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Longer lasting Belts, New Split Spools -- no regrind:Layout 1 8/26/2009 4: 37 AM Page 1
online sellers have local representation.
And although most online sellers proba-
bly are honest, it’s all too easy to make a
truck look better online than it actually
is. “You can’t tell how well taken care of it
is,” Hansen says. “I’ve seen people put up a
stock photo online but the actual vehicle is
in completely different condition.”
In short, Sponza says, any time you
purchase used equipment from a party
with whom you do not have a long-term
business relationship, you’re taking a risk.
“If you can’t see it, touch it, or feel it, it’s a
concern. You have to make sure you have
the real article and that it is worth buying.”
DOS AND DON’TS
Ready to go out and shop for a used lift
truck? Here are some pointers from the
dealers on how to make sure you’re getting
not just a good truck but also the right
truck.
b If the price is unusually low, beware.
Compare pricing for the same model with
similar specs to get an idea of average
prices. “When you deal with reputable
wholesalers and dealers, you typically don’t
see huge swings in price,” Hansen says. “If
you do see a truck that’s very low, go with
common sense. Most likely, there are some
deficiencies they’re trying to cover up by
offering a lower price.”
b Check the truck’s age and hour meter.
Write down the serial number and ask the
manufacturer or a dealer to tell you when
it was made. It’s possible to reset meters on
some older models, so make sure the hours
on the meter are realistic for a truck of its
age and condition. That’s another reason
to buy from an OEM dealer, Rawson says:
“We can show you the hour-meter reading
for that specific truck from day one.”
b Inspect every used truck in person.
Look under the hood for wear, cleanli-
ness, brake condition, cylinder scoring,
and other indicators of usage. Look for
leaks, and make sure major components
are there. If possible, start it and drive it
around. “Don’t focus on the aesthetics;
concentrate on the mechanics,” Hansen
recommends. If you buy online, consider
hiring a local lift truck dealer to do an eval-
uation before you take delivery.
b Find out what kind of environment the
truck came from. “A lot of environments
are very abusive,” Sponza says.
A truck from a consumer goods
warehouse with a regular vehicle
replacement policy will probably
be clean and in good condition, he
says, but a truck that spent years in
a foundry or sawmill could need a
lot of work.
b When buying from a dealer, ask
for the vehicle’s maintenance and
repair history, and what work was
done to prepare it for resale. You
might also ask for a “before and
after” evaluation. “We actually pre-
fer that customers see a truck before
it’s reconditioned so we can show
them the quality of the recondition-
ing, and they can see it’s not just a
paint job,” Rawson says.
b Make sure the truck meets your
actual needs. For safety’s sake, deal-
ers need to know the type of load,
weight, lift height, application, and
so forth for used trucks, just as they
do for new ones. But buyers who
are interested only in price some-
times fail to provide accurate infor-
mation, Hansen says. As a result,
they may purchase a truck that fits
their budget but is not safe or suit-
able for the intended application.
If you buy at auction or in other
nondealer venues, you’re on your
own to determine whether the truck
meets the relevant safety standards.
b If the seller insists that you pay
up front before delivery, be cau-
tious. “A reputable seller should
be happy with taking 50 percent
and giving the buyer a few days or
a week to test out the truck before
paying the balance,” Hansen says.
b Insist on a guarantee of some
sort. “Ask for 30, 60, or 90 days.
At least if something catastrophic
happens, you’re covered,” Sponza
suggests. “Ask the seller, ‘What can
you do to protect me?’ You should
have the right to refuse it or send it
back.”
