Six Necessities When You Buy A Lift Truck

Posted on: 4 November 2021

Lift trucks are highly important equipment pieces at most industrial facilities. If you need to equip your industrial facility with lift trucks, there are numerous tasks you'll want to take care of to find equipment that's appropriate to your needs and worksite demands.

The following are six necessities when you buy a lift truck for your industrial facility.

1. Determine worksite demands for your lift truck

Before you start looking for a lift truck, you need to figure out the capabilities you need your lift truck to have. Determine how high you need your lift truck to be capable of lifting. You also should determine whether you'll be using your lift truck primarily indoors or outdoors. List worksite demands you'll need your lift truck to stand up to in detail to help you narrow down your search for the right piece of equipment. 

2. Consider the advantages of buying new vs. used

It's best to decide whether you want a new or used lift truck before you start your search. While a used lift truck may be less expensive, new lift trucks might be more mechanically dependable. If you're going to buy used, you need to have the mechanical expertise to evaluate lift trucks you look at to determine their mechanical condition. 

3. Check the tires for cracks or chunking

The tires are among the most important components of a lift truck that you need to inspect before purchasing a piece of equipment. In particular, you need to look out for signs of any chunking or cracking in the tires. If these issues are present, the lift truck in question may soon need replacement tires. Replacement tires will be an added expense, so factor this issue into your purchasing decisions. 

4. Determine how much power the battery has

Over time, a lift truck battery will lose power. The fact that battery hours on a lift truck are not tracked makes it more difficult to evaluate battery condition. You should ask the seller how long the battery has been in use to try to get an idea of how much power remains on the battery. 

5. Ensure there are no fluid leaks

Fluid leaks are a bad sign when you're looking at either a new or used lift truck. Check for leaks coming from the transmission and the radiator. You should also evaluate the emissions of the lift truck while it is running. If the emissions have an unusually sharp and acidic smell to them, chances are the lift truck is giving off high levels of carbon dioxide and there is a regulator or catalytic converter malfunction. 

6. Evaluate included safety features

Don't overlook safety features when comparing lift trucks for sale. Safety features that should be included and operating properly include seat belts, horns, safety lights, and overhead guards. 

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