Forklifts

Forklifts

Buyer's Guide

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Introduction Major Parts Capacity & Height Fuel Options Green Fuel Tires & Add-Ons Sellers Test Drives Pricing Buying Tips Training & Safety

Introduction to Forklifts

First appearing in the early 1900s, forklifts were initially used to haul luggage around busy train stations. Throughout the past 110 years, the forklift has kept pace with advancements in technology and is now one of the most essential tools for the daily operation of a modern business.

Widely popular for its ability to provide cost-efficiency, a forklift dramatically reduces the time it would take an employee to move the same amount of product by hand with a pallet jack. In addition, they minimize the potential for injury by enabling large quantities of goods or heavy objects to be shifted and placed at heights with the simple flip of a lever.

For these reasons, and a number of other benefits we'll cover forklifts can be found in practically every industry - from manufacturing plants, showroom floors, and distribution centers to loading docks and construction zones.

Though dealers often refer to a forklift by a variety of names, including lift truck, fork truck or even the generic "material handling equipment", they all refer to the same subset of equipment, available in three basic types:

  • Smaller electric models that use a built-in rechargeable battery
  • Medium-sized propane lifts, fueled by easily-replaceable propane tanks
  • Large capacity gas or diesel fueled forklifts, typically reserved for heavy work at lumberyards and construction sites

While they're easy to find, getting the forklift that's right for your situation isn't always as easy. In addition to the power source, you'll need to consider factors that include how much and how high it can lift, how carefully you need to manipulate the load in sensitive areas, and whether you should buy new or used.

Make sure you're in the right market before you start talking to sellers. Whether you're handling standard pallets or specialized loads like pipe, spools, or barrels, if your typical load is less than 3,000 pounds, a pallet jack or hand truck is probably a more economical choice. But for anything from 3,000 to 120,000 pounds and up, a forklift is far more efficient, economical, and safe.

And this BuyerZone Forklifts Buyer's Guide will explain why.

We'll also take a look at the major factors that go into your purchase decision and walk you through the questions to ask before you start shopping. Then, once you know exactly what you need, we can connect you with qualified forklift vendors in your area.


To get started, it's important to have a general knowledge of forklifts, their various components, and what purpose each serves. If you're already familiar with the many facets of a lift, you can skip ahead to the fuel options. If not, here's a quick rundown on each of the major parts.


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