Forklifts have become practically indispensible in warehouses and other locations where heavy items have to be moved over short distances. These stocky vehicles with their pronged extensions in the front make for quick load management which is why you will always find them in ports and warehouses. You can read about them here.

Types of Forklifts

There are different types of forklifts that you can choose from. Which you choose will depend on your needs. We will look at some of the common types that are used in the warehouse so you can decide from them which will suit your needs the best.

Warehouse

This is one of the forklifts that you are likely to be most familiar with. The twin prongs extending in front of them is a signature feature. You will find these in most warehouses and they are used for moving heavy items over short distances. These are the type that will be used to load items unto a truck or unload them from a truck. They usually have a capacity of between 5,000 pounds to 25,000 pounds.

Counterbalance

This is a variation of the warehouse version. As the name implies, it is weighted behind so that as the prongs lift the load, the weight of the load is counterbalanced by the weight behind. This also has a few variations which we will also look at.

3-Wheel Counterbalance

This operates like the normal counterbalance aside from the fact that it has three wheels instead of four. This allows the driver to be able to maneuver in a circle, making it ideal for tight corners and narrow aisles.

Reach Trucks

These types are used for situations where the load to be carried are located high up. They can extend to up to 10 meters in some cases. They come as Stand-Up trucks, Double-Deep trucks or Saddle trucks.

Sideloaders

These are used in working environments that are narrow. The prongs are located by the truck’s side rather than in front. They are also great for carrying wide items like pipes, timber and other such materials. They come in three variations which include: enclosed cab, stand up and multi-way.

Walkie Stacker

This is a smaller variation only bigger in size than the pallet jack which it is similar to. With this type, the operator walks behind it, steering and controlling the forks with the handle behind it. Like pallet jacks, they can fit into tight spaces but cannot lift very heavy loads.

Order Picker

This is almost like a walkie stacker. The difference is that it is capable of reaching heights of up to 32 feet. They are ideal for picking out specific items from around the warehouse even at up to 32 feet off the ground.

To learn more about how to identify different types of forklifts, read this: https://www.wikihow.com/Identify-Different-Types-of-Forklifts.

Why Choose Used Ones?

There are a number of reasons why choosing a used forklift may be the best option for you. Let’s quickly look at a few reasons.

Cost

This is probably the most obvious of all the reasons. What a new forklift will cost you will probably get you two used ones. In situations where cost is a major issue, going for a used one will be your best bet.

More Options

Going for new products are great but choosing from used ones gives you a wider variation to choose from. It is therefore easier to find one that will best suit your needs from a used stock than new ones.

Quick Delivery

When you order for a new truck, you may likely wait for a while to have them delivered. This is not so for used ones. You simply pay and have them delivered immediately. This ensures you can get on with your job quickly.

Ease of Use

Your operators are likely already conversant with the older, used variations than with the new ones. When you need to get tasks completed on time, you do not want your operators to begin to have to learn how to use the trucks from scratch.

Cheaper Maintenance Cost

Used trucks are usually cheaper to maintain for various reasons. One reason is the readily available parts and another reason is the experience that technicians have had with them. The newer ones will have fewer parts in circulation and also less technicians who have experience maintaining them.

How to Choose

So, when you find used warehouse forklifts for sale, what are the things you need to consider before making a purchase? Below is a quick checklist to follow:

• Understand what you need it for and ensure it will get the job done. These include: checking the rating plate, the condition of the mast, the clock reading and the battery life (if applicable).
• Inspect it thoroughly to ensure it is in good shape.
• Take it on a test run to confirm your visual inspection.
• Ensure your intended purchase has the right CE mark, CE Certificate and Certificate of Thorough Examination.

Only conclude your transaction when you are thoroughly satisfied with all of the above points.

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