How “good” are second-hand forklifts?

British luxury car brand Rolls Royce has previously highlighted its sustainability – specifically, that none of its vehicles have ever been scrapped. Because every part is valuable. It’s a message that resonates with the current zeitgeist. A good product will withstand the test of time, helping to conserve valuable resources, among other benefits. The same thinking applies to commercial vehicles, such as forklifts. Second-hand may very well be a buyer’s first choice – as long as the trucks were given proper care and maintenance throughout their history.

Every enterprise has unique needs – and for every question asked, the used vehicle market might have several answers. Advice from an experienced expert can help narrow down the search for the right second-hand forklift truck. But there are several key criteria to consider:

    • What must the vehicle be able to do?
    • What racking, vehicles, containers, etc. will it be used with?
    • What type of forklift or other warehouse truck is right for these tasks?
    • Will special features or attachments be needed?
    • What forklift mast, lift height and load capacity are necessary?
    • What is the maximum period of sustained operation at any one time
    • Will it be deployed indoors or outdoors?
    • Electric, diesel or gas?
    • Are there vehicle height or width restrictions?
    • What is the budget?
    • Buy outright, via a loan or leasing?

Some high-end manufacturers go to great lengths to recondition used forklifts at their own dedicated facilities, carefully preparing the vehicles for their next owner and deployment scenario. These trucks mainly come from their own fleets of short-term rental and leasing vehicles and, consequently, have been consistently well-maintained. After being overhauled, the vehicles are sent to a specialist dealer, who classifies them and markets them in conjunction with a comprehensive after-sales package. One example is manufacturer Linde Material Handling, with its Approved Trucks offering: vehicles with a seamless, transparent service history come in three refurbishment standards: PLUS, SUPER and ULTRA. The “Approved by Linde Material Handling” label is an internationally recognized indicator of outstanding quality. And manufacturer STILL in Hamburg, Germany, offers prospective buyers a similar option. It reconditions and categorizes used forklifts and warehouse equipment as GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE, depending on their condition.

A complete package: brand-name trucks from a specialist dealer.

These standardized systems are based on Europe-wide defined characteristics.

For brand-name forklifts, these systems include
significant advantages, such as:
    • A comprehensive service and support network
    • Rapid delivery of spare parts
    • Repairs by trained service engineers

The bottom line is these programs have a number of benefits. Sales advice comes straight from a genuine expert, and is included in the price. What’s more, buyers save time, letting them focus on their own business. And once they find the ideal forklift truck, they know exactly what they are buying, and enjoy a complete package with added-value services, and have a single point of contact.

Usually, specialized dealers also offer:
    • Warranties
    • Financing options
    • Leasing and full-service contracts