3 Things To Inspect When Buying A Used Forklift

Posted on: 3 January 2017

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If you are looking to buy a forklift for your business, you might have thought about taking the used route rather than buying a brand new one. This can be an excellent way to buy the forklift that your business needs without spending as much money, but one thing that you might be worried about is ending up with a forklift that will give you problems. Luckily, carefully inspecting these things when buying a used forklift can help you avoid buying a "lemon" and can help you ensure that you are happy with your choice.

1. Battery

If you are buying an electric forklift, which is the best and safest option for indoor operations, you will first want to inspect the battery. Make sure that the battery does not have a lot of corrosion or other similar signs of wear and tear, and check to make sure that the forklift starts up easily without having to charge or jump the battery. Even though replacing a battery might not be a big deal, you'll want to be prepared for the cost of doing so if you buy a used forklift that needs one.

2. Tires

Another part that you might not have thought about checking out is the tires on the forklift. You should expect the tires on a used forklift to show some signs of wear and tear. If they appear to be very worn out, particularly in comparison to the age of the forklift, it could be a sign that the forklift has been driven on rough materials, which could be a sign that it's more worn out than it seems to be.

3. Fork

Additionally, you'll want to take a look at the fork on your used forklift. For example, you'll want to make sure that the fork is nice and even, since if it's not, the forklift could give you problems later on when you're trying to move pallets or other items. Additionally, you'll want to look for chips, cracks, and other damage on the fork, which might be a sign that your forklift has been involved in bumps and other accidents, which could be a sign that it's worn out.

As you can see, there are a few things that you'll want to inspect when buying a used forklift. If you look at these three things, then you can ensure that the used forklift that you purchase is in great shape.