4 Things to Do Immediately After Buying a Used Forklift
You bought a used forklift for your workplace. Good choice!
...what next?
Before you rush the forklift out onto the floor, let’s recommend some items to check off.
That moment, when you have the forklift on site but it’s not yet part of the daily workflow, is ideal for doing some preventative tasks. Things that will spare a lot of future headaches:
- Breakdowns
- Missed maintenance
- Parts problems
- Even workplace accidents
It’s worth a couple hours to stop all of those, right?
The 4 Best Post-Purchase Actions for New-to-You Forklifts
We asked several Cromer technicians what they’d do in the position of a customer who’s just bought one of our used forklifts. These action steps are the results.
(NOTE: Our used forklifts always receive a full inspection, tune-up, and any necessary repairs. We didn’t include those below. Never take a used forklift that hasn’t received this treatment!)
Action 1 – Document everything about it.
Record the purchase details, including the new-to-you forklift’s make, model, serial number, current hours of use, any known quirks, its service history, and any warranties it has.
Important for recordkeeping, of course, but this also gives you a ‘snapshot’ of the forklift’s status. If something breaks prematurely, you can go back to the seller for correction. Recording the current hours also makes it easy to do Action 2 below.
Action 2 – Put it on the maintenance schedule.
Plan and schedule the forklift’s routine maintenance, such as tire rotations, brake pad replacements, and hydraulic fluid changes. Add it into the normal maintenance circulation.
This way you’re sure to prevent premature wear and keep it performing well, just like the other forklifts in rotation.
Action 3 – Train your operators.
Provide training to authorized operators on the safe and proper use of the forklift, including loading and unloading procedures, speed control, and emergency shutdowns.
Start small here; just train 1-2 people on the forklift at first. Then expand it, so the entire team can reliably use the forklift at any time.
Action 4 – Stress Test.
Put the forklift through its paces. Have one of your most experienced operators take the forklift through one full shift out on the floor. They should try to use it as frequently as possible & with heavy (safe) loads.
Ask the operator to note anything they encounter while doing so – any shaking, jerking, slowness, sticky controls, etc.
Invest a Little Time Now So Your New-to-You Forklift Goes the Distance for Years
That’s it! Just a little proactive effort, and you set your latest forklift up for long-term use. Enjoy a longer lifespan and fewer downtimes. The Cromer Team is happy to help you run any of our used forklifts through its paces. Ask your rep for their advice. Until next month! -The Cromer Team Cromer Material Handling
Deal of the Month
2021 CAT LPG FORKLIFT – $26,900
For the November Deal of the Month, we have one of CAT’s most popular models – the 2C6000. This is a cushion-tire LPG truck with lots of lifting power.
The 2C6000 is a four-wheel sit-down meant for indoor warehouse use. It has 6,000# capacity, with this truck having only 5,400 hours on it.
Cromer Las Vegas has this 2021 Cat, on sale at only $26,900. Pick it up before it’s gone.
To get this Deal, call Cromer at 800-464-3225 and ask for the November Deal of the Month!