Should You Buy a Forklift? A Complete Guide

As a business owner or operator, you know the benefits of having the machinery you need readily available to you.

In your market, there’s always talk about the most cost-effective way to get the job done. When you sit down to do the books, it’s always a beautiful thing to see that your investments are proving to be worth your while.

If you’re trying to determine whether or not you’d rather purchase or rent a forklift, the answer is clear. It’s time to buy a forklift.

Low Overhead

Depending on your industry and craft, it may make more sense for you to purchase a forklift.

If you’re using forklift machinery multiple hours throughout the day and getting three times the work done, this may be an investment that is worth your while. When it comes to maintenance on heavy machinery, the better-taken care of the lower the overhead.

Just like routine car work and maintenance, if forklifts are well cared for, they will provide you with a lifelong return on your investment.

Maybe you and your spouse are finally ready to sell the land and book it to Mykonos. After 10-20 years of use, you may end up making most of the money you spent back after selling.

And that is outside of the money’s worth you received while using it. Having access to your own forklift on your property gives you accessibility to be mobile. You have the opportunity to travel and provide business elsewhere.

Whether you’re taking a job on the road or helping a neighbor out with a project, being able to dictate when and where your property goes is convenient and empowering.

With rentals, you can never be certain how the machinery was treated. And if it didn’t personally happen to us, we all remember the guy who bought a lemon as his first used car.

Renting a defective forklift is not only a waste of your money and resources, it’s a huge waste of your time.

The Ins and Outs

If you’re wondering about the best forklifts for sale, you should first determine what your forklift will be hauling.

If you’re going to be transporting ancient foeders across the brewery, you may want a different class-level forklift than if you were to only be transporting bails of hay.

There are seven types of forklift classifications. Within each class lies varying models. From counterbalancing to low lifting, each model can be utilized for a specific task or weight-bearing.

There are forklifts specifically designed for rough terrain, and vehicles that have telescoping boom- which allows the machine to pick up and set down loads at varying distances.

Driving a forklift can be a tricky task until you’ve had some practice. When we rent anything, it usually has a time constraint. And there’s no space for rushing through forklift training.

The downside to renting a forklift is that you may receive penalties for different things. For example, if the machine were to be used for more than the hours allotted.

In addition to penalties, you can’t be sure about the forklift maintenance servicer. When your team is providing a service, you can be certain about the vehicle’s ability to perform its functions at its optimal base, and safely to boot.

Ready to Buy a Forklift?

Someone’s dad always told us that when it comes to making an important purchase, you never want to buy something just because the price is right.

He’d tell you to slow down, take your time and do your research. Going in blind means you may end up spending the wrong amount of money for the wrong classification of machinery.

Check in with colleagues who have experienced something similar and write down the things you know to look for. A good forklift dealer will take you through the history if it’s used. And if it’s new, well you get to decide the quality of life your beautiful piece of machinery will have.

There are lots of things to mull over before purchasing a forklift. Ergonomically, it will help you and your team get things done quickly without breaking your backs. Efficiency breeds higher productivity and when productivity is up without sacrificing a herniated disc, everyone is happy.

Your team will end up spending hours working with this vehicle. Trying before you buy and taking her for a test spin is the go-to move, just like you would with any other vehicle.

Make sure the forklift class suits the wares that need to be transported. If you’re not the one operating the forklift day in and day out, have your person come with you to get their opinion as the driver.

Employee feedback is just as valuable as your own. After all, you did hire your team for a reason. And if they’re still with you today, chances are you can trust their input about machinery they’ve worked with for 25 years.

It’s Simple

When it comes down to it, it’s always better to buy the car, the couch, the stereo than to lease or rent it.

You can skip the dreadful “what if” fees by signing the papers and calling it your own. A mechanic doesn’t take their car to someone else to get repaired.

Know your resources when you are getting ready to buy a forklift. Much like making any big purchase, it’s important to slow down and reflect on your needs.

If this forklift guide was helpful, keep an eye out for our next post on related content.