Tag Archives: renting heavy equipment

Renting heavy equipment has become so simple

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Technology has made lives simpler in many ways. Right from the beginning of the day to the end of it, we are completely dependent on some or the other form of technology. It has also helped us a lot in managing our businesses. You pull out any business out of the blue and you will find the need of technology in it. It has helped us in a big way in becoming what we really are. Talking about the construction industry, the need of state of the art machines are hugely felt in this part of the sector. Moreover the heavy equipment are expensive and therefore it is presumably out of the reach of many. As long as one goes out to a lender to lend money to buy heavy equipment the person will be able to buy one or else he has to depend upon people who are willing to let out their machines to folks who need them for construction purpose.

Technology has played a vital role in creating a platform where the people who possess heavy equipment but do not need them for the time being can get hooked with guys who have a construction project running and are in dire need of construction machines. One can make use of this platform to meet each other’s business requirements. The party who is renting his heavy equipment needs to register on an online portal that works in the line of connecting people who wants to buy/sell/ lease heavy equipment. Once he is registered with the site, he needs to prepare a listing where he should put up pictures of the machine and give an elaborative description. This needs to be done to inform visitors about the machine and why they should take this one on rent.

The person who is listing the heavy equipment on an online portal should remember that before he registers with the portal he should also check how known it is amongst people who usually look out for renting heavy equipment. This research is important as it will give a clue to the person whether he will receive many visitors on his listing. The person will be paying some fees to the online site for listing the machine and he should ensure that he is able to rent it in the very first attempt. Spend some time on internet to know which site people prefer to go. Apart from that, what are their security policies and how effectively do they stand to protect the rights of the parties involved in the transaction.

Some online portals also have their agents who help their clients with the agreement part. It is a must to prepare an agreement before you lease out your heavy equipment. The agreement should include all the points that protect the rights of the owner of the machine. After all, you want to receive the heavy equipment in the same state as you have given it to the party.

Renting a water wagon

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Tired to inhaling dust in the construction site? You need to put them to rest by spraying water so that the dust settles down on the ground and you get some fresh air to breathe. It will also reduce the number of air-borne ailments and will thus keep your employees healthy. So if you have a big construction site and need to spray water in the entire place, you need a vehicle that is capable of carrying gallons of water and also simultaneously spray it along the site. This leads to the needs of a water wagon where you can store water for spraying on the site. All you need is attach a pipe to the hose and spray it along. A water wagon may not be an expensive item unlike other heavy equipment which costs a bomb but it still has a price attached to it and any construction company how big it is will not want to spend money in procuring an item that has limited utility.

So the best alternative is to take it on rent. There are companies who sell as well as rent water wagon to construction and mining companies. You can get the details of such companies on the internet. These companies are either directly involved in renting water wagons or act as third parties. It simply means that they will own the wagons and will let it out to people who are ready to take it on rent or will establish contacts with parties that are willing to let-out wagons and once they find a taker, they help in cracking the deal between the two and earn commission from both the parties. This is how they conduct their business.

Some rental companies deal with multiple orders. However, there are also companies which do not work that way. So before you approach any of them, first try to get some information about them and only once you have a fair idea and understand how convenient they are for you that you should proceed any further.

The second most important checkpoint will be the rental amount. Now there are several companies who may charge different amounts as rent. So you should be ready to negotiate with them. Just do not accept the quote they give you. Also do some research on the rental price of water wagons before you finally jump the gun? If the rental company is acting as an agent and, check in advance the amount they will charge.

You can spread the news in your business circle that you require a water wagon on rent. Someone for sure will get in touch with you and after checking the credentials if you find it worth taking you can go for it.

Things You Should Know before Renting a Bulldozer

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Bulldozer is very important heavy equipment commonly used in construction industry. They are powerful machines, which can effectively remove the stumps and boulders, help in demolitions, aid in excavations and can raze brush. They are often used in clearing of large acres of forest land to be converted into a productive area. It is often observed that construction industries prefer buying it on rent or on lease. While first time buyer may not be aware of such options. Many a times, after purchasing a brand new bulldozer, the user is not satisfied by its working or finds it limited in its functions. Purchasing a new bulldozer is a very expensive, hence it may be wise to take it on rent especially in case of first time users

 

The following are some of the tips for the buyer before renting a bulldozer:

  1.  Purchase of equipment which is in good health:

Although it is used equipment, buyer must take care that the equipment must be in good health. Very old equipment if taken on rent may operate sub-optimally during the rented period. This may lead to unnecessary expenditure due to repairs. Hence the used equipment not more than 5 years and in working conditions must be selected. The buyer should inspect the machine thoroughly for extent of wear and tear. Check the engine, leakage problems if any, welded parts (sprockets, tracks and arms), working of gear and brakes, rollers, and perform oil analysis.

 

 

2.  Nature and length of work :

Buyer should know the exact nature and volume of work. This will enable selection of an appropriate model of bulldozer. It is essential that buyer should know the exact period of requirement of rented bulldozer, since it needs to be mentioned in the agreement.

3.  Product specifications:

Among the different types of equipment models present, buyer should determine the size and shape of bulldozer. Choosing the right type which is best suited for the nature of work is necessary.

4.  Requirements and limitations of a used bulldozer:

Bulldozer has to be filled with fuel at least 3-4 times in a day and its parts needs to be greased at regular intervals. This machine has to be checked daily for maintenance issues. Bulldozer has a limitation that it cannot work throughout the day. Hence, the buyer should determine the extent to which a used bulldozer can work effectively. Further, it is necessary to know if the site conditions are suitable for the bulldozer to work, since it cannot work on any terrain. The tracks of bulldozer need to be often cleared.

5.  Safety requirements:

Bulldozers are huge equipments and one needs to follow instructions before operating them. They are dangerous equipments and should not be used without following instructions. Since mistakes committed while operating these machines can lead to accidents. The buyer should become familiar with its parts and the way it operates before using it. If the buyer is not familiar or comfortable operating bulldozer, then should hire an experienced bulldozer operator. Further, buyer should ensure safety by wearing safety belts, ear plugs and dust masks to prevent health problems.

6.  Expenses incurred:

Before taking bulldozer on rent the user must be sure to bear the expenses in form of rental cost, hired operator cost, maintenance costs, fuel and greasing costs, and cost of safety aids. Rental expenses vary since it depends on the length of the rental contract and age of the machine. To know the appropriate rental cost, buyer should compare prices by referring to websites. During the rental period, it is responsibility of the buyer to to maintain the machine well before handing it over to the service provider.

Overall, renting of bulldozer is beneficial since is cost-effective for construction companies and in cases where the bulldozer is required for short duration of time or for seasonal work (thereafter it is of no use). It allows the buyer to discover if the selected model has application for the intended work.

Following these tips can guide buyers in purchasing appropriate bulldozer on rental basis and get the job done well.

Things to keep in mind before renting heavy equipment

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Small construction companies often find it difficult to function due to non-availability of required heavy equipment. Heavy equipment being an expensive piece of metal, they often themselves to be incapable of buying it and therefore they try to use some alternative which falls within their means. For such companies, the advice that one can give is that they should start looking at heaving equipment which is available on rent. Buying heavy equipment can definitely be an expensive affair and no small construction company can afford to go with that as an option. So the next best option is to catch hold of a person who is willing to give the machine on lease. This means that you can own the heavy equipment for a temporary period and can make full use of it till the end of the project or till the time you require the machine. You certainly end up paying a small amount as rent but it is worth the stuff. You do not lose much from the deal. On the contrary you gain more than what you spend.

There are few things that one must consider before they start looking for heavy equipment on rent.

Check if the machine is in order:-

To check if the machine is in order is one of the most important criteria that the taker should consider before he signs on the dotted line. Many owners of heavy equipment lease out their age old machines thinking that they will get some takers for it. All that they do is they paint the machine and make it look new. Some are not even bothered to repair the machine as they feel that there is no much use of it as the machine will come to the same state as what it is now. If these things are not checked then the ultimate sufferer is the guy who takes the machine on rent. He has to call up a mechanic and get the machine checked and also spend money to replace vital parts which was in fact the responsibility of the owner.

Insist on an inspection:-

It is you who have to insist on an inspection of the heavy equipment. If you have been operating heavy equipment since years and you know the in and out of the machine, you can do the inspection yourself or it is recommended that you take along an expert or a mechanic who can inspect the machine for you and can advise your accordingly. This is quite important to be done as you know the actual state of the machine and if you have to make any further spending once you have taken it on rent.

Insist for a lease agreement:-

A lease agreement is a mandatory requirement for every rental contract. The contract speaks in volumes about the rights of both the owner and the taker. You should know your rights and also realize the steps that you can take in case you see yourself being cheated.

Tips for Choosing and Renting a Water Truck

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Water trucks (WTs) are an essential tool on any construction site. These trucks usually consist of a series of spray nozzles equipped with the mechanics to pump and spray water to remove dust from the air. The construction industry uses water trucks for compaction, dust control, fire-prevention and protection. Many construction industries, start ups and first time users prefer buying heavy equipment including WTs on rental basis (used) to decrease their expenses. However, one has to careful and observant while buying rented machines.

The following are some of the tips which may be useful for the buyer while choosing and renting water trucks:

  1. Purchase equipment which is in good working condition:

Although it is second hand vehicle, buyer must take care that water truck (WT) must be in good working condition. WT which is less old and is a solid sound vehicle in good mechanical shape is an ideal option to purchase.

2.  Perform a thorough physical and mechanical inspection of the equipment:

Buyer should perform physical inspection of the WT by investing sufficient time in it and taking it around in it.

  • WT’s body should be inspected during daylight.
  • The extent of wear and tear of the vehicle can be understood by inspecting its; tires, if any cracks are present on its body, from functioning of the engine and pump, and if any leakage problem exists.
  • Serial number should be checked to know the year of manufacturing.
  • The machine’s logs and maintenance records should be checked to know the service history.

3.  Know your needs of work:

Buyer should learn about application of WT. They should know the amount of water which is to be required for their type/s of work and if it can be supplied by the purchased WT. Further, it is essential that the buyer should know the required duration of its use since it is to be mentioned in the agreement.

4.  Product specifications:

Buyer should gain knowledge of different models of WT, since each model has its own specification which determine its strength and capability. Generally WT come in variety of configurations, from 1,000 gallons to 4000 gallons with different valve and spray nozzle numbers and spray bar configurations. By referring to product manuals and to company websites, the user can learn about different types of models and choose the right type of WT model. Further, it is important to learn if the chosen model of WT is supported by the manufacturer. Since old models are unsupported and it is difficult to get spare parts.

 

5.  Cost:

Buyer should know the expenses incurred due to rents (both of machine and its additional parts), maintenance, fuel used and greasing of the parts and expenses due to hired operator.

6.  Making of an agreement:

If the buyer is satisfied then will go ahead with buying of rental WT by making a legal agreement with the rental service provider.

 

Overall, renting a water truck is helpful since is cost-effective for construction companies. Following these tips can guide buyers in purchasing appropriate water truck on rental basis and increase job’s productivity.

Things You Should Know before Renting Articulated Trucks

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Trucks are used by construction industry to carry huge pile of debris from the jobsite to the dump yard. Articulated trucks (ATs) are specialized trucks are used for hauling of heavy equipment from their source to destination. Hence, many construction industries, prefer buying ATs on rental basis to reduce their expenses. However, one has to be diligent while buying rented machines since it is expensive.

The following are some of the tips which may be useful for the buyer:

  1. Purchase equipment which is in good working condition:

Although it is used, buyer must take care that ATs must be in good working condition. Instead of buying on rent very old AT, one should purchase AT which is less than five years old.

2.  Perform a thorough physical and mechanical inspection of the equipment:

  • Being one of the most difficult machines, evaluating AT is a difficult task. A physical inspection of AT is needed by investing enough time and taking it around during daylight.
  • Establish its serial number and the number of hours it has been operated. The serial number indicates the year of manufacture. While if it has run for less than 10,000 hours the machine is in better condition.
  • Different locks and articulation hinge joints should be checked for their movement. There are two parts to it. Oscillating part and articulation part. If there are problems with the former part then its repairs are very expenses as compared to the articulation part.
  • Engine, hinge pins, brakes, tires, battery, cab, mirrors, air filters, oil filters, suspension system in front should be thoroughly examined.
  • Buyer should make sure that brakes get applied to all wheels. Use of wet brakes reduce cost and requires less maintenance.
  • AT should be checked for its uphill movement and the amount of fuel used or the smoke released.
  • Truck’s comfort should be assessed in terms of cab’s safety and great visibility and comfort.
  • Machine’s maintenance records should be checked to know the service history. Knowing the past history of what it was used for hauling gives an idea of the wear and tear the machine must have gone through.

3.  Buyer should evaluate their work requirements.

Buyer should learn about application of ATs and should know if it useful for their type of work. They should check various details including the type of material, travel distance, cycle times and the equipment to be carried in AT. Since it is to be mentioned in the agreement, it is necessary that buyer should know the required duration of ATs at the work place.

4.  Product specifications:

There are different models of ATs. Buyer should know which type is required for their purpose since each model has different characteristics. The user should refer to product manuals and distributor/manufacturer’s websites, to learn about each model’s application. This will enable buyer to choose the right type of model for AT. It is important to know if the current model of ATs is supported by the manufacturer, which makes it easy to find parts of repair. In addition, buyer should also seek to know about factors such as high production per man hour and check the payload capacity both of which are important for increasing productivity.

5.  Consider the speed and gas gauge:

The travel speeds of ATs play an important role in productivity. The buyer should look at top-end speeds for long run and the pulling power for shorter distance. Check for the unit’s abundance of horsepower and torque which will allow operators to move fast and haul more in one cycle.

The buyer should also consider fuel efficiency based on material per gallon, which can be increased by proper planning of truck’s activities and by maintaining AT.

6.  Cost:

Buyer should know the expenses incurred due to rents (both of machine and its additional parts), maintenance, repairs of the oscillating part, fuel used and greasing of the parts and expenses due to hired operator.

7.  Making of an agreement:

When the buyer is satisfied with the rental machine and the costs associated, then will go ahead with an agreement with the rental service provider.

Following these tips can guide buyers in purchasing appropriate articulated truck on rental basis and get the job done well.

Online platforms have made renting heavy equipment easier

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Many newbie after starting their business in the construction domain has experienced the problem of shortage of heavy equipment. It is because of this issue they lose many important projects that can be a life changer. This is when they feel dejected and some are even forced to shut down their offices. Well, as a matter of fact, things are not that bad as it may seem to be for guys who really want to make a career in this profession. Unquestionably, heavy equipment is very expensive but that does not mean that one can’t operate his business just because he can’t afford to buy them. Well, if you can’t afford to buy them you can definitely afford to take them on rent and that is the most viable option you can take to carry on with the business.

The question is how one can trace people who are renting their heavy machinery. This was a difficult job few decades ago but after the inception of internet that has taken over the entire globe this is no longer a challenge. There are numerous online platforms that are helping people to meet their business needs. It was not that the taker was experiencing the problem of not finding someone who is ready to let his machine but the owner equally experienced the same issue. However, with the advent of internet a lot of these problems have come to rest.

All you have to do is register yourself with an online platform that deals with buying, selling and renting heavy equipments. There are also other online portals that deal with almost everything. So you got to first ensure that you have reached the right platform. It is advisable that you register yourself with a website that exclusively deals with heavy equipment. Such online portals can be very useful as you will get to see heavy machinery of different brands and of different types. You will not be restricted to just one type of machine. You can just search for the thing you are looking you will get all under one roof. This was not possible before internet could make its presence felt to the people from the construction industry.

Though internet has been helpful to many people from all walks of life, but if we limit our focus to guys from the construction and heavy equipment domain, this technology has been nothing less than prolific. There are few instances where some buyers were cheated by fraudulent sellers but the online portal owners are looking into these cases and making their laws stringent so that rights of both the buyers as well as sellers remain protected. Frauds can happen in any industry and in any kind of environment. The rise of internet should not be blamed for any fraudulent activity. On the contrary, norms should be made so that renting heavy equipment online can happen risk-free and more people can reap benefit from this technology.

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Renting heavy equipment is far better than leaving it idle

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A person belonging to the construction industry has to go through different phases. Some are good, some bad and some even ugly. It is very evident that all construction companies make good money during the good times but the problem arises when the tide turns for bad and they do not have work in hand. This is when most of the companies take difficult decisions like sacking employees or disposing their resources, which heavy equipment are also a part of. It is certainly not wise to give away those expensive pieces of metal at a dirt cheap price and therefore if one has an option that can avoid them to sell the machines, they should pick that up.

Renting heavy equipment is considered to be the most viable option one can consider if they do not want to really get rid of their machines. If they pick this option, they will be able to make money on a monthly basis and can also retain the stuff once the tenure ends. This means that they never lose their title from the construction equipment and has every right to claim the machine once the period mentioned in the agreement is over.

Few things one must consider before they think of renting their heavy equipment.

Finding a taker who will take good care of the machine:-

It is very important that you get someone who will treat your machine with the same care that they would have taken for their own machine. It has been witnessed that people who rent heavy equipment use them very roughly and not care much of its maintenance. Thus, it deteriorates the quality of the machine and you may find it giving a lot of issues. In order to avoid this kind of problems, you should mention in the agreement that you can make visits to check how they are treating the machine and the visits can be in an interval of 3 months. In this way, you can ensure that your machine is in order and when you get it back, it will be working fine.

Rental contract should be in order and should protect your rights:-

When you make the rental contract with the taker, you should make sure that you pen down all the important points that will protect your rights as the giver. Please remember that you are not selling the machine that you will have no liability on it later on. You are just renting it and it should not happen that once the period is over, you get back a completely worn out machine. Also state the date by when you should get the rental money in your bank account. In case you want, you can give them some breathing space just in case they need some extension to pay the money, but that should not happen regularly. If they ask for an extension once in a blue moon, you can consider it, but if they take you for granted, it is definitely not a good sign.

 

Is Renting Wheel Loaders a Good Business

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The construction activities have increased due to increase in population. Many big and start up construction companies cannot afford to a buy and maintain all new equipment for their work, especially in case of short term projects. Hence, they prefer to buy equipment and machines on rental basis at an affordable price and return it after use. Thus, rental business is profitable and is booming. It is observed that many equipment rentals only rent specific equipments and do not keep all types of equipments. It is because they have studied market and functional aspects of the equipment. Since most of the heavy equipment are multifunctional, being in rental business of specific equipment can be a good idea as it saves the cost of buying and maintaining different equipment.

Wheel loader (front end loader or bucket loader), is one of the widely used machines in construction. It is primarily used in construction applications such as material handling, digging, load and carry and road building and some even are used for waste handling. They are versatile and have good payload capacity to perform multiple functions at low cost. They are very much required in any construction project, however they are expensive.

Tier 4-compliant models, the cost of a new machine is more than it has been in the past. The cost of these A survey reported that overall the heavy machinery rentals have jumped by 75% in 2013 to 2014 alone, with wheel loader rentals soaring up 273%. Thus, renting of the wheel loaders (WLs) is a profitable business due to the following reasons:

  1. It has been observed that as a result of the engine refinements made to machines, their cost now ranges from between $86,000 and $245,000. Due the enormous cost factor, most individual contractors, small and big construction business purchase either single or an entire fleet of wheel loaders on rental basis. This becomes more cost effective.
  2. There is overall a downfall in economy and purchasing such expensive machines is not affordable to many construction industries. Hence they prefer rental WLs.
  3. Buyers are also interested in new models of WLs since they are easy to operate, have advanced technology and increased speed. The new models include features such as
  • Electric loaders as compared to the diesel or gasoline engines
  • Range of attachments such as grapples, forks, buckets of varying sizes.
  • Reduction in fuel transmission
  • Good cab/cabins for the operators to get greater range of visibility on all sides.
  • These factors increase productivity at a work place. If the rental service providers (RSP) can add such advanced WLs to their fleet and provide on rental basis then it will increase their business.

 

4.  RSP should have good business plan and strategy, advertise in newspapers and on websites, know about their own expenses (owning a store, ability to purchase these high end equipment, maintenance and repairs of machines, water and electricity bills.)

5.  Buying used equipment on rental basis is common for the short duration projects, hence they are in demand. Thus, RSP can also look for option of renting ‘used’ or ‘second hand’ WLs too, since purchasing such equipments is cost affordable. However, they should be careful while choosing such machines that have undergone less wear and tear and their parts are available.

6.  RSP should be careful while renting the expensive and used WLs to the buyer. They should understand the nature of work requirements of the customer and should guide them properly. They should help the customer to choose appropriate model of WL with proper loading and bucket capacity. Further, they should make sure that the buyer has the capability to pay the rental amount and would take care of the equipment and will return the equipment in good condition. After all the terms and conditions are acceptable to both parties, a rental agreement has to made between RSP and prospective buyer.

 

Renting an excavator

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The most used heavy equipment in the construction and mining sector is an excavator. Right from forming a foundation for the building to clearing dirt, it is probably the only machine that is used for various purposes. So you visit a construction site and you will always get to see an operator working on an excavator. Since it is such an important heavy equipment, heavy equipment manufacturing companies are in a mode of producing technologically sound excavators and which is why they come in varying prices.

Other than that, different brands have different prices so if a person who works only on CAT or Komatsu may have to pay slightly more than excavators produced by other brands. But there is a better option for people who work on seasonal basis or may need the machine on a temporary basis. It makes no sense for them to buy an excavator to meet their requirements. On the contrary, they should be borrowing the machine for few months and once the work is done, give it back to the owner.

Such people can go for taking the excavator on rent. Here they have to pay monthly rent to the owner for using the machine and one their work is done they have to give it back to the owner. However, they have to maintain one important thing and that is the machine should be in order. They have to return it the way they got it from the owner. So just in case if there has been any minor dents or some part of the machine has gone faulty, they need to fix it before they hand it over to its owner.

Finding an excavator on rent is no big problem. There are plenty of companies who deal with renting heavy equipment. These agents have tie ups with owners of heavy equipment who do not use their machines and wishes to let it out. All you got to do is get in touch with such companies and check if they can arrange for an excavator. You name the model number and the attachments you need in the machine and they might get that for you. Well attachments are never an issue. You can always modify your excavator as per your needs. You can add a bucket to put the dirt in on simply increase the neck of the machine. What you need to know is if you can add any attachments on the excavator.

So let the renting company work for you and once they give you some options, check which one suits you. No doubt the excavator should be a good one but the owner should not overprice it and make it look expensive for you. So you should make it ample clear to the agency about your budget and the duration that you may need the equipment. Remember that the company will charge you an amount as their fee so you should get the best and your requirements should not be compromised.