Buying Advice Homeowner Forklift

[bigtiller]

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 operated all of those over my lifetime and the Hyster was by far my favorite.

I operated forklifts 40 hrs. a week or more for 20 some years, and I never had much use for side-shift. I did like having the hydraulic fork-spreader.

 

[WI-citizen]

Problem I'm noticing is that most pneumatic tired models all have over seven foot mast. It won't fit into my garage...

 

[flyerdan]

Definitely need the pneumatic tires for gravel and working on the lawn. Here's my Hyster H50 that I got from work for $500, they were going to ship it off to the auction.
I made a set of 8' fork extensions for more versatility, along with a man basket.
Only drawback is documentation is hard to find and parts are relatively expensive, I had to spend $175 for a water pump rebuild kit earlier this year, only option I could find.
Had it for over sixteen years now, no regrets.

 

[bigtiller]

Definitely need the pneumatic tires for gravel and working on the lawn. Here's my Hyster H50 that I got from work for $500, they were going to ship it off to the auction.
I made a set of 8' fork extensions for more versatility, along with a man basket.
Only drawback is documentation is hard to find and parts are relatively expensive, I had to spend $175 for a water pump rebuild kit earlier this year, only option I could find.
Had it for over sixteen years now, no regrets.
View attachment 2091142

That's a nice unit, and does well even on packed gravel. I'd like to have one, especially at your price of $500

 

[scootr]

Problem I'm noticing is that most pneumatic tired models all have over seven foot mast. It won't fit into my garage...

There are models with 3 stage lifts vs 2 stage that are much shorter. My 3 stage 5k lift will fit in a shipping container. This looks like mine but I have bigger pneumatic tires.

 

[WI-citizen]

There are models with 3 stage lifts vs 2 stage that are much shorter. My 3 stage 5k lift will fit in a shipping container. This looks like mine but I have bigger pneumatic tires.

I'm trying to find specs on a 5K Cat forklift but only thing that comes up is a crawler model.

 

[scootr]

I'm trying to find specs on a 5K Cat forklift but only thing that comes up is a crawler model.

I googled '5K Cat forklift'
Here > 5K Cat forklift - Google Search
If you are using a phone try a PC

 

[WI-citizen]

I googled '5K Cat forklift'
Here > 5K Cat forklift - Google Search
If you are using a phone try a PC

I thought there was a 5K model, you must be saying weight class.

 

[scootr]

I thought there was a 5K model, you must be saying weight class.

Right, 5000 pound lift capacity. It may be more than you need but a pallet of cement or block is more than 3k pounds. Anyway it's worked good for me. It's a name I can always get parts for ( we did brakes and axle seals last year). It fits in the container or barn. There are as others have mentioned lots of options out there.

 

[etpm]

My forklift is is at least 50 years old. I got it for 300 bucks. Propane. I needed a forklift to replace the one I had that failed catastrophically because it was ancient. Anyway, it is a solid tire machine and has a three section mast with an eighteen foot lift. It weighs 8,000 pounds and is only about 6 feet long not counting the forks. It needs the weight so that it won't tip forward when there is a 3,000 pound load 18 feet in the air. My shop driveway is compacted gravel and it has been stuck several times. I knew this would be a problem when I bought the machine but for 300 bucks I figured I could deal with it. If I was spending any more than a grand I would have bought a pneumatic tired machine. If I am careful I won't get the machine stuck but when other folks use it they tend to turn too sharp and the solid tires dig in and it gets stuck. It works great on concrete though.
Eric

 

[LouNY]

I have forks for my loaders and can handle over a ton, I also have a 3 point mounted forklift but, one of these is interesting;

 

[WI-citizen]

I talked to a dealer and they service any brand. They said they would pickup/deliver the forklift, clean it up and prep it for $300. Meaning they would pressure wash and blow out everything and then give me a laundry list of stuff that should be fixed and what can be put off for later. Does this sound like a fair price for service and diagnosis of an older forklift? This doesn't include any maintenance done for that price (just a list and price quote).

 

[4570Man]

I talked to a dealer and they service any brand. They said they would pickup/deliver the forklift, clean it up and prep it for $300. Meaning they would pressure wash and blow out everything and then give me a laundry list of stuff that should be fixed and what can be put off for later. Does this sound like a fair price for service and diagnosis of an older forklift? This doesn't include any maintenance done for that price (just a list and price quote).

That sounds pretty fair to me. A towing company would likely charge that just to haul it.

 

[sandman2234]

I have operated all of those over my lifetime and the Hyster was by far my favorite.

I operated forklifts 40 hrs. a week or more for 20 some years, and I never had much use for side-shift. I did like having the hydraulic fork-spreader.

Have a lot of hours on a forklift, but not quite as many as you, although my weeks were usually 50-60 hours long. I also never had much use for the side shifter, because once you "learn" how to do it without side shift, using a side shifter is just another lever that you don't need. If you never learned to do without side shift, it makes it impossible to work without one.
Another "old school versus new era" ways of doing things.
David from jax

 

[stoyan79]

I talked to a dealer and they service any brand. They said they would pickup/deliver the forklift, clean it up and prep it for $300. Meaning they would pressure wash and blow out everything and then give me a laundry list of stuff that should be fixed and what can be put off for later. Does this sound like a fair price for service and diagnosis of an older forklift? This doesn't include any maintenance done for that price (just a list and price quote).

That's not bad.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, if i understand a couple points; A, don't want to spend too much, and B, this is part of a legit business?

So, what does your tax guy say? Have you considered some of the Cat (others do it too) creative lease to purchase? I think CAT had some programs where you lease for 3 or 5 years, and then have something like a $1000 option to buy. You get the tax benefit of lease payments, and basically buy it at scrap value at end if lease. Plus, you do have the exit option if things get bad.

How critical/costly/critical path is missing a shipment to your business? I'm not 100% if you are unloading raw materials, or loading finished materials/products, or both; but if missing the fork lift for a few days/week is Critical, I wouldn't feel good with a near scrap value, heavily used, 30+ y/o machine.

 

[WI-citizen]

Just for personal homeowner use.

 

[paulsharvey]

Just for personal homeowner use.

Ok, maybe I mixed you up with another thread.

 

[WI-citizen]

Most lift for the buck is a forklift. Otherwise its a higher priced skidsteer if you want something to fit in a seven foot garage door.

 

[RayIN]

Something like this rough terrain Massey Ferguson?

https://www.equipmenttrader.com/listing/1968-MASSEY-FERGUSON-MF-2500-5028026011#sid=943437

About 40 years ago I had a rough terrain forklift with a Dodge slant-6 engine. It was a good machine for outdoor work.