Find answers to commonly asked forklift questions. Get all the information you need to make informed business decisions regarding forklift equipment.
What Forklift Fuel Type Should I Choose?
The forklift fuel type you select will depend on where you operate the equipment.
For indoor use, electric forklifts are the best option because they produce zero emissions during operation. Electric forklifts run on a battery. The battery tacks on more money upfront, but requires less maintenance and is cheaper than fuel over time.
In contrast to electric models, internal combustion forklifts run on fuel. The three main types of internal combustion forklifts are propane, diesel, and gasoline. Propane forklifts can be used both outside and inside with proper ventilation. Gas and diesel can only be used outside.
Diesel engines offer more torque than propane and gas. Gas forklifts can travel and lift faster than diesel, but are the least common type.
Which Forklift Dealers Offer the Best Prices?
Every forklift dealer claims to offer the best prices. To find out who’s telling the truth, use a free online price comparison tool like Industrial Forklift Truck.
Select an equipment type and specifications from this short form. Then, tell us where you’d like our team to send your quotes. You’ll receive free pricing and information on forklifts for sale that fit your needs in as little as a few minutes.
Plus, we’ll only show you equipment from qualified, pre-screened dealers. Skip the scams and save time by comparing prices with Industrial Forklift Truck.
How Much Does a Forklift Cost?
Pricing varies based on equipment type, load capacity, lift height, fuel type, tire type, and more. On average, new electric forklifts cost somewhere between $20k and $45k (plus an additional $2k to $6k for the battery).
Internal combustion forklift prices are largely influenced by load capacity. New standard capacity models cost between $15k and $30k. New 10,000 lb capacity models cost between $25k and $50k. New 35,000 lb capacity models cost between $50k and $100k+.
Used models can reduce these prices by up to 50%. To get exact pricing on new or used forklifts that fit your specifications, use Industrial Forklift Truck. Get free quotes on a variety of equipment for sale in your area.
What Forklift Financing Options are Available?
Forklift financing can help you own expensive equipment without paying the entire cost at once. This is great for businesses who want to keep their cash flow open and save their finances for daily operational expenses.
Leases and loans are the two main financing types available. With a forklift lease, you won’t have the responsibility of owning the equipment. Instead, you’ll pay a fixed monthly rate to use the equipment. Maintenance fees are often included in the price.
With a forklift loan, you’ll own the equipment and pay for it over time. Your monthly payment will be a portion of the purchase price, plus interest. If you choose a loan, you’ll get all the benefits of ownership, including resale.
Industrial Forklift Truck offers flexible forklift financing options to help you get the equipment you need without breaking the bank. Compare all of your options for free before you commit.
Should I Rent or Buy a Forklift?
Deciding whether to purchase or rent depends heavily on your intended usage. If you plan to use your forklift daily for the majority of the year, buying is the best option. If you only plan to use it for a short time or expect to experience large periods of downtime, consider renting.
Businesses that complete various projects throughout the year may want to rent so they can change equipment types as needed without purchasing multiple machines. Compare rentals here.
Keep in mind that while renting may seem cheaper, it costs more over time. If budget is the only reason you’re interested in renting, consider forklift financing instead.
Purchasing a forklift is the best investment. Remember, if you purchase equipment, you’ll have it for a very long time. Compare pricing and information on forklifts for sale to find the perfect fit before you decide.
Should I Purchase New or Used Equipment?
New equipment is a great investment. Forklifts typically last 10,000+ hours, so purchasing new equipment will give you access to reliable equipment for at least five years before you need to worry about a replacement.
Used forklifts are less reliable, but are a good option if you plan to use your equipment less frequently or want to save money upfront. Of course, only a quality used forklift will save you money. Some used equipment may actually cost more than new equipment in the long run because of maintenance. However, a quality used forklift can save you thousands of dollars.
To browse used options from trusted dealers in your area, use Industrial Forklift Truck. Compare pricing on reliable used equipment.
If budget is the only issue, keep in mind that forklift financing is always an option. Save money without sacrificing quality when you opt for a forklift financing plan. Click here to get pricing and information on all the plans available to you before you choose.
What Forklift Brand is Best?
There are hundreds of forklift manufacturers out there. Before selecting one, you’ll want to compare each option. Comparison is the only way to ensure that you are truly making the best choice.
First, look exclusively at equipment from trustworthy brands. To do this, use Industrial Forklift Truck. We work with pre-screened dealers across the country to house the largest selection of high-quality equipment.
Compare top equipment from a variety of forklift brands before you make a decision.
Get free pricing and information on equipment from trusted dealers and manufacturers. There’s no obligation to make a purchase. Receive free quotes on all your options today. Start here.
What Type of Forklift Do I Need?
There are a variety of forklift types to choose from. Most indoor warehouses use a standard counterbalance forklift, order picker, or narrow aisle reach truck.
Outdoor operations typically use a rough terrain forklift, telehandler, or container handler.
Standard counterbalance forklifts are what most people picture when they think of a forklift. These machines are great for transporting pallets and other heavy loads.
Order pickers and reach trucks are smaller and more narrow. Order pickers raise the operator, making it easier to fulfill piece-part orders. Reach trucks can rotate their forks without moving the base of the machine.
Rough terrain forklifts are great for traversing uneven ground. Telehandlers have an extendable boom arm and are typically used for outdoor construction projects. Container handlers are used at shipyards to unload cargo ships.
No matter what equipment type you’re looking for, Industrial Forklift Truck can help you compare pricing on each of your options. Click here to get started.
How Often Do I Need to Get Forklift Maintenance?
Have a certified technician perform full servicing on your forklift after every 200 hours of operation. Conduct a pre-operational inspection every day and schedule additional maintenance to fix any issues that arise. Change your forklift oil after every 200 hours of operation.
Routine forklift maintenance will help keep your machine in good shape so that small problems don’t become big, expensive ones.
Once your maintenance costs exceed the financial benefit of owning the equipment, it’s time for a replacement. Use Industrial Forklift Truck to compare pricing on all of your options before you buy.
Can You Operate With Bent Forklift Forks?
No. Bent forklift forks decrease the rated capacity of your equipment. Keep in mind that once the forks bend, they’re bent for good. They cannot operate at their original capacity again, even if you manually straighten them.
If the angle of your forks is greater than 93 degrees, replace them. You should also replace your forks if you notice any visible defects, like cracking or chipping.
Again, never try to straighten your forks. Instead, avoid bending them in the first place.
To prevent potential fork issues, perform a daily pre-operational inspection. This will help you catch small issues before they become large ones. Also, protect the heel of your forks. This is the part of the fork that carries the most weight.
You can do this by operating within the listed load capacity. Never exceed rated capacity. Remember that capacity changes with the load center.
In addition, always lower the forks slowly. Bringing them down too quickly or forcibly will cause damage.
How Long Does a Forklift Last?
Most new forklifts will operate reliably for at least seven years of daily use. How and where you use your forklift will influence this lifespan. Perform proper preventative maintenance and operate with care to ensure that your equipment lasts as long as possible.
Recognizing the right time to replace your equipment is essential to your company’s finances. After all, once you start spending more money on repairs than you’re making from the equipment, you’ll lose money.
A forklift’s useful life varies from its economic life. For example, a forklift may technically operate for seven or eight years, but require costly repairs earlier. Remember, if your forklift is constantly in the shop, it can’t help you get work done.
If you’re ready for new equipment, compare pricing on each of your options for free with Industrial Forklift Truck.
What is a Pre-Operational Forklift Inspection?
A pre-operational forklift inspection is a daily check performed by the operator before use. This inspection helps operators catch minor issues before they become major ones.
OSHA requires a pre-operational inspection before every shift. Failure to do so can result in hefty fines. Download a sample forklift checklist here.
If you find any issues during the inspection, document them and take the equipment out of service until they are fixed. Operating equipment with maintenance issues is unsafe and dangerous.
Catching problems as they arise will give you a chance to repair them before they become expensive. If your equipment needs a repair, compare free quotes from qualified servicing companies in your area here.
What if I Can’t Afford a New Forklift?
Can’t quite afford the equipment you need? Turn to forklift financing! Most businesses can’t afford to pay for material handling equipment upfront. Financing allows them to pay over time, providing access to the equipment they need without breaking the bank.
Even if you can afford to buy a forklift upfront, there’s no reason to tie up your finances in such a large purchase. Keep your cash flow open by choosing a competitive forklift financing plan.
There are two major financing types available. A forklift lease allows you to use the equipment without dealing with the responsibility of ownership. A forklift loan lets you own the equipment by paying for it over time.
Forklift leases typically include maintenance and give you access to the latest technology for an affordable monthly fee. Leasing is similar to renting, but is much cheaper over time. In contrast, forklift loans allow you to own a forklift. You’ll make monthly payments, plus interest, towards your purchase.
Flexible financing options can help businesses get the equipment they need without abandoning their budgets or sacrificing quality. To compare pricing on all the financing options available to you, use Industrial Forklift Truck. Click here to get free quotes on forklift financing plans.