It is an absolute necessity to make the right choice when investing in something such as in buying a used electric forklift that will contribute to the smooth operation of your business.
Electric forklifts even in used conditions are expensive, you have to look for the truck that is worth investing in.
You’ll be surprised to be quoted with a price ranging from $10,000 up to $20,000 for the used one, and that doesn’t include the battery and charger which could add up to your expenses.
Buying a forklift is surely a big investment and making the wrong decision can be a pain in the neck.
That is why spending time searching where you can buy a used electric forklift can be a good place to start. Here are the circumstances where you can find the forklift that fits your requirement:
- There are reputable dealers that may have used forklift that were part of a trade-in agreement. Just do a simple Google search to find the nearest dealer near you.
- Another place to buy is from a rental company that may have used forklift for sale in its fleet. If you have a specific brand in mind you want to buy, a rental company may have the brand you’re looking for.
- Local businesses or individuals who recently bought new forklift equipment may be disposing of the old ones. You have to do due diligence in buying from this source. See below.
- Participate in an online auction site such as eBay. Not only it is convenient to participate in the eBay auction but you’ll also be able to browse large numbers and models of electric forklifts from different manufacturers. Check out the models of electric forklifts available on eBay below.
Is Buying Forklift from eBay Reliable
Buying online makes people worry. After all, you are transacting with a person you have never met, and probably will never have the chance to meet. It is scary for some buyers to do online shopping for an item that costs thousands of dollars.
I had bid on auctions and I eventually purchased the items. I am living proof that buying from the eBay marketplace can indeed be done successfully. If you are nervous buying forklift on eBay, you should do diligence. Here are the things I took note of to make a successful transaction:
- See the seller’s feedback rating. See the seller’s page to view the feedback rating, there you could find the feedback over the past years. You can easily spot a reliable seller based on these ratings. If the seller has a higher number of negative feedback, stay away from this seller.
- Read the feedback or comments and see what the main concern that particular seller has. If you want more information if the seller is indeed reliable, see what are people’s reactions by reading the entire comments. If you see one or two bad comments, it doesn’t necessarily mean the seller isn’t good, know the overall feedback.
- If you want more details of the item you are eyeing to purchase, contact the seller. The seller would appreciate you contacting him. Contacting him means that you are interested in the item he is selling and will give you the information you want to know.
- Don’t transact outside of eBay. DO NOT accept an offer to buy or send payment outside of the eBay marketplace. This is a common scam of an unscrupulous seller. If the seller will ask you to do this, ignore the seller, and move on to find another reliable one.
- Know how much is the shipping fee. In some eBay transactions, the shipping fee is included in the price but this is not always the case. To make sure, ask the seller about this. Tell also where you want the forklift to be delivered.
Buying a brand-new electric forklift is, of course, trouble-free but from a financial perspective, it can burn a hole in your pocket. Depending on your situation, a used truck may be the best choice to consider.
Buying a used electric truck is not without risk. Let’s have a look at some things to consider:
Due Diligence You Need to Do When Buying an Electric Forklift
Buying a used forklift is like buying a used car. You have to do due diligence prior otherwise you are risking downtime if the truck you bought is not in good working condition. And here are the things you keep in mind:
- Know how many hours the electric forklift had been used. Most trucks have hour counter that keeps track of the running time, it basically means the mileage when compared to a car. As a rule of thumb, the hours of operation are more important than the year model of the machine.
- Take a closer look and conduct a visual inspection to look for a sign of rust, damage or deformation on the body. If you found those, you are sure that it had been used intensively and had not been taken care of. Bring a mechanic during the inspection to assist you, he has the eye of an eagle to spot the flaws.
- Check the equipment’s maintenance record. See the date of maintenance record, had it been serviced regularly? What are the parts that had been replaced? Was it involved in an accident in the past?
- Bring a qualified forklift operator if you want to test-drive the forklift. He can easily determine the machine’s potential fault when he tested it. Test driving the machine is necessary prior to make the final decision.
- Make sure there’s life left in the forklift batteries. Ask the seller how long do the batteries last. If the batteries are still in good condition, it typically lasts for about 3-4 hours before it needs to be recharged. If the batteries don’t last that long, it is a sign that is needed to be replaced. Replacing the batteries cost $1,500-$3,000 for used ones.
How to Choose the Right Truck for Your Application
One of the first things you look at when buying an electric forklift for your business is the price. It should not be as there are other aspects you need to be aware of. When choosing, here are the questions you need to take into considerations:
• What is the extendable lifting height you want your truck to have? The lifting height is determined by what type of mast the truck is equipped with. As a general rule, when determining the lifting height of the mast, add at least six (6) inches to the height your topmost racking shelf, this permits the driver to adjust the load being lifted when the mast if completely extended.
• Do you need the electric forklift you will be buying to be driven in tight spots? A good choice is a pedestrian forklift that is smaller than an average four-wheeled truck you commonly see in the warehouse. This type of truck can easily fit in narrow or tight areas and it is easy to operate and comes with manual or hydraulic drive and lift.
• Will you be using the electric forklift for outdoor applications? A truck with tracks can be the right solution in outdoor use where the terrains it will be driven on are rugged and uneven. A forklift with tracks is also perfect in a snowy and swampy work environment that can carry loads weighing up to 2 tons.
• Will you be needing a 3 or 4-wheeled electric truck? A 3-wheeled truck is an ideal solution in indoor use and narrow aisles as it has more turning radius, its drawback is that it becomes unstable when it approaches its maximum lift capacity. On the other hand, a 4-wheeled electric forklift is a great choice to optimize in the outdoor and uneven road surfaces as it delivers more stability and can lift higher load weight and because of those, it is more costly to buy.
Does Clock Reading Matters When Buying an Electric Forklift
Above, we mentioned that one of the things to consider when purchasing an electric forklift is its clock reading. Since it really matters a lot when making a decision in buying.
The clock reading is more important than the year model of the forklift since the age of the truck is gauged in hours and not in years.
The average life a forklift can last is between 10,000 – 15,000 hours.
The forklift that runs on an average of 8 hours per day will take around 2,000 hours per year. If you did find the year model of the truck you’re planning to purchase, you can now do the Math to have an idea if the truck is overused or not.
The quick aging of the truck will also depend on some factors such as temperature where it was operated in, how heavy the loads it handled, was it used multiple shifts per day, was it properly maintained and serviced or whether it was used indoor or outdoor.
It is, therefore, possible to have different forklifts that are of the same year model, but different conditions and life expectancy just like a vehicle.
To Make a Finalization
Buying a used electric forklift for sale is not without risk. To protect yourself from an unscrupulous seller, you need to do due diligence.
You also have to know the specifications of the truck you want to buy so that they match the application you want to use it for. At the end of the day, you want to have a truck that will be of great use.
