Why Renting Equipment in Winter Makes Sense

Do you own a construction company or other operation that relies on heavy equipment? Depending on your location, climate and the nature of your business, you may need to supplement your fleet for the winter season. For many companies, that means renting one or more machines or work tool attachments that can handle all the frigid weather and snow.

The Cat^® Rental Store is your one-stop headquarters for high-quality winter equipment rental units at competitive daily, weekly, monthly and long-term rates. We feature a wide selection of products from Caterpillar and other leading manufacturers. You'll receive excellent support every step of the way.

Why Do You Need Equipment in the Winter?

Winter equipment rentals make it possible to manage snow removal with ease. When winter weather brings snow and ice to driveways, parking lots and sidewalks, your equipment can pick up, transport, dump, push, plow and sweep it away, making sidewalks safe for pedestrians and roads clear for vehicles. Your city ordinance or lease agreement may also require clearing snow, so having suitable equipment on hand is an excellent way to ensure you can comply with regulations.

If your area has a mix of mild and harsh winters or has variable snowfall within the season, renting is best. Renting equipment in winter allows you to clear snow at your job site or facility and provide snow removal services for your clients.

The Benefits of Winter Equipment Leases

Renting equipment for your winter tasks offers several advantages, including:

• Low costs: Renting is one of the most cost-effective ways to get machinery. Rental agreements often have an affordable monthly payment, and zero-down financing options may be available. Rental equipment also comes with a lower sales tax.
• Temporary use: Since your company uses winter equipment for only a few months, it may sit in storage the rest of the year. That makes renting equipment for winter ideal. You can get the tool or machine you need for the season and return it when the rental period is over.
• Machine upgrade opportunities: Renting presents a chance to use the machine before committing to purchasing it. When the rental period ends, you can buy a similar new or used unit to add it to your inventory or rent another model to explore its features.
• Less maintenance: Maintaining equipment costs time and money, expenses you can avoid by renting your winter machinery since your rental dealer will be responsible for any maintenance or repairs it might need. Renting equipment alleviates some of your routine tasks related to machine care, letting your crew spend more time on important jobs.
• No storage requirements: When you rent equipment for the winter only, you won't need to find storage space for the warmer months when it sits unused. That means you can save room in your facility and the costs associated with long-term storage, like equipment preparation and theft protection.
• Job site delivery: Renting equipment from your local dealer often comes with the option for delivery to and from your work site. Letting your dealer take care of the delivery will give you and your team more time to focus on your project.
• Tax deductible: You can write off the rental cost as an operational expense since leases are tax deductible.

Types of Equipment You Might Rent in Winter

Snow removal presents a need for certain types of heavy equipment. You may also require a backup power source to keep the electricity on during an outage caused by a snowstorm.

Examples of the equipment that can serve you well in winter include:

Backhoe Loaders

Backhoe loaders are small, highly maneuverable machines perfect for digging and shoveling snow. Their torque helps backhoe loaders handle heavy, wet snow loads easily to form compact piles. The clutch helps operators maneuver back and forth quickly, making these machines ideal in small parking lots or areas with obstacles. You can use various snow removal attachments with a backhoe loader, making them versatile resources for winter work.

Skid Steer Loaders

Skid steer loaders make ideal winter equipment. They can turn in tight circles and maneuver in constricted spaces tractors and telehandlers can't, like sidewalks and parking lots. Wheeled skid steers have good traction in the snow, and tracked skid steers are best for construction sites. You can fit compact, versatile skid steers with a variety of attachments, transforming them into efficient snow removal equipment.

Compact Track Loaders

Compact track loaders (CTLs) make great winter equipment rentals if you need to plow large open spaces. A CTL provides excellent traction on slippery surfaces and can move a large volume of ice and snow in a short time due to its high lifting capacity. Like other equipment, a CTL allows you to outfit it with attachments for snow stacking and clearing.

Generators

Power generation equipment like backup and portable diesel and gas generators can keep your facility or job site up and running during a power outage. A loss of power can cause downtime, unsafe working conditions, data loss or regulation violations. Powering your equipment with a generator allows you to keep working like normal until your main power source is restored.

Temperature Control Systems

Temperature control systems provide heat for equipment, personnel and the ground.

Forced air heaters are portable units to supplement an overworked HVAC system or keep workers warm at a winter job site, improving worker productivity and equipment efficiency.

Ground heaters thaw frozen ground to make processes like concrete pouring, pipelaying, trenching and digging easier. Using a ground thaw rental keeps projects on schedule by preparing the ground for work.

Attachments

You can add a variety of attachments to convert many types of machines into snow removal equipment:

• Buckets
• Snowblowers
• Snow plows
• Snow pushes
• Angle brooms

When Should You Consider Renting Winter Equipment?

A snow equipment rental makes sense for your company if you only need it in the winter. Renting gives you more flexibility since you can rent a machine for a day or two to remove snow from a recent storm. Or, if you're in an area that experiences heavy snowfall throughout the winter, a seasonal rental can provide a practical, cost-effective solution. Either way, you only pay for the equipment when you need it.

How to Decide if Winter Equipment Leases Are Right for You

Renting equipment in winter can help you manage your projects and tasks during the challenging cold season. Consider these factors when deciding if your business can benefit from this service:

• Do you have the capital for a purchase? If not, renting equipment is a cost-effective way to get the equipment you need.
• Will you use the machine for a lot of work hours? Leasing may be best if you only need the machine temporarily.
• What do you want to do with the equipment when your project is complete? With rentals, you'll turn the equipment in at your dealer. With purchases, you'll need to store the machine, sell it or find another use for it.

Why Choose The Cat^® Rental Store as Your Winter Equipment Rental Source?

The Cat Rental Store makes renting winter weather equipment a fast, easy process. Our knowledgeable staff can match you with the right machine or attachment for your needs. We'll be there to handle all maintenance and repairs for as long as you use your rental.

Contact Us to Learn More Today

Browse our inventory or call 1-800-RENT-CAT to learn more. You can also get a quick quote online. Rent whatever you need from people who do whatever it takes.