Used Forklifts and New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time of year again. After the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are over, you reflect on the past and make resolutions for a better new year. Most New Year’s resolutions revolve around improving your health or personal income. What would be the advantage of making a New Year’s resolution for used forklifts?

 

A Used Forklift Maintenance Resolution

In an earlier blog, Used Forklift Maintenance Tips, we offered eight important maintenance tips:

1. Stick with your servicing schedule;
2. Do your daily maintenance checks;
3. Pay special attention to hydraulic hoses;
4. If you find a problem, do something about it;
5. Avoid creating a maintenance problem;
6. Use only trained and licensed forklift operators;
7. Take care of your forklift battery; and
8. Don’t neglect your tires.

The first point, stick with your servicing schedule, was the most important point because if you do that, the others will follow. However, as we mentioned:

It’s easy to put off servicing a forklift until “tomorrow,” but often that tomorrow doesn’t come until it’s too late. Stick with your servicing schedule and avoid costly repairs “tomorrow.”

Make a New Year’s resolution to stick with your maintenance schedule this year and when you look back on 2014, you’ll be glad you did.

 

Buy a ‘New’ Used Forklift

There are a number of good reasons why you might consider making a resolution to buy a ‘new’ used forklift in 2014. Ask yourself these questions:

• Is my current forklift overworked?
• Do we have to wait for our battery to recharge?
• Is my IC forklift polluting our work environment?
• Is my forklift always in need of repair?

Did you answer “Yes” to any of the questions?

If your current used forklift is overworked, it’s going to wear out sooner. Maintenance and repairs are going to steadily cost more and eventually, you’ll need to replace them. Having a second used forklift is an economical way to extend the lives of both forklifts.

If you experience a lot of downtimes while your battery recharges, one solution might be to buy a second battery. Another solution is to buy a second used electric forklift. Why? By rotating lift trucks, there will be no downtime at all. Secondly, as we pointed out above, having a 2nd forklift is a cost-efficient way to extend the lives of both your forklifts.

Whether you’re running diesel or propane, if you run IC forklifts indoors, you are creating carbon monoxide emissions. Aside from the health risks, even low levels of carbon monoxide can make workers feel drowsy and lethargic. Trade in those IC forklifts for electric lift trucks and you might be surprised by the boost in productivity in your warehouse or factory.

In a previous post, When is it Time to Retire Your Used Forklift? we wrote, “maintenance costs are the key.” There comes a time when the cost of repairs outweighs the value of holding on to the vehicle. Even inoperable forklifts can be sold or traded in and good quality reconditioned forklifts offer great value for money. Have a look at our complete inventory and see what you can find. Your New Year’s resolution to buy a ‘new’ used forklift just might be the best New Year’s resolution you ever make.