Propane forklifts run all day without plugging in, hold full power from the first pallet to the last, and move from indoor staging areas to outdoor docks without swapping machines. That operational flexibility is why LPG remains the dominant fuel choice for light to medium distribution operations, grocery warehouses, retail distribution centers, and manufacturing plants that move between covered and uncovered work areas in the same shift. The machine does not care whether the task is inside or outside, and that simplicity keeps them in fleets long after all-electric options have improved.
We finance LPG and propane forklifts from $50k, new or used. Individual machines in the 5,000-pound class from Toyota, Hyster, Yale, or Mitsubishi typically run $25,000 to $35,000 new, so fleet orders of two or more are the usual path to our threshold, though larger capacity machines clear it individually. Purchase loan,equipment lease, orsale-leaseback on existing propane fleet. B and C credit fine. Recent operating statements handles most deals under $400k. Funded within seven to fourteen days.
LPG Forklift Specs and Residual Value
LPG forklifts run on liquid propane stored in tanks that are swapped out when empty, a task that takes about two minutes and keeps the machine running continuously without the downtime associated with electric charging or the fuel delivery dependency of diesel. Standard tank sizes for counterbalance forklifts are 33-pound tanks on smaller machines and 43-pound tanks on mid-range capacity units, typically providing five to eight hours of runtime depending on duty cycle.
The major manufacturers producing LPG counterbalances include Toyota (the 8-series and Core IC lines), Hyster (Fortis IC line), Yale (Veracitor series), Mitsubishi (FGC series), and Clark (GCX and C-series). These machines hold up well in the used market because the fuel system is simpler than diesel and the maintenance cost curve is predictable. A properly maintained LPG counterbalance with 5,000 to 7,000 hours from a fleet that followed factory service intervals is a bankable asset with real secondary market demand.
The residual value picture for LPG forklifts is generally stronger than diesel in urban markets, partly because emissions regulations in some jurisdictions are tightening around diesel equipment, and partly because LPG machines can still operate indoors where diesel is prohibited. For lenders, that broader applicability makes the collateral story easier. For operators, it means the machine retains value longer.
If your operation is considering a transition from LPG to electric over time, afair market value leaseon the LPG units gives you a defined end-of-term exit rather than leaving you holding machines you will need to sell when you switch. We structure FMV leases specifically around the expected useful life of the equipment so the transition timing aligns with the lease term.
LPG Fleet Operators We Work With
The LPG fleet conversation usually involves one of three situations. First, a growing operation adding machines to support a new account or a second shift, where the existing equipment is LPG and adding more of the same fuel type keeps the infrastructure simple. Second, a fleet refresh where the oldest machines in a propane fleet are retiring and new or newer-used units are coming in. Third, an operation picking up a used propane fleet from a dealer or at auction that needs financing to close the purchase.
Operators inbuilding materials and lumber yardsare frequent LPG users because the work crosses inside and outside constantly. A unit moving dimensional lumber from an outdoor storage area to an indoor cutting operation cannot be an indoor-only electric without adding a second outdoor machine. The dual-environment capability of LPG eliminates that overhead.
Food and beverage operations that do not need the premium of zero emissions and can manage the ventilation requirements for propane often find LPG more cost-effective across a full shift than electric, particularly if they are not running the machines hard enough to justify the capital cost of a battery-room infrastructure and spare battery inventory. We work with these operators regularly and know how to structure the deal for the operational reality rather than the theoretical benchmark.
Refinancing and Sale-Leaseback on LPG Fleets
Propane forklift fleets that are owned outright represent equipment equity that can be converted to cash without disrupting operations. Acash-out refinanceor sale-leaseback uses the appraised value of the machines to generate a lump-sum payment to the operator. The fleet stays on the floor, keeps working, and the operator makes monthly payments on a structured lease.
This structure is particularly useful for operators who paid cash for their LPG fleet during a strong revenue period and now find working capital tighter than they expected. The machines are doing their job. The equity is not. A leaseback converts that dormant equity into active capital without the disruption of selling the fleet and leasing replacements from someone else.
We also handlerefinancing of existing LPG forklift notesto extend the term, lower the monthly payment, or consolidate multiple machine notes into a single facility. If you financed individual machines through a dealer at different times and you are managing three or four separate monthly payments, consolidating into one deal often reduces total monthly outlay and administrative overhead.
Get the Propane Fleet Funded
LPG or dual-fuel, new or used, single machine or a fleet order.Application-onlyup to $400k. B and C credit welcome. Seven to fourteen days to fund. Tell us the machines and we will work the deal. Also financingdiesel forkliftsandelectric modelsfor mixed fleets.