Answers to Your Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
At Local Forklifts, our business model stands out from traditional forklift dealers. We offer a wide selection of brands and configurations, but unlike brokers, we handle everything directly — with no middleman and no added broker fees.
You can choose from five different forklift condition classes, depending on your needs and budget. And if you can’t visit in person, we even offer virtual test drives to give you confidence in your purchase.
If you’re new to working with us, you might not be familiar with how we operate. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our most frequently asked questions — covering everything from how our company works to calculating derate values.
How will a forklift improve my business's day-to-day operations?
Efficiency and 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?
How do I know a forklift will accomplish what I need it to?
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 1,000 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!
Where do these forklifts come from?
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.
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.
What kind of work do you perform on your forklifts?
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.
How do I know I'm getting a good deal?
If you need a quick explanation however, Local Forklifts 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.
How can I calculate my lifting capacity needs?
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.
How much do forklift batteries cost?
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 2016, Local Forklifts 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.
Are electric forklifts a bad purchase?
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.
Do used forklifts have warranties?
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!
Do forklifts have titles?
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.
Are forklift Hour Meters accurate?
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.
How long will a forklift last?
There has been a significant shift in the perception of a forklift’s lifespan. In the past, a common misconception was that a forklift’s lifespan was about 10,000 hours. This belief was rooted in the fact that approximately 70 years ago, forklifts did not have a 5th digit in the hour meter. As a result, every time the meter hit 9,999 hours, it would start back over at 0000 hours. This misconception led people to falsely assume that, at 10,000 hours, the forklift had reached the end of its life. However, in the late 1990s, most forklift manufacturers added the 5th digit, and now we see forklifts daily with 30,000-60,000+ hours. We have even seen 88,000 hours, operating a triple shift 24 hours a day, and still running strong!
So, beware of the old forklifts and the seller who claims “1970s Creampuff with only 3,000 hours!” Chances are that the meter has rolled over many times or even been replaced!
It’s often good to see higher hours on a forklift. These hours are a testament to the operators who drive these forklifts. They pick their favorite lift to load and unload trucks, and the best-running forklifts get used the most, for good reason. When we receive batches of sister trucks, we usually find that higher-hour units run like a top!
Maintenance is the cornerstone of a forklift’s longevity, so we source our used forklifts from reputable companies like Lowes, Walmart, Home Depot, FedEx, Sam’s Club, etc. These Fortune 500 companies understand the importance of regular maintenance, ensuring that the forklifts we acquire are in top condition and ready to serve your needs.
Do forklifts have odometers like cars?
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.
