As your warehouse business grows, so do its operational needs. What may have worked for your once small startup or home-based enterprise may no longer be enough to support a scaling operation. And with increased demand, more inventory, and a larger workforce, your business will be faced with much more complexity—especially when it comes to logistics and warehousing.
Forklifts and other warehousing equipment play a vital role in meeting these demands. However, buying this equipment outright—especially when you’re unsure which model fits your operations best—can be a costly gamble. That’s where renting becomes a smart alternative. A rental arrangement for a device like a forklift will give a business owner the flexibility to try different equipment types in real-world settings before committing to a major investment.
Let’s explore how arrangements like a forklift rental can help you test different warehousing solutions, manage costs, and ultimately make better buying decisions as your business continues to grow.
1) Forklifts
Forklifts are a warehousing essential. Whether you’re unloading trucks, stacking inventory, or moving goods to staging areas, a forklift will keep things moving efficiently. There are many types you can choose to rent first, from general-purpose warehouse forklifts to specialized machines like telehandlers and side loaders. Rentals will give you the opportunity to test each type in your actual working environment, helping you determine what fits best with your space, staff, and workflows before you make a long-term purchase.
2) Warehouse Forklifts
Warehouse forklifts are your standard indoor forklifts. These machines are designed for flat surfaces and are typically electric-powered to reduce noise and eliminate emissions, making them ideal for use in closed facilities. They’re quite efficient for moving palletized goods over short distances and stacking them onto shelving units or loading docks.
Renting a warehouse forklift first allows you to test its maneuverability within your existing warehouse layout, assess its lift capacity against your heaviest loads, and evaluate how well it integrates with your current workflow. Your rental arrangement should also allow you to test battery runtime and charging cycles during a rental period, which are critical especially in multi-shift operations.
3) Pallet Trucks
Pallet trucks, or pallet jacks, are among the most basic, yet essential tools in any warehouse. These simple devices are designed for quickly transporting palletised items across short distances, particularly in areas where a full-sized forklift might be excessive. Depending on your warehousing needs, you can choose from manual, semi-electric, and fully electric models, each offering varying levels of speed and operator comfort.
Rent a pallet truck for the opportunity to determine which version best suits your team’s handling requirements before deciding to purchase one. For instance, while a manual pallet jack may suffice for low-volume stock movement, an electric version could significantly reduce fatigue and increase efficiency in a busier environment. Renting will also allow you to assess turning capabilities in tight aisles, surface compatibility, and the durability of the truck under your daily workload.
4) Counterbalance Forklifts
Counterbalance forklifts are versatile machines used in a wide range of industries. They feature a rear counterweight that offsets the load lifted by the front forks, allowing for a straightforward lifting process without the need for stabilising legs or arms. Counterbalance forklifts are available in electric, LPG, or diesel-powered versions, and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications, depending on the power source.
If you get the chance to rent a counterbalance forklift, you can compare different fuel types in terms of cost, performance, and environmental impact. You’ll also be able to evaluate how well the machine handles various load sizes, fits within narrow spaces, and adapts to your facility’s surface conditions. Taken together, these insights are invaluable when determining which model will offer the best long-term value and performance for your operations.
5) Order Pickers
A familiar sight in e-commerce fulfillment centers and retail distribution hubs, order pickers are designed specifically for warehouses that require frequent retrieval of individual items from racking systems rather than full pallets. These machines lift the operator along with the picking platform, allowing them to access shelves at varying heights quickly and safely.
Renting an order picker before purchasing allows you to test its vertical reach, platform size, and controls to see if they match your racking setup and picking procedures. Furthermore, renting gives your staff a chance to become familiar with the safety mechanisms of an order picker along with workflow integration. For operations that rely on high pick rates and efficient product retrieval, trialing an order picker before buying may reveal significant improvements in speed and order accuracy.
6) Side Loaders
If your warehouse regularly handles long, bulky items such as pipes, timber, or steel beams, you might want to rent a specialized forklift like a side loader. Unlike traditional forklifts, side loaders load and unload from the side, allowing them to operate more efficiently in narrow aisles. These machines are ideal for warehouses that store wide or irregularly shaped materials, especially where space optimization is a priority.
With a side loader rental, you’ll get the unique opportunity to test whether this type of equipment suits your inventory profile and facility layout. Moreover, you can evaluate how easily the loader maneuvers in your current aisle widths and whether it enhances productivity compared to standard forklift solutions. And because side loaders are generally more expensive and niche, renting before buying reduces the financial risk while ensuring a better operational fit.
7) Walkie Stackers
A walkie stacker can be especially useful to your business if you have a small warehouse or retail stockroom. Walkie stackers are electrically powered units guided by a handle and used for lifting and stacking loads in small storage areas. These machines fill the gap between pallet trucks and full-size forklifts and are particularly useful in operations where full forklifts may be too large or cost-prohibitive. They also offer various lift heights and load capacities, making them an excellent choice for smaller operations.
Try renting a walkie stacker to test its performance in confined areas and assess how easily operators can handle it in everyday use. Renting will also provide you with the chance to explore different stacker types—like straddle or counterbalanced models—based on your shelving and pallet dimensions. Through this kind of practical evaluation, you can ensure that the equipment you eventually purchase meets your specific storage and accessibility needs.
8) Reach Trucks
Reach trucks are purpose-built for warehouses that utilize vertical storage systems and narrow aisles, as their extendable forks allow them to “reach” into deep racking systems, making them ideal for placing or retrieving pallets in tight configurations. With the help of a reach truck, you can maximize cubic storage in your packed warehouse, allowing you to access tight spaces with ease.
In addition, you’ll be able to test how well your reach truck aligns with your shelving height and depth, as well as its stability when extended at full reach. Also measure how the equipment performs in your climate—especially important if you operate in cold storage environments. Keep in mind that choosing the wrong reach truck could lead to inefficiencies or even safety hazards, so renting first is a practical way to avoid costly mistakes.
Ultimately, a business’s needs evolve along with its growth. Down the line, you may need more advanced warehousing equipment to accommodate busier operations and to better observe workplace safety and health among your staff. But for several warehousing solutions, there’s no need to rush into buying until you’re absolutely sure. Try renting first to be able to make fully informed decisions about which warehousing solutions to acquire based on experience, not just speculation.
