Buying Advice Homeowner Forklift

[WI-citizen]

I'm looking to buy a cheap forklift for mostly homeowner use to unload trucks. It would only be used once a week and lift up to 3k pounds. Would I be better off with a used one or buy a new Chinese cheap one? I'd like to spend around $3,000. Any advice is much appreciated!

 

[bcp]

What surface will it be used on, and how far will the loads be moved?

Bruce

 

[WI-citizen]

What surface will it be used on, and how far will the loads be moved?

Bruce

Concrete and some gravel surfaces that are on the flat. Up to 200 feet.

 

[stoyan79]

Most cheap forklifts are for flat paved dry surface only. Most have old school Japanese engines that last forever as they never see high revs and run very clean on propane.

 

[WI-citizen]

Most cheap forklifts are for flat paved dry surface only. Most have old school Japanese engines that last forever as they never see high revs and run very clean on propane.

I've heard that too! Problem is I don't know anything about forklifts. I first started looking at skidsteers, New Holland LX885 but anything that runs decent is at least $12k and it only picks up 2200 pounds. I'm in no hurry it'll at least be another year before I buy but would like any advice to start looking. Thanks!

 

[stoyan79]

FB marketplace is full of cheap forklifts. They are amazing to have and usually last long time and not bad to work on. Make sure you get 3 stage mast if you want to lift high, plus those are easier to sell later if you decide it's not for you. Get common brand/model because for $3k it will be old and you will need parts down the road.

 

[oldnslo]

If on gravel it had best be well packed since fork lifts have minimal ground clearance and all the weight is on the steering axle when there is nothing on the forks.

 

[WI-citizen]

The AGT KFE-20 picks up 2000kg or 4400 pounds if I'm reading it right. Any thoughts on this model?

 

[grsthegreat]

Most standard forklifts wont drive very well on gravel…period. Contractors use 4x4 forklifts or all terrain forklifts to operate on dirt and gravel. On a standard forklift, As soon as you leave concrete or asphalt….your probably going to get stuck and spin wheels, unless gravel is very well compacted and flat.

 

[paulsharvey]

There are about 4 types. You have the typical warehouse style forklifts, which are often propane, but increasingly electric; the stand up ones that range from 4k capacity, to almost an electric pallet jack with a platform to stand on; Lull/telehandler/shooting boom, from 4k to 12k capacity; and off road forklift, a reversed industrial tractor basically.

Nissian propane forklift are wildly available used, for cheap; but i would do some searching online for an out of service, auction, electric stand up, from Home Depot/Lowes, or similar sources. It doesn't sound like you need a lot of hours at a time.

It might be cheaper to do a raised loading dock/ramp, and a pallet jack?

 

[WI-citizen]

There are about 4 types. You have the typical warehouse style forklifts, which are often propane, but increasingly electric; the stand up ones that range from 4k capacity, to almost an electric pallet jack with a platform to stand on; Lull/telehandler/shooting boom, from 4k to 12k capacity; and off road forklift, a reversed industrial tractor basically.

Nissian propane forklift are wildly available used, for cheap; but i would do some searching online for an out of service, auction, electric stand up, from Home Depot/Lowes, or similar sources. It doesn't sound like you need a lot of hours at a time.

It might be cheaper to do a raised loading dock/ramp, and a pallet jack?

Loading dock isn't an option. I've noticed on FB the name brands Clark, Hyster, Cat, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Yale as most common. Any preference?

 

[4570Man]

Loading dock isn't an option. I've noticed on FB the name brands Clark, Hyster, Cat, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Yale as most common. Any preference?

At 3k you’re probably going to have to take what you can get. Pneumatic tires are a must have. The solid tire ones are exclusive to concrete or asphalt use. Zero off-roading with those. The pneumatic tire ones aren’t exactly off road capable but solid gravel is usually ok and crossing grass without a load is usually possible. The old lifts had a straight shift transmission which sucks the use. The newer lifts with the shuttle shift transmission is much better. Also some of the old lifts had double stack mast that are way too tall for residential garage doors. A newer unit with a triple stack mast will be much shorter.

 

[RjCorazza]

I am certainly not an expert, but I rented a 5k lbs capacity forklift recently to move my 40' shipping container (one end on wheels) on gravel / grass. When it showed up, just looking at the forklift wheels and ground clearance I knew it was not going to work. I sent it back, and got an off road forklift with large tractor sized tires up front, and slightly smaller tires in the rear. As mentioned in a previous post, it was basically a backwards industrial tractor. I believe it was called a "construction king".
In hindsight, I would consider running an unloaded standard forklift across a firm non-paved surface, but not loaded.

 

[mikester]

I picked up a used certified CAT 5K# lift with cushion wheels triple mast (16 foot height) and side shift about 20 years ago for pretty cheap from a dealer. They just run forever and parts are available everywhere.

IMHO Not worth trying to save a few bucks on a mystery chinesium product with non-standard or interchangeable parts. I'd recommend something like a used Toyota/CAT/Hyster LPG.

If you have employees get a certified unit.

 

[scootr]

Loading dock isn't an option. I've noticed on FB the name brands Clark, Hyster, Cat, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Yale as most common. Any preference?

I have a home based business operating on a small ranch. My first forklift was a propane powered Toyota dually with 3k capacity. Older machine found on CL $1500 delivered. I was immediately sold on the functionality of having a forklift around for deliveries and construction projects involving pallets of materials. But it was a clutched machine without sideshift. Fast-forward 1 yr I sold it and bought a newer 5k CAT with sideshift and automatic trans for $10k. This probably the most used piece of equipment on the ranch. 90% of it's use is on sloped gravel. I swapped dual use solid tires out for pneumatic tires, this propane powered machine is the bomb.
I found it at a forklift dealer who included free delivery. That was about 5 yrs ago. The machine has about 5k hrs on it. I use it weekly and I won't wear it out or replace it in my lifetime. Today I will be loading and unloading the 100 gal fuel tank for a red diesel run.

 

[WI-citizen]

I have a home based business operating on a small ranch. My first forklift was a propane powered Toyota dually with 3k capacity. Older machine found on CL $1500 delivered. I was immediately sold on the functionality of having a forklift around for deliveries and construction projects involving pallets of materials. But it was a clutched machine without sideshift. Fast-forward 1 yr I sold it and bought a newer 5k CAT with sideshift and automatic trans for $10k. This probably the most used piece of equipment on the ranch. 90% of it's use is on sloped gravel. I swapped dual use solid tires out for pneumatic tires, this propane powered machine is the bomb.
I found it at a forklift dealer who included free delivery. That was about 5 yrs ago. The machine has about 5k hrs on it. I use it weekly and I won't wear it out or replace it in my lifetime. Today I will be loading and unloading the 100 gal fuel tank for a red diesel run.

You spoke it right out my mind! This is exactly what I'm looking for and I'm sure once I have it I'll find more uses for it than just pickup/delivery use. So spend a little more for a 5k with auto tran and sideshift as minimum? Right now all I have is a john deere sub compact 1025R with a loader or AGT DM12-C chinese mini excavator. Only thing larger I've ever owned was a john deere 240 skidsteer but it only picked up 1500 pounds.

 

[scootr]

You spoke it right out my mind! This is exactly what I'm looking for and I'm sure once I have it I'll find more uses for it than just pickup/delivery use. So spend a little more for a 5k with auto tran and sideshift as minimum? Right now all I have is a john deere sub compact 1025R with a loader or AGT DM12-C chinese mini excavator. Only thing larger I've ever owned was a john deere 240 skidsteer but it only picked up 1500 pounds.

Yes, the cheap old Toyota I had was a good machine in it's day. But it proved less worthy when loading product on shelves with the clutch and no side shift. Side shift is a God send. I use the CAT to haul dumpsters up and down the drive for weekly service. As a lift for small equipment. Even picking up an end or corner of vehicle to change tires. As an portable work bench for small equipment I don't want to squat or bend over to work on. As a manlift for high work and to hang the mowers up to sharpen blades. The list goes on. I have a Tractor, Skid Steer, and Forklift. The CAT sees plenty of duty saving my bad back. Pneumatic tires are a necessity in gravel and slopes are approached in reverse. Pay once and cry once. There is a larger selection in 5k than 3k, plus it will be safely over rated for anything you might do. GL with your search.

 

[4570Man]

You spoke it right out my mind! This is exactly what I'm looking for and I'm sure once I have it I'll find more uses for it than just pickup/delivery use. So spend a little more for a 5k with auto tran and sideshift as minimum? Right now all I have is a john deere sub compact 1025R with a loader or AGT DM12-C chinese mini excavator. Only thing larger I've ever owned was a john deere 240 skidsteer but it only picked up 1500 pounds.

I’d overlooked the side shift more than the automatic transmission. If you’re trying to stack pallets tight together side shift is nice but not a big deal if you’re just lifting pallets off a truck.

 

[Engineer42]

I have a home based business operating on a small ranch. My first forklift was a propane powered Toyota dually with 3k capacity. Older machine found on CL $1500 delivered. I was immediately sold on the functionality of having a forklift around for deliveries and construction projects involving pallets of materials. But it was a clutched machine without sideshift. Fast-forward 1 yr I sold it and bought a newer 5k CAT with sideshift and automatic trans for $10k. This probably the most used piece of equipment on the ranch. 90% of it's use is on sloped gravel. I swapped dual use solid tires out for pneumatic tires, this propane powered machine is the bomb.
I found it at a forklift dealer who included free delivery. That was about 5 yrs ago. The machine has about 5k hrs on it. I use it weekly and I won't wear it out or replace it in my lifetime. Today I will be loading and unloading the 100 gal fuel tank for a red diesel run.

this propane powered machine is the bomb.
Lol, maybe not describe it that way in your sales literature.

 

[scootr]

this propane powered machine is the bomb.
Lol, maybe not describe it that way in your sales literature.

Added benefit about the propane fuel is the gas company fills my empties when they deliver. I have 3 tanks so there is always a full one waiting in the ready.