A
forklift improves a company’s bottom line and staff productivity levels at
work. If you’ve often gone for a lease or rental, and you’ve decided that it’s
about time to own your own machine, here are helpful questions to make it
easier for you to pick the best one—especially if you’re going to shop for
second-hand equipment. Put them to good use when you start browsing around for
a used Toyota forklift.
Why are you selling the forklift?
Find
out why the seller has put the forklift on the market. What is the seller’s
main reason for parting with the machine? Asking about this helps you get to
the bottom of things: mainly, if there’s a major problem with the equipment. You
wouldn’t want to buy a forklift that looks in tip-top shape only to find out
later on that it hides a multitude of problems. If the seller seems evasive
about answering or doesn’t want to show the unit’s complete history of usage,
move to another one.
What maintenance costs should I expect?
When
you evaluate the merits of a used forklift, you shouldn’t just consider its
purchase price. Maintenance costs are a major factor as well. How much will you
need to shell out to keep that unit in excellent working condition for as long
as possible? A unit that’s too old might require a ton of maintenance expenses
that could put quite a strain on your financial resources. You’ll want to steer
clear of those options.
What is the hour meter reading?
The
overall hour meter reading tells you how long the forklift has been in use.
That’s critical. It’s basically the age of your forklift, only measured in
hours. The average forklift runs 2,000 hours for a year for an 8-hour workday.
That means the economic life of a forklift is at 10,000 to 12,000 hours. If the
reading is more than half of that, look elsewhere.
What does it do?
Be
clear about the functions that the forklift can do. What are the features it
comes with? What kind of support can it provide your team? Is it capable of
delivering the assistance that your staff needs? Is it the right model for your
operations? Can it lift and transport the loads that your team normally handle?
Answering these questions will help you determine if you’ve got the right
forklift for your business.
What are the attachments it goes with?
Some
models do come with separate tools as well as attachments. You can buy them
along with the forklift. Some of these make for an excellent buy as they
enhance the capacity of your equipment to handle specific types of loads like
cables, drums, or rolls. Buying a forklift that can hold more than one
attachment is much better, though, since it offers more functionality, a
quality that’s useful to any business. Go over the attachments available so you
can pick the best one for your equipment. The right one should help prolong
your machine’s lifespan as well.
