Purchases take planning, such as when you buy a home or a car. You do your research, look at houses, test drive cars, and then make your final decision based on all the information you've gathered. The same holds true for when you buy used heavy equipment. You'll need to do your research, perhaps test drive or use the heavy equipment you are considering, and then make your purchase. Wagner Used Equipment specializes in used heavy equipment for sale. We have dealer locations throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and far west Texas. In addition, we also offer heavy equipment rentals, and we sell new heavy machinery as well. With our outstanding field service technicians and our Cat Parts Store, we have got your heavy equipment needs covered. Below, we'll offer up tips as you are looking at used heavy equipment for sale. Contact our Caterpillar dealer today!

TIPS FOR BUYING USED HEAVY EQUIPMENT

Discovery & Research

The first thing you should do before buying used heavy equipment is discover the purpose and the reason behind the purchase. Similar to those who buy a minivan because their family is growing, you'll need to determine the purpose behind the purchase of your used heavy equipment. A good way to do this is to ask yourself the following:

• What will be the primary use of your used heavy equipment?
• Will you need attachments in order to expand the capabilities of your used heavy equipment?
• Do you plan to expand your business? If so, would a larger piece of heavy equipment, such as a larger excavator, be better than a mini excavator?
• Do you have the storage space for a larger piece of heavy equipment?

Don't skimp on the why part. The last thing you want is to have to upgrade in a couple of years to a bigger machine and start this process all over again. There are a lot of brands of used heavy equipment, all different in many ways. While in general a skid loader is a skid loader any way you slice it and it performs the main job, there are differences in design that you may prefer over another. In addition, different brands make different attachments, which may make a difference in your decision as well. Plus, if you have a local dealer, such as a Cat dealer store, right down the road from your home or business, it makes sense to purchase your used heavy equipment for sale from them.

Inspect Your Heavy Equipment

Now that you've narrowed down your selection, it's time for inspection. With new heavy equipment, this part is unnecessary, but with used machinery, it's imperative you get a sense of the condition of all of the component parts. You'll want to ensure you check out all of the parts mentioned below.

• Engine. The engine is, of course, the power behind your incredibly powerful piece of heavy machinery you are about to buy. You'll want to check the color and odor of the smoke coming from the exhaust, which can give you information about the fuel injectors, head gasket, seals, and oil levels.
• Tires. Tires can be costly on a huge piece of heavy equipment. Check the condition of the tires in case they may need to be replaced soon, which would add on to the expense of your vehicle. You'll also want to check out the brakes, which can be an expensive fix as well.
• Undercarriage. You'll want to check the cylinders, loaders, arms, hoses, and the general condition of the equipment in order to ensure there are no cracks or leaks anywhere. If there are other signs of rough usage, such as dents or scratches, you'll want to investigate a bit more. Rust is something to look out for, too.
• Check the fluids. Fluids are super important to the health of your used heavy equipment. Engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, hydraulic fluid, and more can tell you the current condition of your machine, as well as serve as a clue as to how well your heavy equipment was cared for. Dirty fluids are never a good sign on heavy machinery.
• Overall condition of the heavy equipment. You'll want to check the welds, check that nuts are right, that no pins are missing, check the interior of the used heavy equipment, see if the lights work, etc. All of these little things add up to how well the heavy machine has been cared for, which can play into its overall health, longevity, and future repair needs.

Read the Logs

A piece of heavy machinery may look amazing on the outside, but it may have racked up a lot of operating hours, which is the main contributor to wear and tear of your used heavy equipment. While not a deal breaker, the number of hours of your heavy machinery can be a window into its use. You'll want to look for an official log either of the hours on the heavy machine or of the miles. Diesel engines can go a long time, into the tens of thousands of hours, but if your piece of used heavy equipment is near the top, you may want to consider the cost of the machine overall. Will you actually be saving money buying used versus buying new? A piece of heavy equipment should have a maintenance log as well, which can tell you if there have been any major problems that have been fixed in the past and if regular maintenance and upkeep have been performed. Many argue that maintenance is more important than hours logged. Wagner Used Equipment inspects all of our used heavy equipment we sell or that we take on consignment. We keep the maintenance records and record the hours logged. One of the main advantages of Wagner Equipment is that we sell both used and new heavy equipment, meaning if you think you'd benefit more from new, let us know. We'd be happy to give you all of the information you'll need to decide. Reach out to one of our Cat dealer locations today.

Reputation of Seller/Dealer

If you are buying your used heavy equipment from a dealer, you'll want to vet them to ensure they meet your standards. Check online reviews for a window into their customer service, or ask your friends, family, or other trusted business owner for referrals. If you are buying from an individual, you'll want to verify the title to make sure that they own the piece of used heavy machinery and not the bank. When you invest in a piece of heavy equipment, you are investing for years. You'll need support for when your heavy machinery breaks down, or when you have a question. Wagner Used Equipment has dealer locations throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and west Texas. This makes it extremely easy to get the help you need when you need it. With our over 200 field service technicians, we can come to you when your used heavy equipment needs repair. Our Cat Parts Store can be accessed online and you can order parts easily online, or if you need them right away, visit the nearest Cat dealer near you. When researching a piece of used heavy machinery, having great customer service support is key as well.

Rent Before You Buy

If you are unsure about your used heavy equipment decision, you may want to consider a heavy equipment rental from a reputable heavy equipment rental company such as Wagner Equipment Co. By renting a piece of heavy equipment, you will have a chance to test it out, understand its nuances, see how it drives, and determine if it will fit you and your needs. You can rent many different types of heavy equipment, for example if you are trying to decide between an excavator or a skid loader, or rent the different sizes of excavators to truly understand the capacity differences. By doing this you can prevent a buyer's remorse feeling down the road. Wagner Equipment Co offers the best heavy equipment rental in Colorado, New Mexico, and west Texas. You can rent for a day for a simple project, or for a week or month for a longer project. Contact us to learn more!

CHOOSE WAGNER USED EQUIPMENT CO FOR YOUR NEXT USED EQUIPMENT RENTAL

Buying used heavy equipment is a great way to prop up your business' inventory for use on jobs and saves money to boot. You can get great deals on older heavy equipment that still have a lot of life still left in them. Wagner Used Equipment Co specializes in helping you find the used heavy equipment you need, from power systems to Ag equipment and attachments. We can answer all of your questions and let you know what specials we are offering. We also offer used heavy equipment financing if you are in need. Our mission is to make it as easy as possible for you to perform your work, which is why we are an all-inclusive Cat dealer. We offer new, used, and rental heavy equipment. We service them and carry replacement parts. We offer machine control systems so you can maximize the efficiency of your heavy equipment. We even will take consignments, and we offer an online portal and app where you can make payments, request parts and service appointments, and so much more. We strive to do what is right by the customer always. Our core values include teamwork, excellence, accountability, safety, integrity, and communication. We want to help you find the perfect piece of heavy machinery that will suit you and your needs. Partner with us today!