How to find the right heavy duty forklifts

Written by Amy Whittle

Heavy duty forklifts provide rugged reliability and huge lifting capacities to get the most demanding jobs done. They’re almost always powered by internal combustion engines, and are commonly fitted with pneumatic tires, which offer significant advantages over other tires when working on rough terrain.

Purchasing heavy duty forklifts

When purchasing heavy duty forklifts, make sure that you look at more than just the lift capacity. Heavy duty forklifts have the same requirements as traditional models, so you can evaluate them similarly to other forklift types. One popular type of heavy duty forklift are propane forklifts, which can typically lift heavier loads than electric forklifts. Once you’re satisified that a lift meets your requirements for lift capacity, height, and transportability, you can start comparing important characteristics like hourly operating cost, maintenance needs, and additional features.

Before buying, be sure that the forklifts you’re examining meet basic safety and environmental standards. State laws vary, so be sure that the dealer is familiar with the safety requirements for your state. This will help you avoid costly fines, or even a retrofit, later. Standards may include rollover protection, emissions limits, and lights or backup beepers.

Look for options that help boost the comfort and productivity of your employees. Basic ergonomic features such as adjustable seats and easily gripped controls can reduce repetitive stress injuries and the chance that an employee will get injured on the job. Newer lifts may offer computerized information screens that can use GPS and detailed performance monitoring to help you get the most out your lift. Also look for attachments that can help your employees complete repetitive tasks quickly and easily.

Finally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires regular training of employees who operate forklifts; a dealer should be able to organize a training session for your employees. This is essential for even seasoned operators of heavy duty forklifts because recertification is required every three years.

New versus used

Heavy duty forklifts may be an essential tool for your business, or they may only be required a few times a week. Understanding how often you will use a high capacity forklift in a typical workday should guide your decision to buy new or used equipment.

In general, the four-hour rule should guide your purchasing decision. For forklifts that you only intend to use for four hours or less during the day, a good condition used forklift is a reasonable choice for the initial investment required. However, if you think the forklift will exceed four hours of use in a typical day, look for a new forklift. The initial savings from buying used machinery will not be worth the likely repairs and additional downtime that a used forklift will require.

Whether you buy new or used, choosing a seller who will stand behind the forklift with repairs, parts, and training is the key to getting the most for your dollar. It’s always worth comparing several dealerships to find one that’s trustworthy and experienced – so start with a free forklift price quote request and we’ll match you to multiple qualified dealers in your area.

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