How to Save Money When Buying Lpg Forklift
Tips for Saving Money When You Buy a Forklift
Forklift purchases are large investments. Low-end machines can cost $20,000, while high-end machines can cost more than $100,000. When you need to expand your fleet or complete a specific job, however, buying a forklift can be well worth the financial outlay.
Goto HULKMAN to know more.
At the same time, saving money on your forklift purchase is always a smart move. Fortunately, there are many opportunities to cut down on the total cost of your forklift purchase. Take the following steps to ensure both the quality and the affordability of the next forklift you buy.
[CUTOFF]
Purchase a used forklift.
The first question to ask yourself when you buy a forklift is whether you want to buy a new or a used machine. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. However, purchasing a quality used forklift will usually save you money in the long run, with a used forklift sometimes costing only half of what a new forklift would.
Used forklifts, however, can cost you more in the long run if you are not careful. When you buy a used forklift, you should consider the age and the condition of the forklift, how much you plan to use the forklift, the forklift&#;s maintenance costs, and whether any warranties come with the forklift.
A quality used forklift in good condition with a solid warranty can easily save you money. Just make sure to go through a reliable dealer like Darr Equipment to get your machine.
Invest in a comprehensive maintenance plan.
Spending more money upfront may not seem like a good way to lower the cost of your forklift. However, comprehensive maintenance plans, when purchased through a reliable dealer, can actually lower your expenses over time.
The reason a maintenance plan can make a difference in the cost of your forklift is because the total cost is not restricted to the purchase price. Maintaining and repairing your forklift also requires money. The less you have to spend making large repairs, the more money you save.
A comprehensive maintenance plan gives you access to trained technicians who can complete all maintenance checks and tasks, thereby preventing major issues. These plans usually come at a lower cost than hiring technicians every time you need help. As a result, they provide a lower cost way to care for your forklift.
Choose a forklift with low operating costs.
Maintenance and repair costs are not the only long-term expenses you incur when you buy a forklift. Operating the forklift will also come with its own expenses. For example, electric forklifts require electricity to charge the batteries (and regular battery replacements). LPG forklifts require fuel (and a place to store the fuel).
As a result, look for a forklift with low operating costs. Electric forklifts usually cost less to use over time, but they are not suitable for every application. Fuel efficient models may make a larger upfront price tag worth it. Ask your dealer for a breakdown of estimated operating costs for the models you are considering, and choose one whose long-term operating costs are affordable.
Buy a forklift that (only) meets your needs.
Today, you have access to many different kinds of forklifts. From pallet jacks to small order pickers to large counterbalance forklifts, you can get a machine in almost any size, with almost any feature you can imagine. The key to saving money when you buy a forklift, however, is to avoid buying too much machine for your needs.
This means identifying your needs and then finding a forklift that matches those needs. If all you need is a manual pallet jack, purchase that. If you need a counterbalance forklift with all the bells and whistles, purchase that.
To help you determine which machine will serve you best, always be sure to use a reliable dealer. Here at Darr Equipment, we focus on finding you the machine that will meet your needs, not the machine that will sell for the most money. When your machine matches your needs, you will both save money and enjoy greater satisfaction in your purchase.
Purchase a good warranty.
If you buy a forklift from a reliable dealer, it may come with a warranty. The majority of machines we sell here at Darr Equipment, for example, come with warranties. However, you may occasionally find a quality machine without an included warranty, or you may want to buy an extended warranty. The cost for these warranties means paying more upfront. However, the warranties can save you money over time. When your forklift breaks, having the repairs covered by the warranty can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars, making it worth the cost in the long run.
When you buy a forklift, there are many factors you need to consider. Taking steps to save you money can make your purchase more affordable and rewarding over the long run. Consider purchasing a used forklift, investing in a comprehensive maintenance plan, choose a forklift with low operating costs, only purchase what you need, and buy a good warranty.
Throughout the process, use a reliable dealer, like Darr Equipment. We can offer you a wide selection of high quality vehicles, help you find the one that is right for you, offer maintenance plans and warranties, and more. With the right dealer, you can find a forklift that fits both your needs and your budget.
Buying a Forklift: The Basics
Buying a forklift is an investment for your business, but choosing the incorrect forklift could be a financial burden instead of an asset.
The right forklift will help you save money, decrease overall downtime, increase productivity, and maintain a stable operation.
So, here are some forklift purchasing factors to check out as you go to buy a forklift, especially buying a forklift for the first time:
1. Research, Forklift Type Selection
When you purchase a forklift, you must know what you want and your operation&#;s requirements.
Like a car, you&#;ll want to select the best brand, model, and type for your operations.
Because of the wide range of products in the material handling market, you must first know what you&#;re trying to accomplish in your operations.
That means you&#;ll first audit your operation and answer questions such as:
What environment are you operating in &#; cold room, warehouse, construction, etc.?
How high do you need your machine to lift?
Where will the forklift primarily be used &#; indoors or outdoors?
How wide are the operating area&#;s aisles and doors?
How many hours will the forklift machine be in use per day?
What types of forklift tires will your machine need?
Are there any specific accessories you will need?
Do you have properly trained operators as per OSHA requirements?
What forklift machine/motor type will you need?
And more
Answering these questions will help you understand the forklift model and type you need before you settle on the brand.
2. Technical Specifications
Buying a forklift is like buying an ordinary car, apart from the technical specs you must check out for such as:
Weight capacity
Mast size and function
Tire type or composition
Lifting height
Motor type
Operator ergonomics
Manufacturer&#;s reachability.
Safety features
And more!
3. Forklift Model/Brand Selection
Once you understand the forklift type you want and its technical specifications, your next step is to settle on the brand and model.
Since different forklift manufacturers and brands have different models, settling on one can be challenging.
You need to research and review each forklift manufacturer and their brands using some of the following questions:
Brands: What are the best forklift brands? Refer to this list of forklift manufacturers for different forklift brands.
Type: What are the different types of forklifts in the model category among brands?
Dimensions: What is the most popular forklift size in that model category among brands? Can it fit your operations?
Price: How much does the forklift brand and model cost? How much is the cost of a new vs used forklift in the model and brand?
Ownership: How does the ownership model of the truck look? For instance, who will carry out the forklift repair/maintenance/care? Can you access dealership-provided maintenance?
After addressing these questions, you can confidently select the forklift brand and model that best meets your operational needs. This choice should be the right fit for you unless you discover the need for alternative forklift options.
4. Research Brands and their Dealerships
Additionally, research the brands and dealers of the forklift(s) you want to settle on.
Since buying a forklift is a capital investment, you need a dedicated partner for better ROI. A partner can be a forklift manufacturer or a dealership like Conger Forklifts.
The partner you get will help you with all your material handling needs throughout your ownership rather than someone who will sell you a forklift.
You may find a lesser-known forklift brand and a cheaper up-front price, but how easy will it be to get forklift replacement parts? And why are they lesser known and cheaper?
That is why we recommended dealing with dealerships.
You can visit the dealership and ask about the parts, operators&#; and technicians&#; required skill level, and any references.
Choosing a dealership means you get a partner for your material handling machine for many years.
To help you get started, check out the closest Conger dealership location.
5. New or Used Forklift
Next, you&#;ll decide if you want a new vs. used forklift.
When deciding between a new or used forklift, several factors come into play:
Price and cost consideration (what your budget allows, negotiation).
Forklift operation hours
Availability
Service and dealership access
Maintenance costs
Warranty coverage
As a general rule of thumb, consider a new forklift if you&#;ll run the forklift more than four hours a day. Why?
When factoring in the operation hours and maintenance costs, a new forklift may serve you better in the long run.
But you will also consider its availability, service, dealership access, and cots. If a new one costs beyond your budget, a used forklift can still help you achieve your operation needs.
6. Safety and Operator Considerations
While forklift safety is a technical feature, it&#;s also a subjective requirement.
Once you check the forklift&#;s safety features during the technical overview, you must also compare its safety to the operating environment and operators. You&#;ll need to consider the safety requirements of your people and your operation.
For instance, does one of your operators have a bad back? In this case, you must consider the forklift brand with the best ergonomics, such as chair and forklift controls.
Forklift safety is crucial to operation success and overall worker productivity.
So, select the brand with the best standard safety features for your operations.
Refer to this post for Forklift Safety Tips for Operators, Pedestrians, and Managers based on your operating environment.
7. Settle on a Forklift and Test Drive
After all the research and settling on a particular forklift, you can schedule a demonstration (i.e., a test drive for cars).
With the help of a manufacturer or dealership, you can use the lift truck in your facility for a few days to ensure it works well for your application and that the operator likes it.
You can also check if you have the proper maintenance equipment, such as charging devices and storage for an electric forklift.
Like consulting with family members when buying a car, you can consult with forklift experts before you settle on the forklift.
The important thing is to get the right forklift for your operations.
8. Sign the Paperwork and Forklift Delivery
Once you have tested the forklift and feel it passes your demo requirements, your next stop is signing the paperwork. Just like you&#;d buy a car.
Make sure you check everything and tick the right things before you buy the forklift.
After that, you can drive off (not advisable) or have it delivered if you&#;re buying a forklift. Most dealerships and forklift manufacturers will offer delivery of the forklift to your premises.
What Can Go Wrong When Buying a Forklift?
There&#;s a lot of information about what you should do when searching for the best forklift for your unique operations.
But, have you ever wondered why someone didn&#;t warn you when you were about to make a mistake on your forklift decision you can&#;t get back?
Here are some of the things that may go wrong when buying a forklift:
1. Compromised Safety
Examples of compromised safety situations include:
Buying a forklift that&#;s too heavy for the application, causing a failure and injuries, for example (loading a semi-trailer with a very heavy forklift).
Using an unprotected forklift in a sensitive environment (flour mills, because of the fine powder, can be an explosion risk.)
Using a &#;regular&#; forklift that can emit a spark could be disastrous, thus the need for a specialized explosion-proof forklift.
Find a forklift designed for the specific operation and your business&#;s unique needs.
2. Buying on Price Alone
While the cheapest forklift that meets your minimum capacity requirements is tempting to purchase, it&#;s not a great idea.
There are many other important factors to consider before buying a forklift, and the upfront price is only one.
Don&#;t just ask how much is a used forklift or how much is a new forklift.
Also, check out to ensure you&#;re not paying expensive upfront costs with related expensive maintenance costs.
Not considering the total cost of ownership is disastrous.
Spending a little more upfront cost can be an investment, especially if your operations can become more efficient and productive over time.
3. Not Buying from a Dependable Dealer
We recommend buying a forklift from a dealer, but you must research and ensure the dealer you&#;re buying from is reputable and dependable.
Buy your forklift from a reputable and dependable dealer who will provide emergency and general maintenance when needed.
Otherwise, you risk considerable downtime if your forklift breaks down.
4. Not Trying the Forklift Before You Buy
Once you&#;ve decided on the make, model, and manufacturer of the forklift you want, there are two things you can do:
Request a demo from a dealer with enough time to try out the forklift.
Rent a similar make and model to try it out in your work conditions.
You must do this to ensure your operators have input on the forklift type and operation. They will be the ones driving and operating the machine all day.
5. Wasted Money
If you can&#;t use the forklift because it&#;s the wrong fit, it&#;ll just sit there for whatever reason. Idle forklifts don&#;t make money &#; they only cost money.
6. Look bad
Whoever buys the forklift will be held accountable. If your boss sees the lift truck sitting unused, how will you defend the decision?
If you buy a forklift that all your operators hate, they might resent you for buying it (and they probably won&#;t use it either, a &#;double-whammy&#; of a problem.
Yet, no one wants to look bad. So, you can consult and make the right decision when buying a forklift.
7. Not Considering the Forklift&#;s Maintenance Plan
Obtaining an initial maintenance plan helps you gauge whether or not you have the proper infrastructure and qualified personnel for the forklift. Additionally, you&#;ll determine if the manufacturer or dealer offers regular emergency forklift maintenance. This preparation aids in effectively planning for forklift maintenance to avoid significant downtimes.
Conclusion
Before buying a forklift, compare as many as possible to find the best one for your business.
If you are buying a used forklift, the comparison will also help you get the most stable one at a competitive used forklift price.
Remember, buying a used forklift can be a great option when you do everything right.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Electric Material Handling Machine.