Our business model is a little different than most forklift companies. We offer a wide variety of brands and options, but we aren't a middle-man and don't charge broker fees. We have five different classes of Conditions you can purchase our forklifts in. We even do virtual test drives if you can't come out and see your lift in person.
You might not know any of these things if you haven't done business with us though! That's why we've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions. A comprehensive list of everything from how we run our company, to how to calculate your derate.
If your questions are mechanical in nature, be sure to check out our Forklift Troubleshooting Guide.
Two words: Efficiency & Productivity
Take a moment to consider how many employees you have. How many products can they move in an hour? What are some risks they face as part of moving those products?
Forklifts are incredible inventions designed to move and lift large objects quickly and efficiently with less risk of injury to your employees.
If you could invest in a solution for your business that would free up your current employees to do more in other areas of your company while increasing productivity in your day-to-day operations, would you?
This is an excellent question, and one of the reasons why you'll hear us asking what materials will be lifted, what surface it will be driving on, how much space it will have to maneuver in, etc.
We have over 800+ lifts in stock with an Equipment Matchmaker team dedicated to helping you find exactly which lift fits your needs, so answering this question is our job!
We acquire our inventory from three different sources – Rental Fleets, Leasing Companies, and Trade-Ins. Forklifts in Rental Fleets must be consistently maintained to keep up with industry standards and customer expectations.
To learn more about what Rental condition means, check out our Forklift Condition Guide.
Leasing Companies have similar standards to that of Rental Fleets and require their machines be inspected and serviced every 100hrs of run time, which makes them an excellent source of inventory once their lease term expires.
Our final source of inventory comes from Trade-Ins. Typically companies that opt to Trade-In their forklift have owned it for most of its operating life and can provide us detailed repair history. This makes them another reliable source of inventory.
The short answer is whatever we see is necessary to keep the forklift operating.
Generally speaking - our process requires ordering new parts, making necessary mechanical repairs, repainting, test driving, and inspecting the final product multiple times to ensure it meets your standards.
We have 5 different forklift conditions you can purchase from us in – from new all the way down to forklifts that need a little TLC to run – that will have varying degrees of work done to them. We do this so you can choose which option will best fit your needs while saving money on things you don't value as highly - like a fresh paint job.
We would like to start off by directing you to our Don't Get Forked Over video if you haven't seen it – its our most detailed answer to this question.
If you need a quick explanation however, Discount Forklift cuts out the middleman and gives you prices strictly based on the value of the lift and the work we've put into getting it ready for your business.
Perhaps you've heard the phrase "There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey."
This quote comes from author J.A. Richards who wrote that in his book Profitable Advertising: The Advertiser's Trade Journal in 1901 – written over 120 years ago and is still applicable today.
If you consider the weight of what you're about to buy financially vs what it would mean for your business, you'll understand how we offer a good deal. We want to make sure your business stays running, and we're confident we can give you the best bang for your buck.
The further away a load is from the mast of the forklift, the less your forklift will be able to carry. This is due to a concept called de-rate – which is a term used to describe a decrease in a forklift's lifting capacity.
You can do a rough calculation of a forklift's de-rate by using OSHA's Field Calculation of Safe Load Capacity.
(24 in ÷ ___ in) × __000 lb = _____ lb
The first number - 24in - is considered the ideal rated load center for almost all forklifts. You want the bulk of the weight you are lifting to be centered on the forks and within 24in of your forklift's carriage.
You will divide this 24in ideal load center by your actual load center. Take a look at what you are trying to lift and where your load's center of gravity is. Measure from your load's center of gravity to its outer edge, where it would come in contact with the forklift's carriage.
Lastly, multiply this outcome by the rated load capacity of your forklift. This will tell you your forklift's capacity for any given load based on where the weight is distributed along the forks.
In woodworking they say to measure twice and cut once. With forklifts, make sure to check twice and lift once. The last thing you want is to overestimate your forklift's capacity and tip your machine over.
The safety of yourself, your workers, products, and the forklift operator depend on safe lifting execution.
It depends on whether you are purchasing a new, reconditioned, or a used/pre-owned forklift battery.
In today's market, new forklift batteries can cost anywhere between $5,000-$12,000. Good pre-owned, used, and reconditioned batteries typically go for $4,000-$7,000.
For reference – "new" forklift batteries are batteries that have never been put to regular use in a forklift before. "Used" and "Pre-owned" forklift batteries have been utilized in a forklift for regular operation in any length of capacity. "Reconditioned" forklift batteries have been selectively repaired and tested, restoring a healthy battery life.
As of 2021, Discount Forklift is the only forklift dealer to own the technology to recondition batteries in Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada. We employ Flight System's Battery X-Tender, utilizing its computer-controlled desulfation process to return years of life to a forklift battery.
Combine this technology with specific gravity testing to ensure proper electrolyte balances, load testing, and selective cell replacement and you get a fully functional reconditioned and "Rental" forklift battery for nearly half the cost of a new one, passing savings on to you.
Not at all – in fact, there are a lot of benefits to purchasing an electric forklift.
For starters, electric forklifts only have hydraulic fluid to worry about, unlike other internal combustion forklifts which have four: engine oil, transmission fluid, radiator coolant, and hydraulic oil.
Electric forklifts also have zero emissions, require less maintenance, and on average, cost 50% less to operate than other major fuel types.
Typically used forklifts do not come with warranties. However, we work with a company called Specialty Equipment Insurance Services (AmTrust) who provide an affordable range of Extended Warranty/Protection Plans of different lengths with a qualifying forklift.
Speak to one of our Equipment Matchmakers to see if your purchase qualifies!
Forklifts do not have titles because they were not meant to be licensed. Forklifts are considered property and are legally transferred with a bill of sale (invoice) that includes the serial number and the date.
If the forklift has no warranty attached, it will be legally transferred "As-Is" meaning there is no guarantee as to the lift's functionality. If there is a warranty however, the terms of the warranty should be printed on the invoice.
Digital hour meters on new forklifts tend to be the most accurate when compared to traditional analog hour meters. Digital meters have the capability of recording 5-digit numbers which means you don't run into the roll over issue you do with analog meters.
Often when purchasing a forklift with an analog hour meter it can be hard to tell what shape the lift is actually in, which is why if you purchase a used forklift from us with an analog meter, we will report to you on exactly what the meter reads and if we believe that number to be rolled over or not.
As a rule of thumb though, if you are ever unsure if an analog hour meter is accurate, check the pedal pads, hydraulics levers and any wear on the mast – usually those can be good secondary indicators of wear and tear.
Industry standard says the average lifespan of a forklift is between 10,000-20,000+ hours respectively, but this is a misconception, it isn't abnormal to see a well-maintained forklift with 30,000 or even 40,000 hours running strong.
Up until the 1950s forklifts were manufactured without a 5th digit slot on the Hour Meter, so after forklifts would reach 9,999 hours, they would roll over. This meant no one had actually laid eyes on a forklift with over 10,000 hours until manufacturers started adding the 5th digit slot in the late 1990's.
Maintenance is key for preserving the longevity of your forklift. If you have a Planned Maintenance schedule and regularly tune up your forklift we wouldn't be surprised if your lift lasted 30, 40, or even 88,000 hours.
No, most forklifts do not have odometers - forklifts travel very short distances inside warehouses or yards, which makes keeping track of mileage generally unneeded.
The wear and tear of a forklift is more accurately measured by how many hours of run-time the machine has. This includes time spent idling in the operator seat, which is why enclosed cab forklift with heating or air conditioning typically have twice as many hours.
