5 Things to Check Before Buying a Refurbished Forklift

A well-refurbished forklift can be one of the best-value pieces of equipment you'll ever buy, but "refurbished" means very different things depending on who's selling it. Here's what our techs actually check before we put our name behind a used unit, and what you should ask about before you buy from anyone.

1. Frame and structural condition

Before anything else, get under the machine and look at the frame itself: the counterweight mounts, the mast mounting points, and any welds. Hairline cracks, patch welds, or rust-through in structural areas are the kind of damage that a cosmetic refurbish (fresh paint, clean seat, new decals) can hide completely. A forklift's frame is what everything else bolts to, so a problem here isn't a repair item, it's a reason to walk away.

2. Hydraulic system condition

Have the seller run the mast through a full cycle (lift, lower, tilt forward, tilt back) and watch for hesitation, uneven movement, or drift (the forks slowly sinking on their own after being raised). Check the cylinders and hoses for leaks or seepage. Hydraulic repairs aren't usually deal-breakers, but they should be reflected in the price, not discovered after you've paid.

3. Mast and chains

Climb up and look at the lift chains for rust, kinks, or uneven wear between the two sides. Uneven chain wear usually means the mast has been misaligned for a while. Check the mast rollers and rails for excessive play. A mast rebuild is a real expense, so this is worth a close look, not a glance from the ground.

4. Tire condition and type

Tire wear tells you a lot about how and where the forklift was actually used. Cushion tires worn unevenly on one side can point to alignment issues or hard turning on rough surfaces they weren't designed for. Make sure the tire type (cushion, pneumatic, or solid pneumatic) actually matches where you'll be running the machine. The wrong tire type for your floor or terrain will wear out fast and can be a safety issue outdoors.

5. Service records and warranty

Ask directly: who serviced this machine, and do you have records? A refurbished forklift from a dealer that does its own service work (not just a cosmetic cleanup before resale) should come with some kind of warranty, even a short one. No warranty at all on a "refurbished" unit is a sign the refurbishment may have been surface-level.

Skip the guesswork

Our technicians inspect and service forklifts in Hialeah every week, and every refurbished unit that comes through us gets checked against this exact list before it goes up for sale. If you're shopping around and want a second opinion on a machine you're considering, from us or anyone else, bring us the service history and we'll tell you what to look for in person.

Browse our refurbished inventory or contact us to schedule a pre-purchase inspection.