Used Forklifts for Sale

Used Lift Trucks from Operators, Not Middlemen

A used forklift is one of the highest-ROI pieces of equipment a warehouse, plant, or yard can buy. A well-maintained Hyster, Clark, or Toyota lift truck with reasonable hours on the meter will outlast new budget brands and cost a fraction of new. The problem has always been finding one with honest hours, an honest condition report, and a seller who knows the equipment.

Requip Market is a B2B marketplace for production and material-handling equipment. The forklift category covers electric pallet jacks, three-wheel sit-down counterbalance trucks, four-wheel cushion and pneumatic lift trucks, narrow-aisle reach trucks, and rough-terrain forklifts. Every listing carries a standardized condition grade, real hour-meter readings, model and serial detail, and freight quotes routed through our logistics partners.

How to Buy a Used Forklift: An Operator's Guide

Buying a used lift truck is not the same as buying a used pickup. The data plate, the mast, the fuel type, and the hour meter each tell a different part of the story. Here is what an old-hat equipment guy looks at before he signs anything.

Load Capacity and the Data Plate

The data plate is the single most important sticker on the machine. It lists rated capacity at a stated load center (usually 24 inches), maximum fork height, attachment information, and the truck's serial. If the data plate is missing, illegible, or has been replaced without OSHA-compliant re-rating, walk away or budget for a re-rating before the truck goes into service. Rated capacity drops fast with taller masts and side-shifters, so the 5,000-pound number on the front of the truck may be 3,800 pounds at 188 inches with a side-shifter installed.

Mast Type: Duplex, Triplex, and Free-Lift

A duplex mast lifts in two stages, a triplex in three. Free-lift is the height the forks travel before the inner mast extends, which matters when you load trucks or work under low door headers. A triplex with full free-lift is the all-around choice for warehouse work. A duplex is fine in a yard with no overhead clearance limits. Check the mast channels for galling, the chains for stretch, and the rollers for flat spots.

Electric, LP, or Diesel

Electric is the right call for indoor food and beverage, pharma, and anywhere emissions matter. Battery age is the wildcard - a five-year-old battery in a daily-duty truck may have 30 percent of its rated runtime left, so budget for a replacement if the battery is anywhere near end of life. LP is the workhorse for mixed indoor and outdoor work and stays the most common configuration in general warehousing. Diesel makes sense outdoors, in lumber yards, and on rough surfaces where the extra torque matters and emissions are not a constraint.

Hour Meter and Inspection Points

Forklift hours are not pickup-truck miles. A single-shift LP truck might log 1,500 to 2,000 hours a year; 10,000 hours on a well-kept Toyota or Hyster is mid-life, not end-of-life. Beyond the hour meter, inspect the mast channel and roller wear, fork heel thickness (forks below 90 percent of original thickness should be replaced under OSHA), hydraulic cylinder rod condition and any leaks at the seals, tire condition (cushion tires worn into the lettering or pneumatics with visible cord are no-go), the overhead guard for cracks or weld repairs, and the seat-presence switch and horn. Pop the floorboards and look at the transmission and torque converter pan for fresh leaks. Ask for the most recent annual planned-maintenance record.

Used Forklifts by Brand

Hyster

Hyster has been building lift trucks since 1929 and is one of the two flagship brands under Hyster-Yale Materials Handling. The H-series counterbalance trucks (H50FT, H80FT, H110FT) are the workhorses of North American warehousing and yard work, with reputations for surviving abuse other brands cannot. Hyster's big-truck line goes up past 100,000 pounds for port and steel-mill work, but the bread and butter is the 3,000 to 12,000-pound counterbalance fleet. Parts availability is excellent through the Hyster dealer network and aftermarket. Browse used Hyster forklifts.

Clark

Clark built the first internal-combustion industrial truck in 1917 and still trades on that lineage. The C-series cushion-tire trucks and the GCX/GEX electric series are common in older manufacturing plants where they have run for decades on planned maintenance. Clark is favored by buyers who want a workhorse that mechanics know inside and out - the truck is built for serviceability and parts are widely available. If you find a clean Clark with a documented PM history, it is usually a strong value play. Browse used Clark forklifts.

Crown

Crown is the dominant name in narrow-aisle and warehouse-class electric equipment. The RC and RR series reach trucks, the WP/SP pallet jacks, and the TSP turret trucks define the high-density warehouse for a reason - the build quality is superb, the ergonomics are class-leading, and the trucks hold value better than any competitor in the electric segment. A used Crown reach truck with a healthy battery is one of the safer used purchases on the market. Browse used Crown forklifts.

Toyota

Toyota Material Handling has held the number-one global market share for two decades, and the 8-series and now 9-series counterbalance trucks are the reason. Toyota's System of Active Stability and the brand's reputation for low downtime make these trucks the default choice for buyers who can pay a small premium up front. The eight-, four-, and three-wheel electrics are equally well regarded. Toyotas tend to sell quickly on the used market and hold value better than any IC competitor. Browse used Toyota forklifts.

Yale

Yale is the sister brand to Hyster under the Hyster-Yale umbrella and shares most of its drivetrain, mast, and hydraulic components with the Hyster line. Yale tends to price slightly below Hyster on the used market for an equivalent build, which makes a used Yale GLP, GDP, or ERP series counterbalance a value buy when the Hyster equivalent runs hot. Parts are interchangeable across many model lines. Browse used Yale forklifts.

Caterpillar

Caterpillar lift trucks are built under license by Mitsubishi Logisnext and share platform with the Mitsubishi FG/FD series. The cushion and pneumatic counterbalance trucks have a reputation for ruggedness in rough yard and lumber-yard service, and the Cat dealer network is unmatched for parts and on-site service. Used Cat lift trucks frequently surface from construction-adjacent buyers and tend to come with documented maintenance histories. Browse used Caterpillar forklifts.

Why Buyers Choose Requip Market for Used Forklifts

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours is too many on a used forklift?

Forklift hours are not pickup-truck miles. A single-shift LP truck logs 1,500 to 2,000 hours a year, so a 10,000-hour Toyota or Hyster on documented planned maintenance is mid-life, not worn out. Trucks past 15,000 hours can still earn their keep in light-duty roles, but expect to budget for a powertrain refresh. Pay more attention to the maintenance record, mast wear, and hydraulic condition than to the meter itself.

What does a used forklift cost?

A clean late-model 5,000-pound LP counterbalance from a major brand runs roughly $12,000 to $22,000 depending on hours, mast height, and attachments. Older trucks in good working order with 10,000-plus hours can be found from $4,000 to $9,000. Electric reach trucks and order pickers price higher because batteries and electronics carry more value. Specialty units - rough-terrain, high-capacity, or trucks with custom attachments - vary widely.

Electric, propane, or diesel - which used forklift should I buy?

Electric is the right call for indoor food, beverage, pharma, and anywhere emissions or noise matter. Budget for battery condition - a tired battery can cost as much as the truck. LP is the all-around workhorse for mixed indoor and outdoor warehousing. Diesel makes sense outdoors, on rough surfaces, and in yard service where torque and run time matter more than emissions.

How do I inspect a used forklift before buying?

Read the data plate first - confirm capacity, load center, mast height, and serial. Check the mast channels and rollers for wear, the chains for stretch, the forks for thickness (under 90 percent of original thickness is OSHA-fail), the hydraulic cylinders for rod pitting and leaks, the tires (cushion or pneumatic), and the overhead guard for cracks or weld repairs. Verify the seat-presence switch, horn, brakes, and parking brake. Pop the floorboards and look for fresh fluid leaks at the transmission. Ask for the most recent annual PM record.

Can I sell my used forklift on Requip Market?

Yes. Sellers list for free on the Basic plan - one active listing, permanently, no credit card. The Pro plan unlocks unlimited listings and priority placement. List your truck with hours, fuel type, mast height, capacity, and photos and we route buyer inquiries directly to you. Freight quotes route through our logistics partners so you do not have to source carriers yourself.