Purchasing heavy equipment of any kind is a serious undertaking as your purchase will affect your business and the safety of the driver. Additionally, it will affect your budget, which in turn may affect your ability to successfully expand or maintain your warehouse operations. As a result, it is often necessary to purchase used or other forklift trucks for sale.
However, when purchasing forklifts for sale, it is incredibly important to consider various features and conditions that can indicate how long the forklift will last without the need for expensive maintenance. In addition, there are certain signs that you need to consider that may indicate security risks.
use
When considering a forklift for sale, you need to consider how much use it can withstand. For this purpose, consider where and to what extent a forklift has been used on a daily basis. In addition to using it, you should determine whether the forklift was contractually required to be serviced at certain intervals. If the forklift had to be repaired regularly, it is more certain that you get a vehicle that is ready to use in your warehouse. Conversely, if it was not under maintenance, you should determine factors such as the temperature at which it was operated and whether it was used outdoors or indoors. These factors affect how much life the forklift truck has and how safe it is to operate.
guarantee
Regardless of the price or previous use, you need to make sure that the forklift is under warranty. If there is no guarantee, you need to make sure that this is exactly what it says on the invoice. Whether a forklift truck has a working warranty will help you determine the good or bad condition of the vehicle. Also, you can determine if it will hold up in your warehouse under the conditions you need to run.
Probationary period
If possible, request a trial period to assess whether the forklift is running as described. During the trial period, you should ensure that all functional aspects of the forklift are assessed. For example, you need to verify that the required weight or tonnage is being lifted and that all vehicle aspects of the elevator are in good working order.
In order to evaluate the vehicle aspects of a forklift, you need to check the tires, steering and controls. Also, you should evaluate whether the elevator is level and true. If it doesn't, you may get a forklift that requires work on the hydraulic system. Finally, you should test the forklift both indoors and outdoors. Operating a forklift outdoors can help determine if the wheels and tires are working properly or if the tires are slipping. When working indoors, you can assess how tight the steering allows the driver to turn the forklift. Tight turns can be critical when driving in a warehouse with narrow aisles.
State of the core components
Core components include critical mechanical and power components. You should review each item and evaluate its lifespan or safe functionality.
– Wear on the forks
– tire condition
– Engine: signs of leaks
– Engine: starts smoothly
– Forks lift gently
– responsive steering
– Battery life
If any of these core components are not working as expected, you should request repairs. If repairs cannot be done, you can negotiate a better price or look for a more suitable vehicle.
Reputation of the dealer
Whenever buying a new or slightly less-than-new forklift, you always need to consider the dealer's reputation and customer service. This is a great way to ensure that you are getting the right assistance with your purchase. Knowing if a dealer stands behind their vehicles, you can be sure that your equipment investment is sound.
Regarding dealer service, you should determine if a dealer provides emergency service for your vehicle. Finally, you should be able to easily contact a dealer to request service. With regards to quality dealers, you should also be able to sign up for an expanded service or repair program. Such maintenance programs allow you to pay a monthly or annual fee and get immediate service for your forklift in case something should ever go wrong.
About the author
This article is from Eric Reyes, a passionate thought leader who has been featured on 50 respected online and offline platforms. His passion and knowledge of finance and business made him a sought-after employee who gave his readers valuable insights. In his spare time he reads a book and discusses current events.
