Common Forklift Questions Asked
As in most consumer-based industries, customers always have many questions about a forklift as they want to make sure that they are buying the right one for them. From manufacturers to sizing to fuel sources and hours, there are a wide range of features that customers often want to know about when buying a forklift. Our previous articles have covered some common servicing and sales questions, but there are always more questions to be answered for customers. From engines to lifespan, this article answers an additional variety of frequently asked forklift questions.
What is the Best Forklift Engine?
This question is difficult to provide a defined answer for as it depends on business circumstances. If a trucking company that has diesel readily available is used as an example, the best engine for their forklift would be a diesel forklift, as it would be the easiest solution for them to refuel with. Each brand then also often have their own choice of engine, so much like cars, this comes down to the preference of the user/buyer. The recommendation to find the best engine for your business would be to assess what fuel you have readily available and demo or test drive machines at your local forklift dealer’s site to find what works best for you.
How Long Does a Forklift Engine Last?
Like the forklift itself, a forklift engine will last many years if maintained properly. If the engine is regularly checked through scheduled servicing and issues are kept on top of, then there are very few instances where a forklift engine will fail. In our experience, we have seen engines last 20 years for some customers while others have had engine issues much sooner because of improper maintenance. It is therefore an important recommendation from us to keep your forklift well maintained to help ensure the engine lasts you a while.
What is the Average Life of a Forklift?
In most instances, a forklift will typically last you as long as you work to keep it alive. If they are maintained, forklifts can last a long time for your company. For larger companies, they will often update their forklift every 5 years to help maintain the resell value and to ensure that each forklift is kept within the 5 year warranty period. For the smaller companies and single users, most will keep their forklift for around 10-15 years on average. As mentioned previously, however, most forklifts will last a long time if properly maintained so it is often up to the customer’s discretion of when they want to upgrade their forklift.
How Many Hours is Good for a Used Forklift?
When it comes to used forklifts, as the name suggests, the forklift will have some hours to it. Like a used car, most people would likely be looking for a forklift with minimal hours. It can be a benefit to have some hours on the clock for a forklift as it will mean that the previous owner has had a chance to test for any faults that may have occurred at the start of the forklifts life. Regarding what hours are good to see on a forklift, anything under 3000 hours is considered very low, while anything in the range of 3000-6000 is considered low. If the forklift has been maintained properly throughout its life, then the hours may not play as great of a role in the condition of the forklift.
It is always important to ensure that you understand what forklift is going to work best for you. In this article, we examined what hours are good for a used forklift, what engine will be best suited to your business and what lifetime can be expected of a forklift and its engine. If you need more assistance or have other questions, feel free to contact us down below.