Buying A Used Forklift

Choosing A Used Forklift

When buying a used forklift instead of new equipment, a buyer faces the dilemma of picking a reliable unit. How can you differentiate between two similar used forklifts for sale, especially when they are being sold by different sellers?

Forklift Availability

Begin your used forklift comparison with the dealership’s quote proposal, reviewing it for details such as a stock number, serial number, or hour meter reading. If this information or other items are not provided, ask if the actual forklift can be viewed at the dealership’s site or if the quote is based on a sample unit.

Used Forklift History

The history of a used forklift gives insight to the conditions and environment in which the unit operated. Request the seller provide you with known information about the forklift. Some questions to ask:

• Did the unit work exclusively for indoor loading and unloading purposes, or did it run all day across three shifts?
• Is it an off-lease forklift or rental retirement for the dealership?
• Was the dealership previously responsible for servicing the forklift, and if so, which items were repaired during the last 12 months?

Forklift Service Evaluations

In addition to seeing and test-driving the physical unit, being aware of recent service evaluations and repairs will help explain differences in purchase price when looking at more than one used forklift. A dealership should provide you with the status of the forklift, including proof of any promised repairs. Most importantly, the forklift must be safe to operate; however, for long-term use, you may need to plan for more upgrades. Understanding the additional service or parts needed and how to prioritize the repairs will help you evaluate the used forklift’s overall cost.

Hour Meter Accuracy

Hour meter readings can be deceiving because they are not regulated like odometer readings of an automobile. If the forklift hour meter is broken at its original location, a false read of hours will result. Inquire if the dealership can provide a repair history of the forklift that proves validity in the hour meter reading. Additionally, review pump and drive motor hours when applicable.

Used Forklift Warranty Options

Most dealerships will provide you with warranty options for used forklifts; sometimes, a warranty can be upgraded for additional security. Compare warranty coverage on each unit under consideration for purchase to find out what is included should an issue arise. Purchasing a used forklift can be cheaper if you opt for the “As Is” option. This means there is no warranty. However, this increases the risk of needing service repairs right away. This should be taken into consideration when setting a maintenance budget.

Salesperson Recommendations

A forklift salesperson is the point of contact for the dealership and has been trained on multiple forklift models, fuel types, and attachments. The salesperson’s main focus is to help you select the best equipment. Rely on this insight by inviting the salesperson to your facility for a site survey to review the daily application, products being moved, pallet racking aisle width, and other important details.

Purchase Guarantee

Unfortunately, you can put in the time to research used forklifts but still find the unit selected isn’t a good fit. For additional buying security, learn what purchase guarantees the dealership offers and if the forklift can be exchanged or returned.

ProLift is a full-service forklift dealer serving customers in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. Contact us to speak with a sales consultant about our used forklift inventory.