Below is a list of Used Forklift manufacturers from Columbia, South Carolina. Buying used forklifts is a money saving alternative to purchasing new equipment. Pre-owned trucks often perform the same tasks as effectively as new trucks and provide years of service at a fraction of the price. Forklifts are an expensive investment, and many companies choose to buy pre-owned vehicles because the average life of a forklift is long—7 years or 12 to 14 thousand operating hours.