Top Reasons to Replace Your Forklift

You want your equipment to last forever. If you maintain it well, it can last a long time. But eventually, equipment needs to be replaced. Here are a few reasons to replace your old forklift. 

Maintenance Costs and Downtime

As forklifts get older, they require more repairs. Most of your forklift operating cost is spent on your operator, who is getting paid to not work when the forklift is out of commission. If a unit’s downtime is equal to or greater than its operating time, it’s definitely time to get rid of it. Those repair costs can really add up, too. 

Safety Issues

With an older forklift, there are more opportunities for things to go wrong. A jerky forklift can drop loads. This not only damages inventory. It can also lead to injuries. New forklifts also have more advanced safety features, and they’re more likely to work properly. Fluid leaks, more common in older forklifts, can also decrease the safety of your workplace. 

New Features

Check out a forklift dealer’s website and take a look at newer models of forklift. You might be surprised at all the new features that have rolled out since you last shopped for a forklift. If you don’t want to spend that much, check out used models with low usage. If you find the new features you want on a lightly used unit, you can save a lot of money. Your workers will appreciate the upgrade, too. 

Its Trade-In Value is Falling

Past a certain point, a forklift’s value as a trade-in becomes negligible. Forklifts vary in terms of longevity (electric forklifts tend to last longer than internal combustion types) but the general rule of thumb is to trade out your forklift before it hits seven years of age or 10,000 hours of use, at which point the value drops more quickly. 

Efficiency Improvements

New models are generally more efficient than older models. Newer internal combustion engines use less fuel, and newer electric models can run longer on a charge. In both cases, these efficiency improvements lead to less downtime for your forklift, lower operating costs, and more time getting work done. Using less energy also means you’re creating fewer emissions in your workplace, and in the environment. 

If you’re interested in forklift sales or rentals, come and talk to us at Ring Power Lift Trucks. For 60 years, our locally-owned and operated business has provided superior products and the newest technology in forklifts, exceeding our customers’ expectations. With 14 convenient locations throughout Florida, Ring Power Corporation has become one of the largest Caterpillar® dealers in the Southeastern United States because of our dedication to customer service. Whether you need to buy a new or used forklift, or you’d prefer a short-term or long-term forklift rental, we’re here for you. We also supply forklift parts and service in north and central Florida for every make and model of forklift.  Call 877.544.5438 or visit our website for more information.