What to consider when buying used construction equipment

Sometimes when you need to get a construction job done and specific tools or machinery to help, it’s recommended to buy used construction equipment rather than spend a fortune on brand new items, especially if it is for a one-off job. But if you are going to take this approach, there are a few pointers to bear in mind.

1. Inspect the equipment beforehand

Even though used equipment will come with an overview of its service history and what works and what may falter etc, you still need to have a look at the equipment with a fresh pair of eyes to spot any potential discrepancies. The last thing you want is a forklift truck that breaks down mid-job.

2. Look at the maintenance history

It’s customary for any vehicle used over time to come with maintenance history, explaining all the difficulties and repairs needed over the years. Some of these may be small issues that won’t affect your day-to-day tasks. But you need to sit up and take notice if you want to bring these into your area of work and have your staff interact with them.

3. Check the operating hours

This won’t always be a sign of quality, but if the equipment has an extensive operating history moving into the higher end of 10,000 hours, then you might want to think twice before purchasing it. There’s using old equipment and there’s using equipment that’s on its last legs!

4. Test it out

The greatest indicator of any success is if you have a chance to try it yourself. The dealer should give you the chance to take the equipment for a test run, maybe even perform one of the tasks you’ll be buying it for.

5. Look up the dealer

Reputation can take you a long way. But it needs to take you very far when it comes to selling used equipment. Look up the dealer you’re in contact with. Find out their reputation, any customer feedback and see if they have a notable online presence – these are all important indicators.

6. Look at the fluids

When buying a vehicle, do a complete spec for all manner of fluids, including transmission fluid, engine oil, hydraulic fluid etc. This will give you a good idea as to how the vehicle was maintained up to the point of sale. If the fluids are dirty or low, it would indicate that the owner has failed to provide proper maintenance and you should steer clear.

If you take all these areas into account, then there’s no reason why you can’t buy used construction equipment for sale and enjoy long use from it. To find your next piece of quality used construction equipment, browse MY Equipment today.