Finding the right forklift for your business requires specialized insight. This guide highlights important insights and points from Purchasing.com's full-length purchasing guide: purchasing.com/construction-equipment/forklifts/purchasing-guide/

1. Forklift
Purchasing
Guide

2. Forklift Purchasing Guide
Finding the right forklift for your business requires specialized insight if
you hope to find the most productive, cost-effective machine.
This guide will review the following:
Trends
New versus Used
Types
Specs
Tires
Attachments
Questions to Ask a Dealer
For a more in-depth review of the following topics, please see our full length Purchasing Guide:
http://www.purchasing.com/construction-equipment/forklifts/purchasing-guide/

3. Forklift Purchasing Guide
Trends HHydrogen
Among the major trends in forklift technology is the 1
inclusion of fuel cells as a power source. Slowly phasing
out diesel and battery-powered options, fuel cells are
billed as being able to deliver higher levels of
productivity, lower cost of ownership, and reduced
emissions.
Major benefits:
Repairable and Recyclable
•Easily replace older power supplies as well as replace/repair existing fuel stacks
Scalable
•Because not all lifting tasks are equal, fuel cells are designed to scale (up and down) to decrease hydrogen use
Long Lasting
•At 5-10 years, industrial grade fuel cells have twice the battery life of standard batteries
1
2
3

4. Forklift Purchasing Guide
New vs. Used
When buying used, keep the following criteria in mind:
Age
• Not the most critical consideration, but often the first. Look for year manufactured on or near
the mast. May also be reflected in series name (common with Toyotas)
Service Hours
• Be sure to consider both ‘key hours’ and ‘dead man hours’ (effectively engine running time vs
actual usage). Tip: For a 5 year old machine, look fewer than 6,000 hours
History
• Research what the forklift was used for (basic warehousing vs heavy construction). Also keep
in mind airborne contaminates, temperatures, air quality (used close to salt water?), and
outside use in general
Condition
• Consult a qualified forklift mechanic to inspect mast operation, tire wear, and engine. Look for
blue smoke, time it takes to warm up, leaks, and excessive wear

5. Forklift Purchasing Guide
There are numerous forklift types designed for all manner of lifting
jobs. Let’s review the four main types:
1) Order Pickers
 Used almost exclusively indoors; most common in warehouses
 Available in all-electric or electronic-lift only
 Operators can reach stocked items up to 11 feet high
 Capacities range from 400-700 lbs
 Expect to pay $3,000 to $10,000
2) Pallet Jacks
 Also commonly known as pump trucks or hand trucks
 Very minimal training required
 Available in both electric and manual
 Can lift between 3,000 and 4,000 lbs.
 Expect to pay $250 to $700 for manual; $2,800 to $11,000 for electric
Order Picker
Pallet Jack
Types

6. Forklift Purchasing Guide
3) Reach Trucks
 Designed for warehouse applications, reach trucks can pull items
from pallet racking by “reaching” in with extendable forks
 Provides higher lifting capacity than an order picker
 Can lift between 2,500-5,500 lbs. at up to 30 feet
 Usually seen indoors due to weight limitations and low clearance
 Expect to pay $19,000 to $30,000 new or $1,500 to $8,000 used
4) Sit Down Counterbalance Trucks
 Most common forklift with highest height and weight capacities
 Counterbalance offsets load in front, allowing a lifting capacity of
3,000 to 80,000 lbs.
 Most models lift 10-15 feet high; but some can reach 36 feet high
 Liquid propane or compressed natural gas powered
 Expect to pay $20,000 to $100,000 new (depending on type and
capacity); $7,000 to $40,000 used
Reach Truck
Sit Down
Counterbalance Truck
Types

7. Forklift Purchasing Guide
Specs
When comparing forklifts, the most important consideration is power source.
Let’s review the pros and cons of the primary options:
Internal Combustion
• Gasoline, diesel, LPG, or CNG
• Far greater lifting capacities
– 120,000 lbs. up to 36 feet
• Low upfront costs
• High maintenance/fuel costs
Electric
• Lead-acid batteries provide
5-6 hours of continuous use
• Zero emissions
• Higher upfront costs – 20%-
40% more than IC
• Lower total cost of
ownership
Hybrid
• Similar lifting capacities as IC
forklifts – switching between
modes when additional
power is needed
• Significant cost savings
through lower fuel
consumption
• Lower maintenance costs
when compared with IC

8. Forklift Purchasing Guide
Pneumatic
Tires
Either solid or
filled with air
Heavy lifting and
outdoor
operation
More expensive
than other tire
types
Cushion Tires
Solid rubber
Small turn radius
Very low
clearance
Polyurethane
Tires
Easy to install
Indoor use only
Meant for
electric lifts on
smooth surfaces
Tires
Different tires work best for different jobs. Find
out which tires work for you lifting job:

9. Forklift Purchasing Guide
Forklift Attachment Description Estimated Cost
Boom / Telescopic Boom Use in place of a crane; extended range between 12-15 feet; cost dependent
on lift capacity (up to 6,000 lbs) $600-$2,400
Fork Extension Carry more in a single load; lengths available between 48-96 inches $350-$980
Hook Plate Maximize safety when lifting heavy loads; prevent loads from slipping off
forks; capacity 4,000-6,000 lbs. $200-$600
Lifting Beam Provides higher degree of safety when lifting loads with chains, cables, or
ropes; available with swivel connections; 4,000-30,000 lbs. capacities $400-$3,000
Drum Snatcher Safely transport 30-55 gallon drums without pallets; 800-1,500 lbs. capacity $500-$1,500
Side-Shifter Adjust loads left and right with the push of a button; great for tight spaces;
capacities range from 5,500 to 10,000 lbs. $500-$800
Rotator Easily rotate refuse bins or crates that need to be inverted or upended for
emptying; hydraulics enable 360° motion; capacities from 3,000-40,000 lbs. $800-$15,000
Fork Positioner Operator can better position forks for different pallet sizes and openings;
reduce damage to pallets; capacities from 5,500-15,000 lbs. $1,000-$3,000
Roll and Barrel Clamp Transport large rolls of newsprint, printing stocks, and other cylindrical items
common in mills and warehouses $1,000-$15,000
Pole Attachments Transport carpet or textiles; 2.75-5 inch diameters $400-$675
Man Basket Lift individual’s to lift’s max height; support 600-1,000 lbs.; upgrades include
safety harnesses, tool trays, and fluorescent tube bulb caddies $1,000-$1,600
Attachments

10. Forklift Purchasing Guide
Questions to Ask a Dealer
Buying a forklift is a two-prong purchase decision: choosing the lift itself and choosing a
forklift dealer. Believe it or not, the latter decision is equally important (if not more so) than
picking out the actual machine.
Here are 9 critical questions to help you find the best forklift dealer:
1. How long have you been in business?
2. What level of inventory do you keep on-site for parts replacement? And how fast is your
average turnaround for parts that have to be delivered?
3. How many certified forklift mechanics do you have?
4. How many machines have you sold in the last year? How many similar to the one I’m
interested in?
5. Do you provide on-site service?
6. What are your service hours?
7. Do you have guaranteed response times?
8. What brand or brands do you specialize in? Why did you select this particular brand?
9. What kind of insurance do you carry? (Note: If they don’t have worker’s comp and one of
their mechanics gets hurt while repairing a forklift at your facility, the claim could fall under
your insurance.)

11. Thank You
Remember, for a more in-depth review of the topics mentioned here,
please see our full-length Purchasing Guide:
http://www.purchasing.com/construction-equipment/forklifts/purchasing-guide/
© 2014, Purchasing.com, All Rights Reserved.

12. About Purchasing.com
In business since 1992, Purchasing.com has connected nearly 5 million buyers with pre-screened,
qualified sellers. Our current seller network exceeds 3,500 top brands and
continues to grow every year. With a history built around helping procurement officers and
SMB owners make smart buying decisions, Purchasing.com has positioned itself as an
essential resource and first stop in the B2B purchasing process. Our mission is simple: help
buyers save time and money by providing robust purchasing guides and buying resources and
matching their buying needs with pre-qualified suppliers offering customized price quotes.
Visit http://www.purchasing.com to learn more.
Contact us
888-977-4788
info@purchasing.com
Twitter: @Purchasing_com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/purchasingdotcom
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Purchasingdotcom
Partner with us
If you are interested in partnering with Purchasing.com and you’re a qualified supplier of
industrial equipment or services, contact us at sales@purchasing.com.