When is it Time to Replace a Forklift?

Owning your own forklift has many benefits, such as making your warehouse work just that much easier. If you’ve invested in a forklift, chances are you want to do everything you can to make sure it remains in great working order. From making sure you have your forklift serviced at the right intervals to learning how to properly operate the piece of equipment, there are steps you can take to keep your forklift in excellent working order for many years to come. However, even if you do everything you can to maintain and care for your forklift, there will come a time where it needs to be replaced. The trick is staying ahead of the game, learning what the signs of a forklift on its last leg are before it’s too late. The last thing you want to happen is find yourself in a situation where your forklift no longer works, yet you have not started shopping for a replacement, putting you in between a rock and a hard place.

In order to run a smooth and efficient operation, you must keep in mind the right time to replace older forklifts. In doing so, you will be working to reduce your overall maintenance costs, improve productivity, and maximize your return on investment (ROI). Unfortunately, many companies make the mistake of trying to use forklifts for far longer than they should. While taking care of important repairs is a good idea, sometimes it is a better idea to replace the entire piece of equipment.

So, how do you know when it is time to cut ties and replace your aging forklift with a like new, more efficient machine? Let’s go over a few considerations to help you make this decision:

Lifespan of the Forklift

One of the first things to keep in mind when trying to figure out when a forklift should be replaced is its intended lifespan. In some cases, forklifts remain useful for 10 years, or even more. However, for some forklifts this is far too long. Each and every forklift has a limit to its economic effectiveness, meaning that, at some point, the cost of keeping it running is more than what it would be to replace it. There are a few factors to keep in mind when trying to decide what the lifespan of your forklift is:

• What type of forklift is it?
• When was it made?
• How hard is it used?
• How often is it used?
• How many hours per month is the forklift operated?
• Have you stayed on top of maintenance needs for the forklift?

Taking the time to ask yourself these questions will give you a good idea as to whether or not it is time to start shopping around for a like new one. In most cases, electric forklifts have longer lifespans than other types (such as combustion engine forklifts). If you are operating an electric machine, you may be able to squeeze a few more years out than you would otherwise.

Consider the Maintenance

This is a huge factor when determining when a forklift should be replaced. If you are diligent about keeping the machine properly maintained and serviced, chances are it will last you longer than if you ignored its maintenance needs. With this in mind, make sure you bring your forklift into your local Irving forklift repair shop at least a few times a year to be serviced.

Signs of Replacement

Here are a few signs that may indicate it’s time to replace your Irving forklift:

• You notice cracks or distortions
• There are broken and exposed wires
• The fork blades are showing signs of wear
• The fork blades are showing signs of distortion

If you are in the market for a like new forklift, contact Ace Equipment today. We carry a wide range of forklift inventory and are here to answer any questions you may have.