Do not get caught short. A reputable seller will never get upset if you ask smart questions about the products he or she is selling.

Forklift Buying Checklist of Things to Consider

If you are in the market for a forklift, Forklift Nation has a wide variety of used forklifts for sale. The inventory contains forklifts from Toyota, Komatsu, Caterpillar and others, and all forklifts sold are in working order. Whether you need a machine that can stack items two stories tall, carry a ton-and-a-half, or almost anything else in between, you can probably find it.

Examine the Forklift’s Maintenance and Safety Records

Simply put, if there is no maintenance record, do not buy the forklift. You will need to know, for example, if the forks ever failed and had to be replaced or if the mast rails, cylinders and lift chains have always been in working order. If anything has ever gone wrong with the forklift, you have to know if it has been properly addressed. There is no such thing as a “maintenance-free” forklift, so it is normal for one to have had several repairs over the years. Likewise, check the machine’s safety record to see if there any concerns with that particular make and model.

Concern Rather Than Suspicion

You always want to build long-term business relationships through mutual understanding and respect and through solid, honest communication. Any self-respecting businessperson will understand reasonable questions about a product he or she is selling, but that person is also likely to react poorly to outright suspicion. If you are going to buy a used forklift that is for sale, be up front and mean what you say when you shake the seller’s hand.