As of 2020, the United States tool and equipment rental market is worth $3.7 billion. The market has, over the years, experienced impressive growth as a growing number of Americans become aware of the many benefits of renting versus buying when it comes to short-term jobs.
One of the common equipment that people around the country rent is a forklift. That’s because of the many applications this equipment has. But how do you go about renting a forklift that’s ideal for your needs?
The truth is that choosing the perfect rental equipment can be a challenging task, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. It’s the reason we prepared this friendly guide to let you know of the considerations you need to keep in mind when renting a forklift for your company.
Read on to learn more.
Things To Consider When Renting A Forklift
Much like the process of buying a forklift, choosing a rental one involves making decisions on a variety of factors. Below, we outline seven key things to weigh before settling on a rental forklift.
The Type Of Forklift You Need For Your Job
As you’re going to find out soon, forklifts are available in a wide variety. That’s why you need to do your research early enough to ensure that the forklift you end up with is ideally suited to the job you want to do.
So what are the most prevalent types of forklifts available in the market today? We list six of them below:
• Electric Rider Forklifts – these are perfect if operators need to get on and off the truck numerous times during the job.
• Narrow Aisle Forklifts- where the job you have is inside a building such as a warehouse, then a narrow aisle forklift will work perfectly.
• Motorized Hand Forklifts – you operate these from a stand-up position or walking position. Typically, a motorized hand forklift lifts pallets a few inches off the ground.
• Sit-down rider forklifts- generally, these forklifts have internal combustion engines (ICE). Where the equipment will be used indoors, opt for a forklift with ICE cushion tires. If the job is outdoors, you can choose lifts with ICE pneumatic tires.
• Vertical Masted Rough Terrain Forklifts – when you’re renting a forklift for outside applications where the surfaces are muddy, uneven, or rough, then this is the equipment to choose.
• Piggyback lifts- these lifts typically lock on the back of delivery trucks, making it possible for you to transport them to the working site. They come in many configurations, so you can always find one that works for you.
Your Weight Capacity Requirements
The different types of forklifts above come with different weight capacities. As you narrow down on the options available, consider what amount of weight you’ll be looking to lift using the equipment you rent.
A larger, four-wheel electric lift, for instance, may easily lift over 10, 000 lbs. A narrow aisle forklift, on the other hand, will only be capable of lifting much lesser weights to allow better maneuverability inside a warehouse.
Your Lift Height Requirements
Depending on the type and size of the forklift you’re renting, you’ll be able to reach different heights. Therefore, don’t go for any lift and assume that it’ll be able to reach the height you need it to.
The typical four-wheel forklift can reach around 20 ft., while reach trucks can lift loads to 30ft. Before starting to hunt for a rental lift, measure the job heights, so you make the right decision.
Where You Intend To Operate The Forklift
Most lift trucks can work exclusively indoors where the terrain is smooth or work outdoors in rugged terrain. Regardless of where you’re going to be driving your forklift, make sure that it has the right tires for the terrain. The right tires for outdoor applications, as we pointed out earlier, are treaded pneumatic options.
How You Intend To Power The Rental Forklift
Today’s forklifts run either on internal combustion engines or electric batteries. Each of these options has its advantages and shortcomings.
Lifts that run on ICEs tend to be quick and simple to refuel. Usually, these trucks use diesel, gasoline, or propane. The biggest cons with these lifts are that they can be too loud and require you to store fuel onsite.
Forklifts that run on electric batteries cost considerably less to run per hour. However, they need special charging equipment.
Your Budget
Perhaps the biggest reason people opt to rent lifts is the forklift rental costs are much lower than what you’d spend to purchase the equipment. Depending on the amount of time you plan to use the equipment and the specific type of lift you need can push the cost of renting higher.
Typically, the rental company will take care of the maintenance costs of the lift, but that cost is ultimately factored into the rental price. Once you rent the forklift, you'll need to take care of the operating costs, such as charging or fueling the equipment.
Don’t forget to inquire whether you can pay with your business credit card. In many cases, a business credit card offers rewards that can help you recover some of the money you spent on renting the lift, so it’s a win-win move.
How Long You Need The Truck
Some people opt for long-term equipment rentals, while others prefer short-term rentals. Both options depend on a variety of reasons. Take the time to know how long your project will run and make a decision on what works best for you.
Don't forget that the inventory of heavy equipment is naturally limited. During the peak seasons like Spring, getting a rental forklift can be quite difficult. That's why you need to make sure that you rent the forklift at the right time.
Get The Best Deal On Your Rental Truck
Renting a hydraulic forklift can have many benefits, but you need to make sure you get the right one for your needs. Consider where you intend to use your truck, your height, and weight requirements, your budget, and for how long you'll be using the lift. Once you do so, you should be able to maximize the forklift rental benefits you stand to gain.
Would you like to read more great articles like this one about forklift rentals and warehouse management? Please keep visiting our blog for more posts on warehouses and company vehicles.
