all about heavy construction equipment

all about heavy construction equipment

Renting Or Buying...Key Questions To Ask Yourself When You Are Deciding How To Acquire Your Next Forklift

by Dan Adams

If you live in a rural area and need to move large amounts of debris, such as downed tree branches or dirt from a construction project, you undoubtedly need the use of a forklift. However, forklifts of any size or class are expensive investments. It is important to know whether buying or renting the necessary unit on an as-needed basis is the best option. Therefore, before doing either, it's best to ask yourself the questions shared below.

How Often Do You Anticipate Needing To Use The Forklift?

Many homeowners find that they only need to use a forklift a few times a year. If owned, it is exposed to the elements or simply taking up valuable barn space when not in use. If that is your situation, or if you cannot remember how long ago it was that you had to use the forklift, renting is likely to be the best plan. However, f you recently acquired new land or have agreed to help someone out with some major work on their property, purchasing a forklift may be more beneficial.      

In addition, if you have used your old forklift frequently or if you have rented a forklift often over the last year, buying it is probably the most appropriate choice.

What Can You Afford?

If you have ever been intrigued by the financing options available for some forklifts and the advertising was almost enough to make you want to sign up right then and there, it is helpful to consider the hidden costs often associated with that purchase. For instance, getting the forklift to your home is unlikely to be easy and may not be cheap. When you buy the unit, that is often your responsibility, but when you're renting it, delivery is often free or included with the expenses of renting. Contact companies like El Camino Rental for accurate rental pricing.

In addition, you'll need to allow for the future maintenance of the item and where it will be stored. Storing a forklift can be quite problematic in some rural areas due to animal populations. This can be especially true if it goes unused for significant periods of time. If you have a barn or similar building of an acceptable size, then storage isn't a concern, but perhaps the lack of long-term responsibilities associated with renting a forklift can be quite appealing.        

In conclusion, forklifts are undoubtedly handy items to have around, but they are typically expensive to buy and bulky to safely store. As a result, it's imperative to be familiar with the above facts so that you can ultimately be sure whether renting or buying the unit is the most appropriate choice for your current and future needs.


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About Me

all about heavy construction equipment

My 8-year old son absolutely loves everything about heavy construction equipment. As a school project, he was assigned to create a blog that includes as much information about heavy construction equipment as he could "dig up". We had such a great time working together that we decided to continue working on the blog to fill it with even more information about all sorts of heavy construction equipment. We have answered many questions about these machines and have provided a lot of useful information about how they run, what they can do and so much more about all of the different machines used in construction.