Discussion:
New to forklifts

Looking for a forklift (used) any advice on what to avoid or test on the lifts. How Many hrs is to many? Will be lifting loads less than 1,000 lbs and use 10 hrs./week Thanks for any advice
  • Posted 31 Oct 2012 11:32
  • By Fisher
  • joined 31 Oct'12 - 6 messages
  • South Carolina, United States
Showing items 1 - 11 of 11 results.
As far as I know all new forklift dealers also sell used forklift trucks.
  • Posted 1 Nov 2012 21:37
  • By duodeluxe
  • joined 11 Feb'05 - 923 messages
  • United States
duodeluxe
Forgot:operating space and turning radius not a big issue.
  • Posted 1 Nov 2012 18:59
  • By Fisher
  • joined 31 Oct'12 - 6 messages
  • South Carolina, United States
Thanks for the info. the lift truck we need will be moving small 700 lb - 1,000 lb. bales of cardboard, alum. etc..Lifting height is 6 ft max. Do need machine that will go in warehouse and outside.

We are located 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach, SC and I can't find a local dealer of used lifts.

Is there a place to get values of used lifts? How do I find someone to run reccomended tests on used lift?
  • Posted 1 Nov 2012 18:58
  • By Fisher
  • joined 31 Oct'12 - 6 messages
  • South Carolina, United States
wat u mean by "here, here"?
  • Posted 1 Nov 2012 13:46
  • By johnr_j
  • joined 3 Jun'06 - 1,452 messages
  • Georgia, United States
here,here johnr j
  • Posted 31 Oct 2012 22:56
  • By MEngr
  • joined 15 Jan'11 - 247 messages
  • Missouri, United States
Agree with duodeluxe, one other factor when you buy from a dealer you can get a warranty that includes parts & labor and a delivered price vs. an "as is" "where is" (aka a blind pig in the poke) deal that can "haunt" you & empty your wallet faster than you want.
  • Posted 31 Oct 2012 22:25
  • By johnr_j
  • joined 3 Jun'06 - 1,452 messages
  • Georgia, United States
"Have An Exceptional Day!"
On the whole I would agree with Edward however the fact is that there were certain models did have it's issues.
The best advise that I would ever give an end user is that they should only consider buying a forklift truck locally and preferably from a local dealer, not someone who dabbles in forklift trucks or someone who is selling one on the "side of the road".
I think that most dealers would agree that if they were to sell a truck similar in specs, and most importantly similar in condition, to those advertised on the internet the price would be less. I also think that it is safe to say that most dealers would not sell trucks that are in similar condition to those being offered on the internet.
  • Posted 31 Oct 2012 21:46
  • By duodeluxe
  • joined 11 Feb'05 - 923 messages
  • United States
duodeluxe
All forklifts {and all designs of any product} have compromises in the design. Mengr should not try (and decide to demean, slander other brands than ones he has a fudicuary responsibility for) that any truck is better or worse.
The "track record" he may be looking at would be his own experiences with a unit he was never trained to work on. I would doubt that any principal for Clark Material handling would agree with him.

In my not so humble opinion:
Making statements based only on personal experiences, and not noting that this "track record" is only his personal experiences 'record', and not that of any official body, shows a lack of real expertise, and a lack of concern for telling the truth.
Almost everyone here thinks the brands they are trained on and familiar with are 'the best brand'.
now on to the question.
This truck is not a bad price for a good running truck of this size/capacity being a pneumatic, especially if it has GOOD 'solid pneumatic' {no air valve, higher $} tires see if the seller will put on new solid tires, but it is 'long in the tooth' and one that the hour meter reading may not have much to do with the life of the truck.
I would be cautious to post it here, if it was a -great- deal, someone will beat you to buying it, and this site has a pretty extensive listing of used forklifts, and people/companies who can provide used forklifts at reasonable (equal to the condition) value.
I would want to do a compression check, have the fluids tested, and have someone that really knows what they are looking at to look over the mast and forks, and if it is a Mitsu motor, go ahead and change the timing belt.
The seat will have to be replaced with one that has side or shoulder restraints to meet US federal government requirements about equal safety in replacement parts.
  • Posted 31 Oct 2012 21:17
  • Modified 31 Oct 2012 21:27 by poster
  • By edward_t
  • joined 5 Mar'08 - 2,334 messages
  • South Carolina, United States
"it's not rocket surgery"
the first thing when asking on advise when purchasing a lift is to let us know what application you intend on using it for?

whatever the task this machine is going to be used for will be VERY helpful in getting advise on what type of lift you should get.

There are so many to choose from

Let us know what your operation entails and what all the lift will have to be doing? unloading trucks? in a warehouse or out in the yard? narrow aisle? orderpicking? freezer? pallet handling? barrel handling? the applications are fairly wide to just guess at it.
  • Posted 31 Oct 2012 21:14
  • Modified 31 Oct 2012 21:19 by poster
  • By swoop223
  • joined 23 Mar'12 - 3,691 messages
  • North Carolina, United States
You've been swooped!
swoop223@gmail.com
Fisher;
You are looking at a model with a poor track record.
  • Posted 31 Oct 2012 15:52
  • By MEngr
  • joined 15 Jan'11 - 247 messages
  • Missouri, United States
I am looking at this lift

machinerytrader.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=8494033

Any thoughts - cant search that model (1990 Clark GP 25 MC)for info.
  • Posted 31 Oct 2012 12:01
  • Modified 31 Oct 2012 12:02 by poster
  • By Fisher
  • joined 31 Oct'12 - 6 messages
  • South Carolina, United States

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Fact of the week
The origin of "love" as the score zero in tennis is debated, but two main theories prevail. One suggests it's derived from the French word "l'oeuf" (egg) which resembles the shape of the number zero. The other proposes it's related to the Dutch word "lof" meaning "honour" as players might be playing for honour when scoreless.