Tips for Renting Forklifts

Forklifts are vital to just about every industry, from agricultural, manufacturing, construction, warehousing, to retailing, and so many more. For businesses that use forklifts regularly, they can face the dilemma of whether to buy their forklifts or to rent them.

There are many possible reasons for wanting to rent a forklift:

• You don’t need it all the time-if your business is subject to wide fluctuations during the year, renting allows you to have the amount of equipment you need at all times.
• You want a test drive-if you’re not exactly sure what model, features, or attachments you need, renting can be a good way to try different types of lifts until you find one you want to buy
• Capital preservation-it could be that you have a limited amount of capital, and you need it for other areas of your business. Renting allows you to free up capital for other needs
• You want to avoid maintenance and repair expenses-if you’re renting your forklifts, maintenance and repairs are usually the responsibility of the forklift dealer
• Your forklift is in the shop for a repair, and you need a temporary replacement.

Tips for Renting a Forklift

If you’ve decided to rent one or more forklifts, here are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing the right equipment. Each forklift mode has different capabilities and capacities, so you’ll need to understand the job requirements in selecting the right equipment. Here are some questions for which you’ll need answers:

• How heavy will the loads be? Forklifts can generally handle loads of up to 5,000 pounds, but that varies widely by model.
• How high do you need to lift your lightest or your heaviest loads? Again, different models have different capabilities. The maximum safe lifting limit can be different for lighter or heavier loads.
• Will you need to lift anything that’s not secured on a pallet? While most loads may be on pallets, your particular needs may require the forklift to be modified with special attachments to fit the job.
• How long will you need it? The duration of forklift rentals can run from a month or two up to a year or more. Generally speaking, the longer the term, the lower the monthly rate.

What kind of training do your operators need? OSHA requires that forklift operators need proper training. Find out if the dealer provides this training, or if that’s your responsibility.

• Where will the lift be used? Some forklift models have tires that are designed to be used exclusively indoors, while other can be used outdoors as well.
• How wide are the areas where your forklift will be used? If your forklift is to work in a warehouse, you’ll need to know how wide your aisles are to make sure the forklift will be able to easily maneuver.

Read the Rental Agreement Carefully

Once you’ve got all of these specifications together, you and your dealer can select the proper forklift for the job at hand. Ask the dealer to explain all of the details of the agreement, so you’ll have a clear understanding of what’s included in the rental and what’s not included. You may want to ask about the following points:

• Does the dealer take care of maintenance and repairs?
• If you select the wrong equipment, how difficult will it be to exchange it?
• Will the dealer provide an operator, or will that be your responsibility?
• Does the rental agreement include all of the attachments that you may need, or do they cost extra?
• How long does it take to have the lift delivered?
• What about insurance? If there’s damage to the lift, or if someone is injured by the lift, will there be any liability problems for you?

Final Words

Before renting a forklift, know exactly what you’ll need and for how long. Then choose a reputable dealer in your area that has a long history of providing rental equipment.

If you’re unsure about the type of forklift your business may need, check with the professionals at Ring Power Lift Trucks. We are the premier forklift dealer in Florida with a broad range of forklifts as well as other materials handling equipment. We represent all of the leading forklift manufacturers and can work with you to select a new or used forklift for your operation. We also offer short term and long term forklift rentals. We serve Jacksonville, Sarasota, and many other locations in Florida, and our service go beyond sales and rentals. We can also supply you with forklift parts and service to minimize your downtime.

If you would like any more information about the products or services we offer, visit our website or reach out to us at 877-544-5438.