What Should You Look for in a New Forklift?

Are you thinking about buying a new forklift? Are you still on the fence about making your purchase? Maybe this article will help to sway your decision. It’s important that you’re thinking of every aspect of purchasing a new forklift, but it’s also paramount that you’re thinking forward to its upkeep and whether you can see it as a permanent fixture in your warehouse. Here’s everything you should think about when looking for a new forklift:

Things to consider when buying a new forklift

There are a few things that you will need to think about before going out and buying a brand new forklift. Not only will this help to save you some money, but it will also ensure that, when spending a considerable amount of cash, you’re getting a forklift that will effortlessly meet your needs, so you can use it to its full potential for as many years as possible. So here are some things to consider when buying a new forklift:

What is your budget?

Running a business can be tough financially, and so you need to make sure that you’re making the right decisions. Part of this involves developing budgets to purchase new equipment and the same goes for if you’re buying a new forklift. A new forklift can, depending on its features and extras, cost a hefty amount of money, so you need to either make sure that this sum of money is comfortably within your budget or not. If it’s not, then you shouldn’t stretch yourself to buying a brand new forklift. There are alternatives if it’s not something you can afford, and we’ll discuss those now.

Used forklifts are just as efficient & powerful

If you’re finding that you’re having to stretch your budget to meet the cost of a brand new machine, then think about purchasing a used forklift instead. Used forklifts are just as high-quality, powerful and efficient as a brand new piece of equipment. When purchased from Multy Lift, you can rest assured that all of our used forklifts have been serviced and restored to their former glory. So you’ll have absolute peace of mind that our used machines are safe and reliable, no matter their age, size, fuel type or functionality they might have. We have an impressive range of refurbished forklifts available for you to choose from, including, but not limited to, the following brands and fuel types:

• AisleMaster
• CombiLift
• Caterpillar
• Doosan
• Komatsu
• Linde
• Mitsubishi
• Toyota
• Diesel
• Electric
• LPG

It might be more cost-effective to hire a forklift

Hiring a forklift is a common choice with warehouse owners who experience brief busy periods throughout the year, but not on a regular basis. The most common times would be during the Black Friday sales, Christmas and Boxing Day. If you’re purchasing a new forklift just to have it sitting around for ten months of the year, then consider hiring a forklift rather than buying one outright.

How regularly are you planning on using your forklift?

You should think about how much use your new forklift is going to get. This helps to determine whether or not it’s actually worth the financial outlay to purchase a new forklift in the first place. If it’s to replace an old machine that you’re missing in your fleet, then it might well be advantageous to purchase a new machine. If, however, you’ll just be using it once every so often to reach the only piece of racking you have, then it might not be so cost-effective.

Which fuel type would be best for your premises?

If you’re wanting to be more sustainable and wish to purchase an electric forklift to join your fleet, make sure you have the facilities available to be able to charge them. This is something you’d have to think about if you’ve never owned an electric forklift. You should also do some research into both LPG and diesel-powered forklifts, because both come with a price when it comes to refuelling. Consider your budget for upkeep and fuelling before committing to buying a new forklift.

What weight & reach capacity will you need?

You will need to consider how high you need your forklift to go. There’s no use purchasing a forklift that doesn’t have the capacity to reach the tallest shelf on your warehouse racking. There are multiple forklift makes and models that can reach impressive heights and that can carry considerable weights, no matter the industry you work in. From construction materials and engineering equipment right through to retail and catering, you’d be hard-pushed to find a forklift that can’t get the job done, especially if you choose to buy a new forklift from Multy Lift.

Will you be carrying out operations primarily indoors, outside or both?

You will need a different forklift model depending on whether your operations will be carried out solely inside or outdoors. You will also be able to purchase a forklift that can carry out operations both indoors and outside, so make sure you know what it is you require from a new forklift, because it’s often considered to be an investment. An LPG forklift would be ideal for use inside and outside, whereas an electric forklift would be better suited to indoor use only. However, a diesel forklift is ideal for outdoor use. Before purchasing a new forklift, make sure you know where your operations will be carried out, and how they would be beneficial to you and your operators.

Does your premises have uneven, loose or rough terrain?

This is something that you will need to consider because forklifts often come fitted with standard tyres. Those tyres might not suit your terrain and so you’ll need to consider an alternative material, size or tread. Something else you will need to think about is the gradient of the surfaces in and around your premises. For example, you will need a powerful forklift to travel up hills and across rough or loose terrain. As such, a diesel forklift would be best suited, if you’re using it primarily for outdoor use. An LPG forklift would be better for steep gradients inside. On the contrary, you will need tyres with decent tread if your premises consist of smooth surfaces, because it will need grip, especially when carrying heavy loads. It’s important that you’re purchasing the right forklift with the right tyres for the terrain you have to help ensure the safety of your employees. It will also make your operations far more efficient and productive.

How big are your premises & how wide are your aisles?

We encourage you to think about this side of things because it’s no good buying a new machine that can’t navigate in and around your premises. Whether you operate in an open-plan capacity or have a warehouse that consists of, mainly, racking, you need to think about the size of the machine itself and whether or not it can be used to its full potential in the space you have. For example, if you have narrow aisles and tight spaces, a conventional forklift might well be far too big to manoeuvre comfortably, efficiently and productivity. It could also pose a safety risk to operators and workers on the ground. As such, if you’re thinking of buying a new forklift for your small warehouse, then a VNA forklift or a multi-directional forklift would be far more beneficial and will seamlessly suit your needs.

7 tips for buying a new forklift

Although we have already touched on some things to consider when it comes to buying a forklift, together with some alternatives to purchasing a brand new forklift outright to try and save you some money, we’re still going to offer you some brief tips for buying a new forklift, if that’s the route you’re looking to go down. If renting a forklift or buying a used forklift isn’t the right option for you, here are seven tips for when you come to buy a new forklift for your premises:

1. 1. Opt for a trustworthy brand, such as Mitsubishi, JCB, AisleMaster and CombiLift, to name just a few
   2. Check that the all functions and capacities will suit your operations
   3. Make sure the forklift will be able to navigate through your aisles
   4. Will you need it for indoor or outdoor use? Can the forklift do both?
   5. Consider the forklift operator by way of comfort and ease of use
   6. Which fuel options are best for you?
   7. How can you maximise your return on investment (ROI)?

Multy Lift has over three decades of experience in the material handling industry, providing customers throughout the UK with brand new warehouse equipment as well as second hand material handling machinery. In addition to forklifts, we can also offer reach trucks, order pickers, stackers and more. For further information about how we can help you today, get in touch with a member of our professional, friendly team – we’re always pleased to hear from you.