Need to buy or rent a forklift for your business? Before you get too excited about the productive times ahead and start seeing dollar signs, it’s of vital importance that you know what type of forklift will best suit your needs. Have a read through our tips on what we see as critical factors that are likely to affect your choice.

Physical environment

When selecting a forklift, tyre and fuel type, it’s important to think about the areas in which you intend to use it. Will it be used:

• On smooth or bumpy surfaces?
• Indoors? Outdoors? Both?
• In narrow aisles between storage shelves?

Height

Expanding on the physical environment, you can never forget about the lift height you require along with any potential restrictions:

• How high will loads need to be lifted?
• Will any low ceilings, lights or other restrictions affect the height limit?
• Will the forklift clear all obstructions when the mast is collapsed?

Load size and capacity

Don’t let productivity suffer by buying or renting a forklift that’s inadequate for your needs; on top of size and capacity, the type of load to be lifted is also extremely important. Consider:

• What is the nature of the load to be carried?
• What is both the average and heaviest weight that will be lifted?
• Will loads ever be particularly tall, wide or bulky?

Check out our guide on useful forklift attachments for more information.

Tyres

Forklifts are able to be fitted with different types of tyres depending on the context—for example, rough and bumpy ground will warrant different tread to that of flat and even floors. Choosing the right tyres will closely relate to:

• Grip
• Durability
• Performance under heavy loads

Fuel type

Different forklifts run on different types of fuel, and each can offer advantages that may not be immediately obvious:

• Electric forklifts typically cost more, but will perform for longer and lower long-term costs on fuel consumption—not to mention producing low emission as well as being efficient indoors and in cold weather
• Diesel offers high performance as a source of fuel and is a common choice for forklifts that will need to be used outdoors or to carry heavy loads
• LPG forklifts are quick to refuel, typically lower in initial capital cost, often smaller than diesel counterparts and able to consistently perform throughout the day

Demand

It’s important to consider the way in which you plan to put the forklift to use, as it’s another factor that will affect your decision:

• If you only plan on using the forklift in short bursts of an hour or two per day, you may opt for a used model with less ergonomic features as an economical choice.
• If you will need to use the forklift for more than a few hours per day, you may be better off choosing a new model that can offer longer-lasting performance. You should also consider the ergonomics required to keep your employees comfortable and reduce the risk of injury associated with extended periods in the driver’s seat.

If you need help deciding what kind of forklift you need to rent or buy, don’t hesitate to contact the Eureka Forklifts team.