Buying a new forklift is an expensive investment that you probably don’t want to make lightly. But when is enough, enough? In this article, we discuss three of the signs your forklift is giving you that it’s time to buy a new forklift and explain how your current forklift might be dragging you down.
Your Forklift Maintenance Costs are Rising
A forklift is a vehicle which needs to be taken care of and professionally assessed regularly. An experienced forklift engineer identifies brewing problems with your forklift and ensures it is still working as it should. But after some time, you may notice that maintenance visits are becoming increasingly frequent, which indicates that something is wrong.
The complicated components of your forklift are susceptible to deterioration with constant use and lacking upkeep. Although some issues can be easily remedied, like an oil replacement, problems with your forklift battery are quite different.
Forklift maintenance is essential to ensure your forklift continues working optimally and legally, but when it’s needed every week for one reason or another, it starts becoming far less cost-effective than buying a new forklift.
Totalling the cost of repeat forklift maintenance appointments might prove even more expensive than a new forklift altogether.
No set number indicates you should replace your forklift, it’s all about the cost you’re comfortable with and assessing when to cut your losses.
Visible Wear and Tear
Replacing a forklift when the seat becomes less cushioned isn’t what we mean here. Wear and tear can present itself in many ways on many different components, from cracked tyres to bent forks and worn-out axle bushes.
Although wear and tear may not cause any problems at first, letting these brewing issues worsen over time to avoid forklift maintenance costs could cause a significant safety risk to your operators.
Sometimes, when a forklift component is visibly worn, it is difficult to repair and more cost-effective to replace. However, if you find yourself going through your forklift piece by piece and replacing the majority of the components just to keep it running safely, you should consider buying a replacement forklift.
You should endeavour to train your staff so they can identify wear and tear and log it properly to avoid dangerous situations in the future.
Less Efficient Battery
It’s easy to become used to something when it’s been going on for so long. So you may not have even realised that your forklift battery has become substantially less efficient than it once was. The battery of an electric forklift is its lifeline, and if neglected, can put your forklift out of action permanently.
Most electric forklifts will run for 5 hours on a full charge, but the exact number will be stated in the vehicle specifications document. If you leave your forklift on charge overnight and notice a steadily decreasing run time, your forklift battery may be wearing out.
There are a few things you may be doing that are damaging the longevity of your forklift battery without even realising it. For example, overcharging and leaving a discharged battery for too long. Ensure to follow the charging instructions and be vigilant of your forklift battery to prevent making these mistakes.
Some external forces that may impact the efficiency of your battery include extreme weather conditions, which may freeze or overheat the battery. Although the temperature can’t necessarily be helped, you should be aware of exposing your forklift to it for too long.
If your forklift battery life is beginning to get in the way of operations, it’s time to get a new forklift.
How can Trucks Direct Help?
Here at Trucks Direct, we understand how important it is to have a safe, optimally performing forklift in your warehouse. So, if you need a replacement forklift, you’ve come to the right place. Trucks Direct has a vast selection of used and new forklifts available, manufactured by a variety of different brands, to ensure you find a forklift for the right price.
We guarantee you won’t find better-priced forklifts anywhere else, and we offer worldwide delivery to ensure businesses everywhere have access to the best forklifts available. And with an extended warranty, your forklift is covered for up to 12 months!
We also offer part-exchange and 0% finance options. So if a brand new forklift is out of your budget, you can rest assured you’ll find something to suit your needs.
.