for people looking for a low-cost option that's still powerful enough to move just about any material around.
Consider your budget
Forklifts vary in cost. You can find them for as low as $2,500 and as high as $4,000. They also come with many different features and choices. When you're looking for a forklift, make sure it has the features and options that you need since these will affect your price point.
Find out if there are any state or federal regulations that apply
Some of the regulations that might apply to forklifts are those concerning emissions, fuel efficiency, and safety features. There may be differences between states as well as between federal regulatory agencies. Government regulations for forklifts in your area may apply so make sure to research this before buying your product.
Look for forklifts in your area
It is also important to figure out where the forklifts are located. Some good places to look for them would be the internet, near your house or work, there may be a dealer that you can go to and see their selection in person, or your city might have a list of dealers and suppliers near you.
Make sure they have the features you need
There are many features that forklifts have that will suit different needs. The type of material you will be loading, the size of it, and the width, is what you would need to know before purchasing a forklift.
Powered or manual is something else you might want to consider, as well as cost. You can also find out if any local dealers or distributors carry the product in stock by visiting their website or contacting them.
Now that we have provided seven tips to help you get started, you can begin your search for the perfect forklift. Whether you want a used one or a new one, it all depends on what you will be using it for.
If these guidelines don’t feel comprehensive enough, please let us know! Our team is ready and waiting to partner up with you on a plan that considers how your customers think when they make purchasing decisions.
