A showroom full of shiny new lift rucks is alluring. It’s hard to resist he display models’ sleek designs,
high-tech features, and glossy paint jobs. For
some buyers, though, a brand-new truck is
more than they need; the latest model may be
too expensive or “overqualified” for the particular job at hand. In those circumstances, a used
lift truck might be a better choice.
When should you consider buying a used
truck rather than a new one? And how do you
make sure you’re getting what you need at the
right price? We asked three lift truck dealers
who do a big business in used vehicles for
some guidelines and advice. Here’s what they
had to say.
WHY BUY USED?
The most obvious reason to purchase a used
piece of equipment, naturally, is price. A used
lift truck generally is priced at around 50
percent less than a comparable brand-new
unit, but it varies considerably with the truck
and the seller, says Steve Sponza, president
of Servicemax, a Bolingbrook, Ill., dealer that
represents Mitsubishi and Jungheinrich. “If
you buy used, you’re conserving quite a bit of
capital,” he says. “If a new unit costs $30,000
and you spend $15,000, that leaves $15,000 you
can use some other way.”
If a truck will be used only intermittently—
say, a couple hours a day or just a few times a
week—then it probably doesn’t make econom-
ic sense to buy new. Small companies operating
a single shift and growing startups that can’t
yet justify the cost of new trucks often buy
used equipment, says Allen C. Rawson, pres-
ident and CEO of Atlas Companies, a Toyota
dealer based in Schiller Park, Ill. In addition to
selling new and used lift trucks to end users,
Atlas has a separate division that wholesales
used equipment throughout North and South
Previously owned lift trucks can be a great choice for some buyers. Three dealers offer
advice on when to go that route and how to avoid getting stuck with a lemon.
BY TOBY GOOLEY
The dos and
don'ts of
buying used
lift trucks
