Used Excavators = Huge Savings

Selling used excavators is big business. In the United States, new excavator equipment constitutes a massive outlay and investment to a small business and so a popular alternative is to buy used. This is also true in poorer countries where the major manufacturers often offer a used excavator for sale, used mini excavators for sale or a used backhoe loader as a separate line of business from their main operations.

Typically, the used excavators are bought back from the original purchaser, refurbished and sold on the open market with some sort of warranty. An excavator auction is another good place to buy used construction equipment especially as the larger auction houses sell many different brands which increases your choices considerably. Another good place to look is Ebay where you will find a construction section containing heavy equipment and trailers as well as other useful machinery and supplies.

Excavators can normally be employed for between 8 thousand and 10 thousand hours before you need to replace any major components. This means many used machines are on the market with years of work still ahead of them. Models that are 2 or 3 years old that have been used for a couple of thousand hours and be purchased for about 25% less than their brand new counterparts. Even older excavators can be found, will with plenty of hours operating time left and with only slightly more wear and tear and you can expect to pay as much as 50% lower prices for these.

In the world of used excavation equipment, it might be useful to consider cultural differences before deciding to buy new or used excavators. Where you buy from and where the excavator has been working could make a big difference to the success of your purchase.

Japan is the world's leader in the manufacture of excavators and compact or mini excavators – digging equipment that is increasingly in demand in the United States. The Komatsu excavator, Yanmar Excavators, Hitachi hydraulic excavators and Mitsubishi excavators, to name but a few, are all produced in Japan. The Japanese have used this equipment for nearly three decades in large volume. In recent times, the Japanese economy has dropped off which has created off-leasing and repossessions meaning used excavators in Japan are now commonplace. This has enabled both American and Japanese companies to take advantage of the situation. A huge potential for big savings for US companies who are looking for used excavators for sale has been created.

This presents some important considerations for the potential buyer such as - Is the equipment of good quality and therefore dependable?

Companies need to know if the used machinery they are thinking about purchasing is likely to fall apart on them making it cheaper to have bought new in the first place. This is nor likely, however, since the Japanese have strict maintenance regimes within their organizations. Replacement parts are readily available as the original machines were built locally. Therefore the equipment undergoes more regular servicing than in many other countries.

The type of soil in Japan is another consideration as it is generally more machine-friendly and has less potential to damage heavy equipment than in other conditions. So put that together with the high standard management principals of the Japanese and you end up with excavators that are subject to less wear and tear than in other countries making them a lower risk to the purchaser.

However, you may not want to buy Japanese and in that case here are a few tips to help you get the best buy:

If at all possible, buy locally so you can take the used excavator for a test drive. Pay attention to how the machine feels overall. For example, do the tracks run smoothly in both directions, is the arm responsive to the controls and does the engine sound like it is running well? Also, carry out some visual checks. Look at the undercarriage of your used excavator for rust, excessive wear or poor repair work. Check the hydraulics. Do the seals have any leaks? Similarly check the engine for oil leaks and other signs of poor maintenance such as cracked hoses or worn belts, etc. If the price includes any attachments such as a used excavator bucket make sure they are in good condition and fit the excavator properly.

Whether you decide to buy new or used is going to depend on a number of factors. If your daily work will depend upon the reliability and durability of the excavator and you have the cash or credit available it's probably worth investing in a new machine. If you only intend to use it occasionally, however, you can make huge savings by buying used excavators.

Reading more articles on this website and then talking to your local excavator dealers should help you decide.

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