Thanks johnr_j and others. Thank for experience & knowledge you shared. May the happinest things alway happen to you.

tcmgirl,
That's what it is all about - listening & learning. When I was active in my career (retired now) I challenged myself to learn at least two new things every day about my job (how to do it better, faster & smarter, etc) & one thing about me (how to improve, etc.). Now I only want to learn one new thing about what ever I'm doing each day but still one new thing about me. If you multiple 3 ( new things) x 365 (days/yr)x 41 (years in lift trucks ) you get a big number of improvements.
Used to know folks from TCM America - Steve Duce, John Picallo (sic) I think, *** Oser, Kim Parkinson (all worked for Allis-Chalmers - including me) at a point in time) & maybe you knew/know Jere French from - C.Itoh - Houston (former TCM of the south & west).

johnr j,
thanks for all the info. I knew there was more to it than a "500 slab" but I didn't know everything you said.
Thanks again. I love my job and I learn something new everyday.

Mr. Fixit
FYI the capacity reference you'll find in the l Japanese model names & many European models are base on a 500mm load center (~20") vs the US std. of 24" (600mm). So the capacity reference is based on the Japanese market standard of 500 mm. While your calculation of 32 = 7048 is accurate but only for 20" l.c.

TCM Girl - there may be other differences besides counterweight when converting a 6000 lb to a 6500 lb. model like a different channel over lap, a larger hydraulic pump, different front & rear tires, etc. When it comes to rearward visibility. There are design stds. all manufacturers must comply with with (including with an LPG tank installed). Even if the difference between a 6000 to a 6500 lb unit MIGHT be 500 lbs. all the weight is not necessarily "stacked" on top of the counterweight (unless a dealer did it on his own). The actual counterweight increase in weight is actually less than 500 lb as the at the center of the rear tires is much further away (aka the trucks wheel base) from the center of the drive axle (fulcrum) than from the center of the drive axle to the load center by ABOUT 2 to 1. So the extra counter weight needed is more or less 250 - 300 lbs. - just a SWAG - but an intelligent one - was a Product Manager for many years..

since when does the model # in a forklift come in Kilograms?

Also, the 6500lbs Toyota is a 6000lbs forklift with a 500lb slab of metal on the back of the forklift, making the back of your forklift higher, this will cause a problem with LP trucks as you will have to swing the LP tank up over your head practically to get it into the bracket.

mrfixit,
On the Toyota website it states the 32 = 6500lbs. I'm just going by what Toyota states.

FYI 3200 KG = 7054 LBS.

Oh we have to lift higher then 2ft lol...we had given them our "needs" when we started looking for trucks and the 8 series was what they recomended, but now after your information i think were gonna move them down the list and probly go with the nissan...thanks very much for your help!

If the max weight is 6000lbs, Toyota should be offering you a 7000lbs forklift like Hyster and Nissan are. I hope you do not plan on lifting more than 2 feet off the ground with the Toyota. That is one reason why Toyota's initial cost is less.
Have the three dealers quote you on a PM service. That price should stay the same for every pm done. All PM's are oil, oil filter, air filter, grease, etc. At least you will know your fixed expense for service.
Take a look at customer support. Who do you feel will take care of you? Who have you used in the past? Are they in on this quote? If so, as long as they have been good to you, they should be first on your list.
For the amount of hours your running the equipment and with what you produce......my choice would be Nissan, Hyster, then Toyota.
All three make a durable truck and would work in your environment.
Keep in mind.......the Toyota comes equipped with SAS (anti roll over system) This SAS needs to be serviced every 6 weeks/250 hours. The pin on the swing lock cylinder needs to be serviced every 40 hours/replaced every 5 years. There are alot of sensors on the SAS system, such as mast height sensor, load weight sensor, tilt angle sensor, plus several actuators. This just means more money, more parts to replace, more downtime.
I don't mean to sound negative, I just want to inform you. I have been in this industry for about 15 years, to some I am considered a baby yet. I'm sure you will get more responses to this question you posted and they will bring up different issues than what I mentioned.
Good Luck!
Let me know what you decide.

Suggestion get a 5 year full maintenance agreement proposal from each company you are considering. Use 1500 hours per year usage (unless you know how many hours per year your trucks actually run) for a single 8 hour shift. Let the lift truck folks survey your operation to determine if is "normal & clean" and no unusual floor conditions (cracks, long ramps, etc) or operations like "pushing or shoving things. Ask what the overtime rate is cost per hour, how often overtime hours are determine (monthly, quarterly, annual or at the end of a contract? Also ask how & when the hour meter is activated (at key on, via engine oil pressure, operator in the seat, etc). Oil pressure activated is fair for both parties.
Ask what is not included (like seats, tires, lights, abuse etc).
Inquire as to what happens if "suddenly the economy jumps start" you need to go to a two or three shift operation.
Ask how often they will give you a performance report/audit (actual against agreement) on how you are doing against the contract - every 90 days is not too much to ask for..
Add any other bits you wish.
This should give you an idea what the cost of ownership may be

Hi Sal
Try looking at Caseb there a Toyota so reliable but not as exspensive as the rest.

We manufacture Grader blades, so the max weight being lifted is about 6000lbs, the pneumatic trucks are run on 1 shift i would estimate about 6 hours running time each shift. The cushion trucks are run on 3 shifts and those i would have to say about 12-16 hours running time. All mechanical work and PM's would be done by forklift dealer we by off of(weve been getting quotes which include a service plan). We have 3 and we are looking to replace all of them. We had discussed a lease and had gotten prices for it but the company decided to purchase them instead.

Hi Sal S
My question to you is......what is it that you do at your facility?
How many hours a day do you plan on running each forklift? Do you have 1 shift, 2 or 3 shifts? Do you do your own mechanical work or will the forklift dealer do all repairs and PM services?

You picked three good trucks to choose from, they are all decent trucks. As for the parts pricing, Toyota is pretty hefty on the prices (cheaper on forklift but they need to make up the money somewhere) All parts for each of these should have good availability.

How many forklifts are in your fleet?
Have you discussed full maintenance leasing? Is that an option for you?