Heavy Equipment Rentals - Try Before You Buy

Heavy equipment is the lifeblood of any contracting business. Having the right machinery for the job is what wins you bids and brings in a steady stream of work. Part of having the right equipment for the job is using the available technology to its fullest capabilities to reduce operating costs and maximize productivity.

If you’ve never taken advantage of the full range of Cat® Connect technologies available in today’s heavy equipment, you may be curious about how these advancements can improve your bottom line. Renting equipment before buying is the safe and smart way to familiarize yourself with new equipment technology before making a significant business investment.

Jump to a section:

• Test Cat Technology
• Overcome The Learning Curve
• Decide What Equipment To Buy
• Determine Return On Investment

Try Heavy Equipment First

When you rent heavy machinery, you take advantage of the “try before you buy” principle. Investing in heavy equipment is a major commitment, and you don’t want to take the plunge unless you’re sure of your purchase. You need to understand not only how the equipment works, but what’s its advantages are over other types, models or brands of equipment. You want to be sure that the equipment you buy is going to improve your bottom line in as many ways as possible for years to come.

Construction equipment renting is the perfect compromise for contractors who are in the market for new machinery. By renting equipment, you’ll experience what it would be like to own the equipment, but the risk is significantly reduced. When you follow the “try before you buy” strategy, you’ll get the following advantages of renting heavy equipment:

1. Test Cat® Technology

Cat technology has turned the job site's workhorses into smart, data-driven solutions that operate via a network rather than in silos. Cat Connect allows contractors and equipment operators to use their heavy machinery to make work safer, more efficient and more productive. Because of the rapid advancements in heavy machinery, many contractors are skeptical of what Cat Connect technology can do to improve their business operations and profitability. That’s why testing out Cat Connect before you invest is the smart thing to do.

By testing equipment with Cat Connect, you’ll see how this groundbreaking technology improves operations and profitability. Cat Connect can improve your:

• Productivity: Cat Connect is designed to optimize productivity by intelligently measuring maximum payloads and cycle times. Grading and compacting technologies also inform your operators so they can work more accurately and reduce re-work, keeping costs down.
• Equipment management: Cat Connect’s equipment management solutions give you insight into your machines' health, helping you to reduce downtime and decrease operating costs. With Cat Connect technology, you’ll know how well your equipment is running and how you can improve its efficiency to extend its lifespan.
• Safety: Nothing is more important than jobsite safety, and Cat Connect technology gives you the best chance at maintaining a culture of workplace safety. Cat Connect has smart technology capable of detecting and sensing safety hazards and improving the safe operation of heavy equipment. Fewer incidents mean a healthier bottom line.
• Sustainability: Holding your operation accountable to sustainability standards is easier and more efficient with Cat Connect. Cat technology allows you to monitor fuel burn and emissions so you can streamline your environmental reporting procedures and save time and money.

2. Overcome the Learning Curve

Heavy equipment is evolving all the time, and that means the learning curve might be substantial if you're used to other models. But it’s nothing you can’t overcome, and with the opportunity to rent heavy equipment, you’ll soon be on your way to intelligently and efficiently operating your equipment.

Many contractors have invested in heavy equipment and Cat Connect technology, and they’re now a valuable resource for others looking to make the jump. You can pull from their experiences to learn all you can about your heavy equipment before you invest. With the added support you’ll get from your dealer, you’ll be able to safely operate the equipment and familiarize yourself with all its available features and functions.

3. Decide What Equipment to Buy

One of the most important benefits of renting equipment before you buy is being able to decide on the right equipment. Not only do you need versatile equipment that will handle the types of jobs you’re performing, but you also need the right size equipment. An extended rental period gives you a better idea of the right equipment for the most common jobs you take on. Using undersized equipment for heavy-duty work is a surefire way to overload your machine and eat away at its lifespan.

On the other hand, using equipment that’s overkill for the job is inefficient and even dangerous. It burns more fuel than is necessary and increases operating time, which eats away at your profitability. As you rent equipment, you’ll find the right heavy machinery for your business and can use that experience to make a smart future investment.

4. Determine Return on Investment

When you give yourself the flexibility of construction equipment renting, you also have the opportunity to make a better financial decision. As you test out Cat technologies for equipment management, productivity and efficiency, you’ll be able to see whether these solutions help you cut costs. While renting equipment, have a system for recording results like:

• Equipment operating costs, such as operating time and fuel burn
• Job completion time and re-work
• Equipment downtime and idle time

Measure these benchmarks against your previous equipment operation. If you can clearly see how Cat Connect technology improved equipment productivity and minimized operating costs, then you can run the numbers. The amount that you’re able to save and pocket as profit can be measured against your potential investment in new heavy equipment. Being able to make informed investment decisions is just one of the many advantages of renting heavy equipment before buying.

The Cat Rental Store, Your Equipment Rental Partner

Throughout the rental phase, you’ll have plenty of support from your local dealer, whose technicians and technology experts can help you better understand the full spectrum of Cat machine capabilities. They’ll help you learn how to use machine control and guidance systems fully and will be able to advise you on the right programs to use for the specific job you’re performing.

Renting equipment is a versatile strategy, allowing you an opportunity to test out the latest Cat technology, overcome the initial learning curve and decide on the right equipment for you. When you try before you buy, you’ll make a better-informed purchase decision so that you’ll get a higher return on your investment.

To learn more about how to try before you buy, contact your local The Cat Rental Store today. Our massive network of heavy equipment rentals means you’ll have access to the latest Cat machines right away so you can begin to see the difference Cat technology can make in your business operations. Call 1-800-RENT-CAT or locate a dealer near you.