If you’ve made it here, that means you’ve just taken the first step to buying your very first forklift. Welcome! You’re on a very exciting journey – chock-a-block full of decisions and considerations to navigate. But don’t worry, we’re here to help.
Okay, so you’re looking to upgrade your operations and are in the market for a quality forklift to support your needs. Maybe you’re scaling up your business, ordering more inventory, upgrading to a new space, or needing to boost productivity. Or perhaps you’re a new business owner, looking for a forklift to jump start your new venture and hit the ground running!
Forklifts are essential to many operations and businesses – whether it’s for short-term tasks such as moving materials as part of building your new space, or long-term ownership for regular operations. Whilst remaining conscious of your budget, you will definitely want to make sure you’re getting the best value out of your forklift in the long run.
So if you’re in the market for a forklift for the very first time, there are many things that you will want to consider, from forklift type in relation to your lifting requirements; your working environment; how much you want to lift and how high; and even the ideal fuel type for your operation.
Luckily, here at Fork Force, we’re Australia’s very own experts in forklifts. We’ve been around for 25 years, so we’ve learned a thing or two about knowing what to look for in a top tier forklift.
We’ve pulled together this guide to navigate all the often-confusing information online and help you to choose the right forklift.
After reading on down below, we’re confident that you’ll be able to ensure maximum efficiency of your chosen forklift for your specific requirements and applications so you can operate productively, safely and smoothly.
Are you ready? Let’s get stuck into it!
Choosing The Right Forklift Type
First thing’s first – what role will the forklift play in your new business?
Forklifts are designed to perform various tasks across varying intensities – from stock replenishment in a retail store through to heavy duty tasks like moving construction materials. There are different types of forklift machinery available to suit your specific needs – from counterbalance forklifts to walkie reach stackers, telehandlers to pallet trucks and more. You might need something that can reach out to grab the goods in harder to access spots, or perhaps you need to be lifted to grab the goods yourself – or even a forklift that can manoeuvre in tight spaces or around corners.
No matter your specific needs and challenges, we’ve got you covered. You can check out our range of new and used forklifts right here on our website to see what type might be suitable for your new business. Each category and product listing includes lots of important information such as technical information, ideal environments for use and even specific points of difference from other products (and our competitors) that we know will make an Enforcer forklift a no brainer.
We also have our guide on “What Are The Types of Forklifts, and Which Do I Need For My Business?” to get an idea of what you might need, or why not give us a call – our friendly team of experts are available to help you find your perfect machine every weekday.
Okay, so I know what I need – but should I buy new or used?
While it’s always nice to have the new things, it might not always be the best fit for your circumstances. There are many considerations for choosing between a new or used forklift, all of which will be unique to your situation!
New:
- Clean usage history: no need to worry about past wear and tear!
- Longer warranty: ideal for frequent use and helps to reduce unexpected costs. We offer a 5 year warranty on parts and labour on most new Enforcers.
- Longevity: investment in a new forklift and ensuring it is properly maintained can see your unit last for a decade or more!
- Customisable: tailor a forklift to your exact needs with attachments, optional features or custom configurations.
Used:
- Lower-cost: a budget-friendly option, ideal for low usage.
- Immediate availability: used units are often in stock, and at Fork Force we even pre-prep many of our used forklifts, so you can start lifting sooner with minimal wait times.
If you’re still tossing up between the two, check out our blog post: New Vs Used Forklifts: Which Option Delivers Better Value?
Stay safe out there – Consider applicable Safety Standards and Regulations
While we now live in a day and age where the barrier to entry into the forklift game is lower, and the ability to import cheap products from overseas – we highly recommend against buying the cheap and cheerful options on the market! You know the saying – if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
The primary reason is for your own safety (as well as the safety of your team and your businesses reputation!). Many cheap forklift models are not built to Australian standards, which can compromise workplace safety or leave you in a world of hurt financially AND reputably should an incident occur. Dealers selling these kinds of units often have limited-to-no support (if they’re even around a year later), and the unit may be a challenge to maintain or service due to a lack of part availability.
Sourcing your forklift from a reputable, trusted dealer like Fork Force ensures that your forklift complies with Australian regulations, and you can rest assured that you will receive any ongoing support, parts and servicing as needed. As a proud member of the Australian Forklift & Industrial Truck Association, we’re committed to upholding industry safety standards, so you can operate with confidence.
Let’s get specific: Your Workplace Environment
An important factor to consider for your forklift requirements is the environment the forklift will be operating in. If your activities are in a compact warehouse, you might need something that can accommodate for narrow spaces or hard to access areas, such as a narrow aisle, sideloader or articulating forklift. If you’re looking at more outdoor operations, something that can manoeuvre across rugged, rough terrain might be up your alley (thus the name of our dedicated Rough Terrain range).
It’s often hard to know exactly what kind of considerations your environment might have that need to be accounted for – which is why it’s so important that you speak with a dedicated specialist like our team here at Fork Force, who will ask the right questions and even request photos or videos if needed to ensure you get the right machine from the get-go.
Ideal Lifting Capacity
“Dude, how much do you lift?!”
Choosing the right capacity is important to ensure your lifting operations are efficient without compromising stability or safety. Your forklift should be able to lift your materials comfortably without fear of tipping or losing control. It should also be able to carry enough to reduce the number of trips or additional equipment requirements – which could slow down operations and increase wear and tear, leading to more maintenance costs. In short, it needs to be able to lift more than the maximum load you’ll need it to, whenever you need it to – safely.
But that doesn’t always mean you need the biggest thing! Being budget-conscious is crucial when starting a new business or scaling up, and the bigger your capacity, the more it will cost. You want to focus on improving and increasing your business, not your expenses!
However, just knowing the load you need to lift isn’t always the full picture. Depending on other factors such as height, distance to the centre of the load and many more variables – you may even need more capacity. Calculating exactly what capacity you’ll need can be complex – so that’s why we always recommend speaking to a professional like one of our team members – it’s the smart move! You can give us a call during business hours on 1300 786 328, and somebody will be available to give you a hand.
Choosing the Appropriate Fuel Type
It may not seem like it, but choosing the appropriate fuel type for your needs is important not just for the operational side, but also for your team’s health and safety. Choosing the right fuel type will be determined by your space, your usage needs and, of course, your budget.
Diesel and gas options are the most common fuel types, offering easy refuelling with minimal downtime and easier maintenance for a longer lifespan. They’re also more suitable for different conditions, particularly for outdoor use thanks to their durability and weather resistance.
However, they may not be suitable for all situations. Forklifts with these fuel types emit fumes, so they need to be used in open or well-ventilated spaces. They also tend to be noisier, which can disrupt your working environment or your team. Additionally, fluctuating fuel prices can stretch your budget.
Battery powered (lithium or electric) forklifts are a great alternative option for those seeking a more quiet, sustainable option that produce less fumes. They’re particularly essential for food and beverage operations, where a clean, fume-free environment is a must. They also have a consistent charging cost, compared to an internal combustion (IC) engine.
Lithium forklifts are low maintenance, as you can simply charge them anywhere, easily replace the battery, and produce no emissions. On the other hand, lead-acid can be cheaper upfront compared to lithium, but requires more monitoring and maintenance, produces fumes during charging – therefore need to be charged in a separate area.
Another thing to keep in mind is that there is more downtime required if you don’t have additional charged batteries on hand, in which case you will be limited to only so much use each day or your operations may need to pause while your electric forklift is charging.
Make it yours: Customisation
Every business has different needs and environments, and a base model might not be enough. There are many customisations available to make your forklift suit your specific needs, including:
- • Container masts
- • Lift height adjustments
- • Fork (tyne) length variations
- • Tyre options, such as solid or airless
- • Cameras
- • Suspension seats
- • Safety features such as load/proximity sensors
You can also add in extra forklift attachments for more functionality, such as a fire extinguisher, bins, safety cages, buckets and more.
And if you really want to go the extra mile in customising your forklift, you can also choose a custom colour to match your brand!
Manage your investment: Maintenance and Servicing
As with any machine, it’s important to consider regular maintenance and servicing schedules – particularly if your forklift is a heavily used asset in your business. By sticking to a routine service schedule for your unit, you can extend the lifespan of your forklift, reduce downtime and avoid unexpected breakdowns. Your dealer may also provide an extensive warranty for your new or used forklift to help with your peace of mind.
At Fork Force, we back our forklifts with confidence with a 5 year warranty on parts and labour for most new Enforcer forklifts, and 1 year warranty on used forklifts. Plus, we provide parts and servicing to most major cities – so you can rest assured we’ll be available to support you when you need. We’ll even send you a courtesy reminder to service your forklift every 6 months to ensure you keep your forklift in good, working order and maintain the validity of your warranty!
After-Sales Support
Find yourself a true life partner
Even with the most reliable forklift, there are many instances where you might need additional support when it comes to upgrades, troubleshooting, or even expert advice. By choosing a reputable dealer with a proven track record, you’re not just getting a good forklift, but you’re getting top quality after-sales support team to keep your operations running smoothly. When buying your forklift, make sure you ask your dealer what their capacity is for things like parts, expedited repairs, or even a stand-in hire forklift to keep your business running. If they don’t offer all of these, then you may not have found “the one”.
Ready to Lift Your Operations?
Choosing the right forklift might seem overwhelming, but it’s not something you need to do alone. If a forklift forms a part of your necessary operations, you will want a machine that does the job you need, right when you need it – reliably and safely.
Hopefully these tips have been helpful in guiding you towards feeling more confident about choosing the right forklift for you. By asking these questions and keeping these considerations in mind, you can rest assured that your forklift will boost efficiency and get you the most value out of your investment.
The best way to get a reliable forklift is with a reliable supplier. At Fork Force, our friendly team of experts are here to guide you on your forklift journey and ensure you’re set up for success!
Whether you’re looking for a new or used forklift, we have a wide range available for order or purchase.
Alternatively, you can take advantage of our exclusive RentToOwn Program. We also offer short term hire (less than 3 months) and long term hire (more than 3 months) on our 4,000+ strong fleet of machines.
Our customer service and sales teams here at Fork Force Australia are available to discuss flexible options to suit your needs. We can support you across Australia, including Queensland (Brisbane and Toowoomba), New South Wales (Sydney and Newcastle),Victoria (Melbourne), South Australia (Adelaide), Western Australia (Perth) or even Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT. For more details on our stock or to discuss your requirements, give us a call at 1300 192 366 or request a quote today.
