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Sun Equipment provides only the highest value used pneumatic tire forklifts for your business needs. Our machines are purchased in excellent condition and restored to function at optimal levels. When you buy a quality used forklift from us, you are getting a sturdy and efficient machine on which you can rely on to get the toughest jobs done. Avoid the stress of buying questionable equipment! We do our best to assure you that every one of our used pneumatic tire forklifts will work appropriately for your business. Our selection is diversified to accompany your specifications, and reasonably-priced enough to provide you with a great machine for low cost. Trust the Sun Equipment name with your used forklift needs. You won’t regret it!

How to choose the right forklift for your business.

Forklifts come in many sizes, shapes, colors and functions. Choosing the right forklift for your business can be challenging and time consuming. It is imperative that you make a good sound and informed decision to ensure that you purchase the right forklift for the job within your desired budget.

The first step in buying a used forklift is simple: make sure you are buying from a reputable used forklift dealer with many years of experience and a proven track record of great customer service and customer satisfaction. Sun Equipment is that right choice for your next purchase when searching for a used forklift for sale. Sun Equipment has over 20 years of experience servicing the used forklift industry and is owned and operated by one the most respected men in the industry, Mr. Michael Hoskins… Mike as his friends and loyal customers call him.

A simple phone call to Sun Equipment will initiate a discovery phone conversation where they will share their hands on knowledge of the business and guide you to the right used forklift for your needs. Their professional staff will diagnose your needs and desires while always keeping in mind your budget. Mike’s staff will then search Sun Equipment’s worldwide inventory of used forklifts for sale and locate the perfect used forklift for your business.

Sun Equipment has access to all the top trusted brands: Hyster, Clark, Yale, Komatsu, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Cat, Toyota, Taylor, Hoist, TCM, Unicarriers, Linde, Crown, Raymond, Daewoo, Kalmar and Sellick to just mention a few. If Sun Equipment does not have the used forklift in stock that you are looking for they will find it for you.

There are 4 questions must ask yourself before buying any used forklift.

Where am I going to be operating the new used forklift?

Am I using the forklift indoors only?

Am I going to use the used forklift for sale outdoors only?

Or are we going to operate the forklift for narrow aisle racking?

Once you determine where you are going to use the used forklift and the type of lift truck you need, the next consideration is the capacity required. WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THAT YOU WILL BE MOVING? Knowing an accurate weight of the material being handled is crucial to the safe operation of your lift truck. Overloading causes premature wear and fatigue to the lift truck. The correct capacity will narrow your used forklift for sale search down to a couple of models.

Now that you know the lift truck type and model that will best suit your application, the Sun Equipment professionals will figure out all the details for you. Such as, fork length and maximum lift height, to ensure the proper fit for your operation. Other items to consider are hours of usage. This may determine whether you want a new or used lift truck. There are so many things to consider when adding or replacing your used forklift equipment. We hope this helps as a starting point.

Here is a brief description of the most popular models of used forklifts for sale:

If you have any questions ask the professionals at Sun Equipment.

Call 844-4BUYLIFT today (1-844-428-9543).

Pneumatic Forklifts: Use: Primarily used outdoors, can be used indoors if space allows. Better ground clearance than cushion tire forklift, softer ride, but larger chassis. Larger in size when compared to Cushion Tire forklifts of equal capacity. Sometimes called “Yard Truck”. It utilizes larger tires which can either be air filled (pneumatic) or pneumatic shaped solid rubber tires. Like the Cushion tire truck it can be powered by LPG, Gasoline, Diesel Fuel, or can be dual fuel. Although this type of truck is intended for outdoor use, it does not do well in soft materials such as sand or loose gravel. This is due to the fact that a used forklift really has no suspension and it is not possible to maintain tire to ground contact in uneven environments. These are Class 5 forklifts.

Capacity: 2000 – 120,000 lbs

Fuel: LP Gas, Gasoline or Diesel

Optional units: Rough Terrain or Telehandler

Cushion Forklifts: Use: Most commonly used forklift in the U.S. Primarily used indoors in warehouse type operations, good for use on smooth surfaces only. Not well suited for outdoor use. Smaller in size when compared to pneumatic tire forklift of equal capacity. These trucks are typically used indoors in applications such as manufacturing, warehousing, bottling and trucking. They ride on solid rubber tires called cushion tires. They can be powered by either Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), gasoline, Diesel, or be dual fuel. Dual fuel means that the forklift is equipped with both LPG and Gas fuel systems and can be run on either one but not at the same time. The engine powers all the functions of the truck, drive and hydraulics. This is a Class 4 forklift.

Capacity: 2000 – 90,000 lbs

Fuel: Primarily LP Gas – Gasoline, Diesel & sometimes Compressed Natural gas

Optional units: Pneumatic Tire 4 Wheel Sit Down, Electric 4 Wheel Sit Down or Electric 3 Wheel Sit Down

Reach Trucks: Use: Used indoors on smooth surfaces. Primarily operates in very narrow aisles storing & retrieving pallets. Used for picking from racks. Reach mechanism extends to reach into rack. Can extend 1 or 2 deep into rack. (single or double reach) Outriggers are required to counter load weight. Good in areas where fumes may be harmful such as food operations and areas with little or no ventilation. Electric forklifts for sale are primarily used indoors on flat, even surfaces. Electric forklift batteries last 6 consecutive hours or throughout an 8-hour shift with 2-3 breaks. Batteries prevent the emission of harmful fumes and are recommended for facilities in which employees are in close proximity to forklifts in operation, food-processing and healthcare sectors. Charger required as with all electric powered units. Charger required as with all electric powered units.

Capacity: 1500 – 5500 lbs

Fuel: Electric

Optional units: Electric Narrow Aisle Double Reach Truck, Articulated 4 Wheel Sitdown, Electric Man Down Swing Reach Turret, Electric Man Up Swing Reach Turret or Man Down 4 Wheel SwingMast

Electric Forklifts: Use: Primarily used indoors on smooth surfaces. Ground clearance same as cushion tire forklift. Less horsepower than gas powered units. Not well suited for outdoor use. Good in areas where fumes may be harmful such as food operations and areas with little or no ventilation. It is powered by a large industrial battery. All the functions (drive and hydraulics) are controlled electrically. It looks much like its IC powered counterpart. The drive system and hydraulic systems are driven by electric motors. They can come in 3 or 4 wheel configurations. While most electric sit down riders use cushion type tires, some are ordered with a solid pneumatic tire and wheel combination. The four-wheel versions are Class 4 forklifts. Electric forklifts for sale are primarily used indoors on flat, even surfaces. Electric forklift batteries last 6 consecutive hours or throughout an 8-hour shift with 2-3 breaks. Batteries prevent the emission of harmful fumes and are recommended for facilities in which employees are in close proximity to forklifts in operation, food-processing and healthcare sectors. Charger required as with all electric powered units.

Capacity: 2000 lbs +

Fuel: Electric

Optional units: Electric 3 Wheel Sit Down, Cushion Tire 4 Wheel Sit Down, Electric Sitdown “EE” Rated 4 Wheel or Electric Sitdown “EX” Rated 4 Wheel.

Narrow Aisle Forklifts: Use: Primarily used indoors on smooth surfaces where space is a premium. Ultra-compact design. Ground clearance same as cushion tire forklift or Electric 4 wheel units. Less horsepower than gas powered units. Not well suited for outdoor use. Good in areas where fumes may be harmful such as food operations and areas with little or no ventilation. Electric used forklifts for sale are primarily used indoors on flat, even surfaces. Electric forklift batteries last 6 consecutive hours or throughout an 8-hour shift with 2-3 breaks. Batteries prevent the emission of harmful fumes and are recommended for facilities in which employees are in close proximity to forklifts in operation, food-processing and healthcare sectors. Charger required as with all electric powered units. Charger required as with all electric powered units.

Capacity: 1500 – 5500 lbs

Fuel: Electric

Optional units: Cushion Tire 4 Wheel Sit Down or Electric 4 Wheel Sit Down

Rough Terrain Forklifts: Use: Primarily used outdoors where terrain may be rough. Better ground clearance than Pneumatic Tire forklift. Can be used in mud, gravel or areas with severe ruts. A rough terrain used forklift is designed for carrying material over terrain that a normal pneumatic tired forklift will not. The most notable feature of the rough terrain forklift is the oversized, aggressive treaded tires. This enables the machine to traverse bumpy, soft or muddy terrain without getting stuck. Many models of rough terrain forklifts are also 4-wheel drive. A rough terrain forklift is a Class 7 forklift. Units available in 2wd & 4wd.

Capacity: 4000 – 20,000 lbs

Fuel: Diesel, Gasoline or LP Gas

Optional units: Telehandler, Pneumatic Tire 4 Wheel Sit Down or Truck Mounted Forklift

Order Pickers: Use: Order picker trucks place the operator on an elevating platform along with the forks. The operator hand picks items or cases from racks onto a pallet or shelf-type structure. This is an efficient way of picking less than pallet load shipments, and is popular for use in large distribution centers. Units with larger platforms are used to pick furniture from high racks. Indoor use only. Electric forklifts are primarily used indoors on flat, even surfaces. Electric used forklift batteries last 6 consecutive hours or throughout an 8-hour shift with 2-3 breaks. Batteries prevent the emission of harmful fumes and are recommended for facilities in which employees are in close proximity to forklifts in operation, food-processing and healthcare sectors. Charger required as with all electric powered units. Charger required as with all electric powered units.

Capacity: 1500 – 3500 lbs

Fuel: Electric

Optional units: Scissor Lift or Electric Man Up Swing Reach Turret

Telehandlers: Use: A telehandler, is a machine widely used in agriculture and industry. It is similar in appearance and function to a forklift but is more a crane than forklift, with the increased versatility of a single telescopic boom that can extend forwards and upwards from the vehicle. On the end of the boom the operator can fit one of several attachments, such as a bucket, pallet forks, muck grab, or lift table. The most common attachment for a telehandler is pallet forks and the most common application is to move loads to and from places unreachable for a conventional used forklift. For example, a telehandlers have the ability to remove palletized cargo from within a trailer and to place loads on rooftops and other high places. The latter application would otherwise require a crane, which is not always practical or time-efficient. The advantage of the telehandler is also its biggest limitation: as the boom extends or raises while bearing a load, it acts as a lever and causes the vehicle to become increasingly unstable, despite counterweights in the rear. This means that the lifting capacity quickly decreases as the working radius (distance between the front of the wheels and the center of the load) increases. A vehicle with a 5,000lb capacity with the boom retracted may be able to safely lift as little as 400lb with it fully extended at a low boom angle. The same machine with a 5,000lb lift capacity with the boom retracted may be able to support as much as 10,000lb with the boom raised to 50’ The operator is equipped with a load chart which helps him determine whether a given task is possible, taking into account weight, boom angle and height. Failing this, most telehandlers utilize a computer which uses sensors to monitor the vehicle, and will warn the operator and/or cut off further control input if the limits of the vehicle are exceeded. Some machines are also equipped with front outriggers and can be called mobile cranes, which extend the lifting capability of the equipment while stationary.

Capacity: 3000 – 15,000 lbs

Fuel: Primarily Diesel or Gasoline

Optional units: Pneumatic Tire 4 Wheel Sit Down, Rough Terrain or Truck Mounted Forklift

Scissor Lifts: Use: A scissor lift, also known as an aerial device or elevating work platform (EWP), is a mechanical device used to provide temporary access for people or equipment to inaccessible areas, usually at height. A scissor lift used forklift for sale is generally used for temporary, flexible access purposes such as maintenance and construction work or by firefighters for emergency access, which distinguishes them from permanent access equipment such as elevators. They are designed to lift limited weights usually less than a ton, although some have a higher safe working load distinguishing them from most types of cranes. They are usually capable of being set up and operated by a single person. Regardless of the task they are used for, aerial work platforms may provide additional features beyond transport and access, including being equipped with electrical outlets or compressed air connectors for power tools. They may also be equipped with special equipment, such as carrying frames for window glass.

Lifting Heights: up to 90’

Fuel: AC power, bi-energy, DC power, diesel, dual fuel, gasoline, propane, tri energy and manual power.

Forklifts have come a long way since 1906, when an official of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Altoona, Pa., added storage battery power to a baggage wagon, producing what was probably the first powered platform truck. As you learn more about the used forklifts for sale market you can easily see how important it is to buy from a reputable and trusted dealer such as Sun Equipment. There are many used forklifts for sale that have cross over features and at first glance look by all means to be the right choice for your job… only to find out later it wasn’t. Mike and his knowledgeable and professional staff always suggest that you speak with them before buying a machine. The first reason is obvious Sun Equipment does not want you to purchase the wrong used forklift for sale or spend more than you need on a used forklift with features that you will never use. Mike’s philosophy is “Diagnosis before Prescription”. This simple policy has saved many of his customers tens of thousands of dollars on forklift purchases and built him the finest reputation and customer loyalty in the industry.

Mike cannot stress how important it is to do your research before buying a used forklift. Purchasing the right used lift for your business, instead of the cheapest, can save your company money in the long run. You should also consider maintenance needs while making your decision. The initial price of a used forklift for sale pales when you consider the cost of the operator, fuel, and maintenance to keep your lift truck moving. Sun Equipment encourages all of our customers to examine more than the sale price. A comfortable operator will increase productivity. A more fuel efficient lift truck may save more than the monthly payment of the used forklift for sale. All of these items need to be examined before the purchase or lease of new equipment.

Sun Equipment can help you with financing your new piece of equipment. We work with only the finest leasing and financing companies in the industry which specialize in the purchasing of used forklifts for sale.

Call or email the professionals at Sun Equipment today if you have any questions, concerns or to place an order.

Call 844-4BUYLIFT today (1-844-428-9543).