Dawsons Melons proprietor Brett Dawson is using a 2.5-tonne Toyota 8-Series combustion counterbalanced forklift on his watermelon farm in the Northern Territory.
He says he was originally looking for a second hand tractor, and visited the Toyota Material Handling Australia branch in Darwin to see what was available to him.
“At first I wasn’t sure which brand to look at, but the Toyota forklifts were recommended to me by one of the local transport operators here,” Dawson says.
“I was thinking of a second-hand forklift, but after having a look around and discussing my needs with the sales staff I realised a new forklift was the right option for me.
“I like to keep all of my equipment for a long time rather than trading it in every few years, so I’m happy to invest in a quality Toyota forklift that will give me years of reliable service.”
Dawson ended up choosing an 8 Series lift truck with a load capacity of 2.5 tonnes, the 8FD25.
“It’s fairly simple to use and operate,” he says. “It does the job quickly and without any fuss.”
The Toyota 8-Series forklifts have a number of innovative featutes, including System of Active Stability technology, an Operator Presence Sensing safety system, Active Mast Function / Automatic Fork Levelling controls, and a ‘Wide View Mast’ for improved visibility.
Also aiding visibility is a lower instrument panel and a relocated display.
Dawson says after-sales support was also a factor in his decision to go with a Toyota forklift — he is situated about 300km south of Darwin, where mechanical assistance isn’t often available if an immediate issue arises.
“You might find a forklift from another brand for a lower price up front, but what do you do when things go wrong?” he asks. “”You could be left high and dry with no support, and out here that’s a big problem.”
Dawson’s Melons has been supplying wholesale seedless watermelons since its establishment in 1989, but moved to a new location near Katherine in the Territory in 2002.