The biggest factor that you have to consider before you choose a forklift that is right for you is if it can handle all the needs of your business without spending too much money.
A forklift plays a major role in the material handling industry since it’s the main equipment that is used for doing major tasks such as moving heavy loads. The only thing that you need to do is to choose a forklift that is right for you so here’s how you should go about it.
How To Choose A Forklift That Is Right For You
1. What Is The Size Of Your Load?
What is the size of the load that you will be transporting now and in the near future? Although it wouldn’t be practical to acquire a forklift that has a bigger capacity than what you need, you need to find one that can carry all kinds of loads on your site. Remember that the higher the capacity of the forklift the more expensive it is to acquire.
The width of your loads is also something to consider. Will your load require a special type of attachment or a special type of machine? Another important thing that you should not forget is that the capacity of your load will affect fuel type and type of forklift needed. There are different types of forklifts ranging from the standard forklift to the motorized pallet trucks. There are also gas powered forklifts and electric powered ones.
2. How High Do You Need To Lift The Load?
If storage space is an issue in your work place and you see yourself needing to stack your loads high up, then you need to choose a forklift that’s right for the job. Also, what is the lowest beam or doorway that you need your forklift to fit under? Do you need a forklift with a mast small enough to fit into a shipping container?
3. Will You Be Using Your Forklift Outdoors, Indoors Or Both?
The type of forklift that you choose will be determined by the surface area of your work site. For instance, if your work site is indoors and perfectly flat and dry, then a reach forklift will be perfect for you.
Standard forklifts can be used both indoors and outdoors and on even or uneven surfaces. An all terrain type of forklift, on the other hand, is more suited for surfaces that are unstable and need to be driven over.
Forklifts that are designed for indoor use don’t have tires with a tread pattern for maintaining grip during wet weather, so this is something that you should keep in mind when looking for a forklift.
If you plan on acquiring a forklift for indoor use, consider the type of fuel that it uses. Forklifts that use diesel and petrol engines release poisonous fumes and are therefore not suited for indoor use.
4. How Many Hours A Day Will You Be Using It?
The number of hours you will be using your forklift will determine the fuel type and age of the machine that you choose. It’s highly recommended that you choose a second hand reconditioned forklift if you will be using it less than four hours a day.
If you will be using it for more than four hours, a leased or a new forklift will be much more suitable for you.
5. Lease Vs. Buy Vs. New Vs. Used
In this case the type of forklift you need and your budget will determine which option is the best for you. Leasing is mostly recommended because you can use it to acquire a new forklift at a price much lower than that of making a direct purchase.
It also comes with plenty of other benefits such as:
- Tax benefits
- Flexibility
- Lower cost in maintenance and repair
- You can upgrade to newer and better models at no extra cost
- You can free up working capital rather than tying it up in equipment
- No need to have large cash outlays
- No down payments needed
- No collateral needed
Summary
So as you can see, you need to consider a few factors that will help you choose a forklift that is right for you. You have to consider the size of your load, if you will be using it indoors or outdoors, how many hours you will be using it per day and if you should lease it or buy it.
For more information on leasing forklifts, simply CLICK HERE.