AssetTrader Buying Guide to Forklifts

Introduction

Manufacturing operations big and small depend on forklift trucks for general all purpose indoor and outdoor heavy lifting. Every warehouse, distribution center, manufacturing plant or lumber yard, depends on their forklift to keep operations running smoothly. Whether it’s used for the bulk of the operations or as a handy piece of equipment on the shipping floor, buying the right forklift for the job is essential.

The L-shaped fork of the truck is usually made of steel and slide under shipping pallets to make distribution more efficient. Different accessories can be added for particular loads, such as spools or drums. The load capacity is anywhere from 3,000 lbs to 30,000 lbs or more. For businesses that only deal with loads of about 3,000 lbs then the more economical option is a pallet jack, or hand truck.

Choosing the best investment is half the work. AssetTrader knows that the forklift you buy can make a difference in keeping operations running smoothly and keeping productivity high. Here at AssetTrader we put together a guide to take you through the questions you should ask and the requirements you need to get the best value forklift.

Functionality and Use

It’s important to understand exactly what you will be using the forklift for and the requirements you need before you speak to dealers or start to shop around.
Here is a checklist to determine those needs.

-Will you be using it indoor or outdoor?
-How heavy and what size are your typical loads?
-How high does the forklift need to lift a typical load?
-How wide are the narrowest aisles? How big is the space the forklift will need to manoeuvre in?
-How often and frequently will it be used in a day?

Asking these questions will go along way to identifying the right forklift.

Weight
Forklift trucks are geared around the weight they can lift. The lowest starting at 3,000 lbs and going up to 35,000 lbs. The most frequently used forklifts are 3,000, 5,000, and 8,000lb weight capacity.
The size of loads will also be a big factor. The measurement of capacity is based on a 24 inch “load center”, this is based on the distance from the center of gravity to the sides of the load is 24 inches.

Safety is the big factor when it comes to load capacity and size. If you’re loads are wider or higher than usual or the centre of gravity, then knowing this will specify the correct equipment for optimum safety.
If you’re operations rarely change from day to day, choosing the right truck will be a quick procedure. If the loads change day to day or at some time in the future, the safest option is to go above you’re current needs and buy a forklift that offers more flexibility in a combination of operations.

Height
The height that the forklift will be loading or unloading weight is usually quite fixed in most operations. If it’s loading shelves of 3 feet, that is a clear indicator of height. If it’s truck to truck that is also the height indicator. If it is not as clear cut, use the maximum height.