Are Ekko Lifts and Forklifts Worth It? Honest Review

Bottom line: Ekko is a legitimate American material handling manufacturer, founded in 2008, based in Pomona, California, and a member of MHI, the industry's trade association. That last point does more work than any spec: MHI membership is a third-party affiliation a shell operation does not bother to hold. The equipment is priced well under the Toyota and Crown tier and the lineup is deep enough to outfit a warehouse from one supplier.

Whether it is worth it depends on a question that has nothing to do with the machines: how far you are from a dealer who will service one. That is the honest tension in buying any value-tier forklift, and it gets a section of its own below.

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The Verdict

• Worth it if you are outfitting a warehouse, a shop, or a yard and the alternative is paying premium-tier prices for capability you will use at moderate duty. The lineup runs from a $2,378 semi-electric pallet jack to $60,000-plus pneumatic forklifts, so you can standardize on one brand instead of stitching together four.
• Worth it if lead time matters. Ekko states its longest lead time is no more than 90 days, which in this category is a genuine differentiator rather than a marketing line.
• Probably not worth it if you run three shifts on the same truck. Premium-tier equipment exists because heavy duty cycles expose everything, and that is not the segment Ekko is priced for.
• The honest caveat: service coverage. Verify who fixes it near you before you buy, not after. This applies to every value-tier brand and it is the single most important thing on this page.

Who Ekko Actually Is

The first question about any brand you have not heard of is whether there is a company behind it. Here there is.

EKKO Material Handling Equipment Inc. was founded in 2008 and operates out of Pomona, California, with a manufacturing facility they list at more than 50,000 square feet. They build across forklift Classes I, II, III, and V, which covers electric riders, narrow-aisle equipment, walkie pallet jacks and stackers, and internal-combustion pneumatic trucks.

They are a member of MHI, the material handling industry trade association. That matters more than it sounds. Trade association membership is a public, verifiable affiliation, and it is the kind of thing a rebadging operation with no engineering behind it does not typically pursue.

Ekko also sells through a network of independent authorized distributors rather than a single exclusive channel, and supplies OEM and ODM customers. Both are signals of a real manufacturing business rather than an import label.

What is their claim rather than ours: Ekko describes itself as a world-class manufacturer and states the quickest lead times in the market. Those are the company's own positioning statements. We can confirm the lead times we actually see, and they have been good, but treat superlatives from any manufacturer as marketing until your own experience confirms them.

Forklift Classes, Decoded

You will see Roman numerals on every spec sheet in this category and almost nobody explains them. They come from OSHA, and they matter because operator certification is class-specific. Training someone on a Class III walkie does not license them to drive a Class V pneumatic.

Take-away: pick the class before you pick the brand. Cushion tires on a gravel yard and pneumatic tires in a tight warehouse aisle are both expensive mistakes, and no amount of capacity fixes either one.

What Ekko Actually Builds

The catalog is genuinely broad, which is the strategic argument for the brand.

• Semi-electric and electric pallet jacks from around $2,378. The entry point, and the one most shops buy first.
• Straddle stackers, the deepest part of the line, roughly $4,600 to $8,600, in lead-acid and lithium, with lift heights from 98 to 145 inches.
• Reach trucks and order pickers, roughly $23,000 to $50,000, reaching 275 inches.
• Counterbalance forklifts, roughly $24,000 to $63,000, in electric, LPG, and diesel, from 3,500 to 10,000 lb.
• Industrial scissor lifts, roughly $12,800 to $36,800, with platform heights from 157 to 468 inches. Note these are aerial work platforms for reaching height, not vehicle service lifts.

The practical value of that spread is standardization. One vendor relationship, one parts contact, one set of operator familiarization documents. If you have ever chased three suppliers for three machines, you know what that is worth.

Where Ekko Earns the Money

Lithium options well down the price ladder

Lithium-ion appears on straddle stackers in the $5,750 to $7,750 range, not just on the expensive trucks. Lithium means opportunity charging instead of swapping batteries, no watering, and no dedicated charging room with ventilation. On a multi-shift picking operation that changes the daily routine more than any spec on the sheet.

Lift height range

Straddle stackers reach 145 inches and reach trucks go to 275. Height is what decides whether you can use vertical space you are already paying rent on, and Ekko covers the range without pushing you into the premium tier to get it.

Breadth at the low end

A $2,378 semi-electric pallet jack with a lithium battery pack and included charger is a serious piece of equipment at a price where much of the market is still selling manual. For a shop moving pallets a few times a day, that is the highest-value purchase on this page.

Lead time

Availability is a spec. A machine you can have in six weeks beats a better machine you can have in nine months, and in this category that gap is real.

Where It Does Not

• Resale value. Premium brands hold value better. If you rotate equipment on a three-year cycle and sell it on, factor that into the total cost rather than comparing sticker prices.
• Duty cycle ceiling. Value-tier equipment is engineered for moderate duty. Running one truck across three shifts is where the premium tier earns its price, and pretending otherwise does nobody any favors.
• Operator familiarity. A driver who has spent a decade on Toyota controls will need real familiarization time, and OSHA requires that anyway.
• Thinner independent review data. There is less accumulated long-run field data on Ekko than on the century-old names. Buy on specification, warranty, and your own service arrangements rather than on a deep reputation record.
• Service coverage, which is the big one.

The Service Question

This is the section that should decide your purchase, and it is the one most brand reviews skip.

A forklift is not a tool you use until it breaks and then replace. It is a machine that will need hydraulic work, mast work, controller diagnostics, and eventually a battery, across a service life measured in years. The premium brands charge partly for the dealer network that handles all of that within a short drive of almost anywhere.

Before you buy any value-tier forklift, answer these:

1. Who works on it locally? Many independent forklift service companies will service any brand. Call two near you and ask directly before you order.
2. How are parts sourced and how fast? Ask about the common wear items specifically: contactors, hydraulic seals, mast rollers, forks, controllers.
3. What is covered, and for how long? Confirm warranty terms in writing for the specific model, since coverage varies across a lineup this broad.
4. What does downtime cost you? If a dead truck stops shipping, the calculus changes and the premium tier may genuinely be the cheaper answer.

Bottom line on service: if you have a capable local independent, the value tier is a strong buy. If your operation depends on same-day manufacturer-backed service, pay for the network. That is not a knock on Ekko, it is true of every brand at this price point, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling.

OSHA: What You Owe Before Anyone Drives It

Buying the truck is the easy part. Under OSHA's powered industrial truck standard, employers must train, evaluate, and certify every operator before they use the equipment, and that certification is specific to three things: the class of truck, the make and model, and the workplace itself.

Operators also need re-evaluation on a three-year cycle, and sooner if there is an incident, a near miss, or a change in the workplace or equipment.

Two practical consequences when you order:

• Budget the training, not just the truck. It is a real line item and it is not optional.
• Changing class means new certification. Moving a crew from walkie stackers to a sit-down counterbalance is a new training requirement, not a familiarization chat.

Shop Fit: Who Should Buy Ekko

The shop moving pallets a few times a day

A semi-electric pallet jack. You are replacing a manual pump truck and a sore back, and this is the cheapest meaningful upgrade in the whole category.

The warehouse using vertical space

A straddle stacker. This is the deepest part of Ekko's line and the best value in it, with lithium available well below the price where most brands offer it. Our straddle stackers collection → lists capacity, lift height, and lowered mast height on every model, and that last number is the one that decides whether it clears your door.

The operation loading trucks daily

A counterbalance forklift, and choose the class by surface: cushion tire for smooth indoor floors, pneumatic for yards and rough ground. Browse the full forklifts collection → with capacity and lift height listed on every model.

The three-shift distribution center

Look at the premium tier honestly. If the truck never stops, buy the equipment engineered for that, and buy the service contract with it.

Our Top Picks

Here are the standouts from this category, picked by our Lift Specialists for real-world fit and value.

Ekko EP15SLi Semi-Electric Pallet Jack: Class III ($2,378)

💳 Affirm & Shop Pay Installments at checkout | $2,378

The cheapest meaningful upgrade in the category and the machine most shops should buy first. 3,300 lb capacity on a 24V LiFePO4 lithium pack with the charger included, so there is no watering and no separate charging room. 27 by 45 inch forks, 3.35 inch lowered height, 57.8 inch turning radius, electromagnetic braking, and polyurethane wheels for indoor floors. It replaces a manual pump truck and the back strain that comes with one.

Best for: Shops and stockrooms moving pallets a few times a day on smooth indoor floors.

View Pricing & Specs →

★★★★★ Verified reviews · Authorized dealer · Lift Specialists ready to help

Ekko EB12E Electric Straddle Stacker: Class III ($5,888)

💳 Affirm & Shop Pay Installments at checkout | $5,888

The best value in the line, and the machine that lets you use vertical space you are already paying rent on. 2,640 lb to 119.4 inches on a 70 inch overall length, so it works aisles a counterbalance forklift cannot enter. Forks adjust from 8.3 to 33.5 inches and the straddle legs from 45.7 to 59.1, which covers most pallet and rack configurations. 2.2 kW lift motor, internal 24V charger, lowered mast height of 82 inches to clear a standard door.

Best for: Warehouses stacking high in tight aisles without the budget or the room for a forklift.

View Pricing & Specs →

★★★★★ Verified reviews · Authorized dealer · Lift Specialists ready to help

Ekko EK16A-138 Electric Forklift: Class I ($23,999)

💳 Affirm & Shop Pay Installments at checkout | $23,999

A real sit-down counterbalance forklift at a price where much of the market is still quoting used. 3,500 lb to 138 inches with 34.4 inches of free lift, a 42.1 inch overall width and 58.9 inch turning radius that suit standard warehouse aisles, and a 3-way side shift valve so you can position a load without repositioning the truck. Electric drive means no fumes and no fuel handling, which is what makes it usable indoors all day.

Best for: Operations loading trucks daily on smooth indoor floors, where fumes rule out internal combustion.

View Pricing & Specs →

★★★★★ Verified reviews · Authorized dealer · Lift Specialists ready to help

Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes Ekko forklifts?

EKKO Material Handling Equipment Inc., founded in 2008 and based in Pomona, California, with a manufacturing facility the company lists at over 50,000 square feet. Ekko is a member of MHI, the material handling industry trade association, and sells through a network of independent authorized distributors as well as supplying OEM and ODM customers. It is a real manufacturing business rather than an import label.

Where are Ekko lifts made?

The company is headquartered and operates its manufacturing facility in Pomona, California. As with most equipment in this category, individual components and subassemblies come from a global supply chain, so if country of origin matters for a bid or a procurement requirement, ask for documentation on the specific model rather than assuming.

Are Ekko forklifts good quality?

They are solid value-tier equipment: competitive specifications, a broad lineup, lithium options at prices where many competitors still offer only lead-acid, and short lead times. They are not engineered for the duty cycle of premium-tier trucks running three shifts. For moderate-duty warehouse and shop use, which describes most buyers, the specification-per-dollar is strong.

How do Ekko forklifts compare to Toyota or Crown?

Ekko costs meaningfully less and the premium brands hold resale value better and are backed by denser factory service networks. On specifications for moderate-duty work the gap is much narrower than the price gap. The deciding question is usually not build quality but service coverage and how much a day of downtime costs your operation.

Do I need OSHA certification to operate an Ekko forklift?

Yes, for any powered industrial truck. OSHA requires employers to train, evaluate, and certify each operator before use, and that certification is specific to the truck class, the make and model, and the workplace. Operators need re-evaluation at least every three years, and sooner after an incident or a change in equipment or conditions. Budget the training alongside the equipment.

What is the difference between a straddle stacker and a forklift?

A straddle stacker is a walk-behind or stand-on machine with outrigger legs that straddle the load, which lets it lift high in a compact footprint without the counterweight a sit-down forklift needs. It costs a fraction of a counterbalance forklift and works well in tight aisles. The trade is speed, capacity, and the fact that the straddle legs will not fit around every pallet or rack configuration.

Are Ekko lithium forklifts worth the extra cost?

Usually yes if you run more than one shift. Lithium allows opportunity charging during breaks instead of swapping batteries, needs no watering, and does not require a ventilated charging room. On single-shift operations with time to charge overnight, lead-acid is often still the economical choice.

What warranty comes with Ekko equipment?

Coverage varies by product line across a lineup this broad, so confirm the terms in writing for the specific model before you order rather than assuming a blanket policy. Ask specifically about the battery and the drive and lift motors, since those are the expensive components.

Take the Next Step

Do two things before you order. Decide your class by surface and aisle width, not by capacity alone. Then call two independent forklift service companies near you and ask whether they will work on the brand. That second call is worth more than any review, including this one.

When you have those answers, call our Lift Specialists at (470) 208-2754 or email support@pitstop-pro.com with your aisle widths, rack heights, and duty cycle. We will spec it with you, and we will tell you when the premium tier is the honest answer instead.

Keep Reading

External authority: OSHA 1910.178 Powered Industrial Trucks · OSHA eTool: Forklift Types and Classes