A forklift is a hefty investment, no matter what the case. When you buy a Toyota forklift, you get a powerful basic and powertrain warranty to help bring you peace of mind. Let's take a look at Toyota Forklift's basic and powertrain warranty options.

A Breakdown of Toyota Basic Warranty Offerings

No-Cost Basic Forklift Factory Warranty: ITA Class 1, 4, 5 & 6 Forklifts

With this warranty, you’ll get one year or 2,000 hours, whichever occurs first, on all Factory Installed Options, with the exception of tires and batteries on battery powered forklifts

No Cost Powertrain Warranty: ITA Class 1, 4 & 5 Forklifts

This warranty covers three years or 6,000 hours, whichever occurs first, of coverage on engines or electric drive motors, transmission, differential, and drive axle.

No Cost Basic and Powertrain Warranty for ITA Class 2 Trucks 

• Basic coverage: one year or 2,000 hours.
• Powertrain coverage: two years or 4,000 hours, whichever occurs first.

No Cost Basic and Powertrain Warranty for ITA Class 3 Trucks

• Basic coverage: four months or 750 hours.
• Powertrain coverage: one year or 2,000 hours, whichever occurs first.
• Class 3 exception: Floor Runner and Tugger models have a Basic coverage of one year or 2,000 hours and a Powertrain coverage of two years or 4,000 hours, whichever occurs first.

Toyota Basic Warranty and Planned Maintenance: A Winning Combination

A warranty plan will give you the peace of mind you need to run your operation. However, if you want to take your warranty assurance one step further, consider Toyota Forklifts’ Planned Maintenance offering to

1. Help you reduce the cost of repair and equipment downtime by catching problems early.
2. Help you keep your operators safe with regular inspections, with one flat-rate labor fee.
3. Keep variable maintenance costs down, as they’ll only be incurred with the actual replacement of parts. Travel time is often negotiated within the PM contract.

Common Toyota Basic Warranty Mistakes

When it comes to purchasing an expensive piece of forklift equipment, making a mistake is the last thing you want to do. Here are some common forklift warranty mistakes and some tips on how to avoid them:

Not considering a forklift warranty at all. Warranties can have a bad rap, but not considering one at all may end up costing you in the long run. Ask yourself if you can you afford the cost of an expensive repair. If not, consider a warranty. It might just save you a headache and a lot of money.

Not requesting a forklift service inspection. Dillon Toyota Lift can conduct a brief service inspection and help you decide if a problem can be submitted under warranty back to Toyota, or if there is a simple fix that can be done onsite.

Not exploring all of your forklift warranty options. Most equipment comes with a basic warranty, but an extended warranty can offer you additional peace of mind. Most extended warranties can be purchased with or without a planned maintenance (PM) plan, so make sure to ask about all of the options available to you.

Think of an extended warranty as insurance. It’s there if or when you need it.

Not buying an extended forklift warranty within the timeframe. Extended warranties must often be requested within 30 to 60 days after the forklift’s date of first use. Don’t lose the chance to purchase a warranty by waiting too long.

Toyota Forklift Factory Warranties

We understand that a forklift is a big purchase. That’s why Toyota forklifts are protected by industry-leading warranty plans are designed to protect your investment for years to come.

Larger Loads Handled

If you spend a lot of time in a warehouse you have probably watched an Order Picker gather materials from tall racks and place them on a pallet. Order Pickers are used to reach high racks in narrow aisles efficiently and quickly. Order Pickers excel in picking small to medium-sized products and placing them on a pallet, but are typically not designed to handle larger loads that require more extended platforms. That is where Toyota’s Furniture Order Picker comes in.

Furniture Order Advantages And Versatility

Toyota’s Furniture Order Picker operates and looks like an order picker except for the size and baselegs. The baselegs are much longer than on an Order Picker, which provides various benefits, including the ability to safely handle longer loads at higher heights. They provide a helpful aid for operators who travel forks first down a rail-guided aisle. Also, this lift allows operators to easily place large or bulky items such as carpet or various types of furnishings on carts or platforms. With available fork lengths from 42 to 96 inches and lift heights up to 30.5 feet, Toyota’s Furniture Order Picker is designed to fit a wide variety of applications.

While the name may imply it can only be used for furniture, Toyota’s Furniture Order Picker can handle various types of loads that are too long or bulky for a typical Order Picker.  Its auto-locking pallet clamp assists in securing your load for safe travel throughout your warehouse. Equipped with rail and wire guidance options, it can be programmed to work effectively in any aisle.

Not only can a Furniture Order Picker assist in your warehouse, but it can be used in distribution or even retail.  Whether you have bulky furniture, large components you need to pick and move around a warehouse, Toyota’s Furniture Order Picker is up for the job. 

Let's meet Columbia's Chariot! The Chariot is Columbia's smallest transport, designed to transform time wasted by foot into time well-spent on your crucial tasks. 

The Chariot is packed with the features you need on the job, starting with its best-in-class sturdy frame of 14-gauge smooth steel. It's also equipped with an efficient 12-volt DC motor, extremely short turning radius, and narrow width of 29 inches, allowing you to glide through a standard doorway! 

Operators will love the stand-up operation of the chariot, which provides a low center of gravity and higher visibility through busy facilities or tight tunnels. 

Popular options include: Reverse switch, Pole mounted strobe light, Hour meter, In-motion beeper, various tire/wheel combinations, and High capacity batteries.

Forklift inspection is a task that helps to ensure material handling equipment is up to par with operation standards at all times. But how often should operators inspect their forklift? Here’s a handy guide on the frequency of forklift inspection:

OSHA Forklift Inspection Requirements
OSHA’s Powered Industrial Truck Standard 1910.178(q)(7)
This standard is the one that controls all OSHA compliance on forklifts. To meet the standard, operators must inspect trucks:

1. Daily (at the beginning of each day’s use)       

2. At the beginning of each shift in a continuous use facility

This standard compels operators to ensure their equipment is in good working condition. Failure to operate at this frequency can result in fines from OSHA. Any operator who finds a problem with a forklift must tag it out.

Why This Forklift Inspection Frequency?
The frequency of inspection helps to ensure the safe and efficient operation of your forklifts. By comparison, some of us are guilty of bad practices when driving our cars. We see something that will be a problem, and say to ourselves “that will need fixing… eventually.” But there’s going to be a moment in time when that problem will manifest itself in a very real and dangerous way. And then we’re in trouble.

 Because forklifts are inspected daily or at the beginning of each shift, operators are able to catch potential problems early. And instead of having a major problem at the exact moment when a part or component breaks, we can perform maintenance that might prevent dangerous situations from ever happening.

The frequency of forklift inspection helps to combat that procrastination when operating a forklift. Because forklifts are inspected daily or at the beginning of each shift, operators are able to catch potential problems early. And instead of having a major problem at the exact moment when a part or component breaks, we can perform maintenance that might prevent dangerous situations from ever happening. Also, by requiring the operators to check their forklift at the beginning of a shift, businesses aren’t relying on someone who is exhausted at the end of a shift to perform checklist duties.

Operating forklifts in cold storage facilities presents several challenges that can limit the success of operators and companies. Efficiencies in forklift use become even more challenging when a forklift is placed in alternate temperature environments in the same operation, whether for storage or operation. To make sure you have the best facility design and forklifts for your workplace and application, you should talk to a consultant familiar with your industry generally and your operation specifically to help fill gaps, enhance safety, and increase efficiencies.

One of the most important tasks that face cold room forklift users is the need to reduce condensation on a forklift while in warm temperatures, helping to prevent freezing when re-entering frigid spaces. Freezing can cause inefficient operation and downtime for the forklifts, resulting in lost throughput for the cold operations. A few best practices can help to prevent these inefficiencies, providing maximum use of the forklift fleet while maintaining your return on investment for your capital equipment.

Storing Your Cold Room Forklift

The storage of your forklift is key to maintaining efficiencies. Sustained storage in freezing temperature can lead to breaking parts and battery inefficiencies. The best practice for storing a cold room forklift when not in operation is to do so outside of the cold area. But this presents its own condensation challenges. One solution is to store your forklifts in a dry area that is just above freezing temperature in order to ensure that condensation forms slowly or not at all.

However, this isn’t always possible. When that’s the case, you need provide enough time for the forklift to rest outside of the cold facility and in warm temperatures for the condensation to form and evaporate. Operating too early before evaporation can lead to freezing. The process can be accelerated by the use of fans in the storage space.

Using a Cold Room Forklift In Changing Temperature Applications

In many applications, the cold storage environments are intermixed with warmer spaces. For example, movement from a cold room to a cold truck may require the passing through a warm docking area. 3PL applications may be storing a variety of goods, some cold and some ambient. These challenges present a situation where some condensation is inevitable. But there are certain steps that can help.

If it is within your operational budget to maintain multiple forklifts with specialized areas of operation, that can help prevent potential wear from changing temperatures. It will increase necessary touches to pass product between pieces of equipment at the door of a cold storage area, but depending on your particular circumstances, this could provide value in increasing the operational efficiency of the forklifts. You’ll need to perform a site analysis to decide if this is a useful approach.

If maintaining multiple forklifts is out the questions, you can still take steps to help prevent problems from condensation. For example, facility design becomes key. Optimizing the routes that cold room forklifts must take between the cold environment and the truck to be loaded can help ensure that they stay in cold spaces as much as possible. Additionally, order of operations becomes key. Limiting the amount of times a cold room forklift needs to change environments can reduce the chances for condensation to form.

Choosing the Right Cold Room Forklift

Electric forklifts are those used in cold applications and selecting the right one can have a major impact on efficiencies and ROI. Forklifts with fewer moving parts and wires reduce component parts’ heat production and the chance of condensation entering into the nooks and crannies of the forklift. For example, Toyota electric forklifts are engineered with as few moving parts and AC motors and controllers to reduce internal component heat generation. These small engineering feats can have a lasting impact on operational efficiency.

While condensation isn’t the only challenge facing cold room forklift operators (we haven’t even touched on safety issues in a potential slippage environment), it is one of the most pressing when it comes to the mechanical operation of forklifts in cold environments. For more ideas about cold storage, check out our whitepaper on cold storage in the food supply chain.

When you purchase your forklift, you will also have the option to purchase a maintenance plan. Dillon Toyota Lift offers different plans - most common are Planned Maintenance (PM) and Full Maintenance (FM).

With a planned maintenance plan, your forklift will be serviced at every planned maintenance interval. Replacement parts and additional fixes are not included. However, the full maintenance plan will cover any maintenance need, barring specific exclusions, at a flat monthly rate.

But, why should you purchase a maintenance plan upfront, when you can pay as you go?

Purchasing a maintenance plan is a great way to save yourself money down the road. The first cost reduction with a maintenance plan will be in downtime. Downtime is the single most expensive cost associated with a forklift. Maintenance plans facilitate early catches and easier access to technicians, increasing your uptime. Second, a maintenance plan will ensure your forklift is getting the care it needs, making the lifespan better and longer. Third, you will have the option to pay by the month, regardless of the maintenance plan you choose, making your maintenance easier to budget for. 

When it comes to maintenance, which is imperative to the longevity of your forklift, a maintenance plan is the way to go.

Asking the right questions at the beginning, middle, and end of your forklift buying or ownership experience is key to maximizing safety, uptime, and ROI. At Toyota, we understand how difficult it can be to get answers or to find someone who has them. Dillon Toyota Lift is with you during every step of your ownership, whether you're looking to become one or are a seasoned veteran. To get you started, here's a list of forklift faq's and their answers.

How should I know which forklift I need?

You’re right in asking this question because having the right forklift for your application and work environment is imperative for safety and productivity. And, the line of Toyota Forklifts is extensive. If you don’t know which forklift you need, don’t worry. Every Toyota Forklift dealer has salespeople on staff who are qualified to do a site survey at your location. The site survey will identify the forklift, or forklifts, that will be best for you and your business based on your unique needs. To get started, try our Find-A-Forklift tool.

What attachments can I add to my forklift?

It is important that you purchase your forklift attachment from the forklift manufacturer and that the manufacturer installs the attachment too. However, it’s important to know that adding attachments to your forklift can, and likely will, change the capacity rating. Anytime attachments are added to a forklift, the data plate should be updated to reflect the change in capacity rating.

How often does my forklift need maintenance?

Your best bet is to sign up for a planned maintenance agreement when you purchase your Toyota Forklift. A planned maintenance agreement ensures that your forklift will be maintained at the proper times by a qualified Toyota Technician.

Does it really matter which replacement parts I put on my forklift?

The truth is, yes. Your Toyota Forklift came complete with all Toyota Genuine Parts. If you start putting will-fit parts on your Toyota Forklift, you’re really compromising its durability and long-term value.

Where can I get certified to operate a forklift?

Contact your local Toyota Forklift dealer. Many Toyota Forklift dealers offer training of their own, but if the dealer nearest you does not, they will be able to point you in the right direction of effective forklift operator training.

If I get trained to operate a forklift once, am I certified forever?

No. According to OSHA, when you get certified to operate a forklift, you’re only certified until:

• You’ve been observed operating the forklift in an unsafe manner.
• You’ve been involved in an accident or near-miss accident.
• You have received an evaluation that revels you were not operating the forklift safely.
• You are assigned to drive a different forklift than you were originally trained on.
• A workplace condition changes that could affect safe operation of the forklift.

When should I replace my forklift?

We talk a lot about useful versus economic life and that’s because knowing the difference is important to you and your bottom line. Your forklift could be useful for a lot longer than it is economical, but it’s best to replace when it starts costing you money.

How can I buy a forklift?

When it comes to new forklifts, you have three options. You can rent, lease, or buy. Of course, you can also purchase a used forklift, but you need to be sure the person or place you’re purchasing from is reputable because forklift malfunctions can be very dangerous.

The proper maintenance and handling of forklift batteries is imperative to their longevity. There's a right way and a wrong way to maintain and handle forklift batteries and doing it properly will ensure your investment is maximized.

Proper Handling

Forklift batteries can be heavy and dangerous if not handled properly, so it's important to be educated on the correct way to handle them. Use these tips for some ideas about handling batteries properly:

• Use special equipment, like a walkie pallet jack equipped with a transfer carriage, to maneuver the battery. Because of the weight of some forklift batteries, no single person should attempt to move a forklift battery alone. Steel toe shoes should also be worn while moving the batteries.
• An eye and hand washing station should be nearby. Should any hazardous liquid come in contact with hands or eyes, a hand and eye washing station should be conveniently located nearby to remove it as quickly as possible.
• Chemical-resistant protective gear should be worn while maneuvering batteries. Having a conveniently located eye and hand washing station is necessary, but chemical-resistant gear should also be worn to keep the need for the station at bay. This includes safety glasses and gloves.
• Remove all metallic jewelry when handling and charging.

Proper Charging

Properly charging a battery is all about doing it at the right time, for the right amount of time. Use these tips when charging your forklift battery:

• Designate an area specifically for battery charging. This is an OSHA-recommended best practice.
• Remember that lead acid batteries should be charged at 80 percent depth of discharge. Charging prior to 80 percent can result in reduced battery life depending on the type of battery.  Discharging the battery past 80 percent depth of discharge can also be detrimental.
• If your battery overflows, take time to rinse it. Rinsing your battery after an overflow will help prevent corrosion.
• Ensure compatibility between the battery and the charger. The charger that is being used should match the voltage/amperage of the battery. Color coding the connectors and clearly labeling the chargers can help to prevent accidentally connecting a battery to the wrong charger. Proper training is also imperative.
• Avoid overcharging the battery. Some batteries have battery management systems that can prevent overcharging. If yours doesn’t, take precautions not to overcharge it, which can reduce the battery’s life.
• Charge and operate the batteries at the proper temperature. Charging a battery in extreme cold or heat can cause reduced service life. Since battery types and specifications may vary, contact the battery manufacturer for their recommended charging temperature range.
• Add water when needed after the charging cycle. Adding water to a wet-cell battery prior to charging the battery is a common mistake. Pure or distilled water should be used and the watering should occur after a full charge cycle to bring the electrolytes to the proper level.
• Ensure the charger is turned off before connecting or disconnecting the battery.