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Used Heavy Equipment - Shopping Tips

Sometimes it’s better to think twice before spending a lot of money on new heavy equipment or construction machinery. You can save an large amount of your investment funds by buying used machinery. But before you get to make such a decision you might want to think it through.

Used heavy equipment might be a solution for your business as long as you make sure the used machinery works as it should. Of course, it is used, but used machinery is typically refurbished and has technical reviews. But perhaps your personal experience is better than all that criteria. Even if the used machinery looks just fine, is a famous brand or the seller convinced you about the quality of his or her used machinery, you should get try to test it before you buy it. Always try to test the used machinery before you buy it or have someone to test the used machinery for you. Scrape, dig, lift, dump, push, whatever the vehicle has function for. Go through all the used machinery functions and they all work.

Visual inspection is another way of checking the used heavy equipment. Even if you have already made up your mind about buying used heavy machinery, you should be entitled to a good bargain. And a good bargain means you get good quality used heavy equipment for less. Take your time inspecting the used heavy equipment, and try to cover all the important areas. Used heavy equipment paint quality is not critical. However rust is an issue, so try to see if there are any rust patches or holes covered just for “cosmetic” reason. Grab a tool and try pushing or even hitting on suspected areas of the used heavy machinery to see if there is any rust falling on the ground. Slide under the used machinery and search for leaks. Test the possible leaking problem of the used machinery after you’ve been through the test drive. Also check valves and hoses before the test drive, and see after it if there are any leaks present in these places.

The testing shouldn’t stop here. Listen to the engine running for more than a minute or two. Also listen to the hydraulics when the used heavy equipment is performing its special duties. Try to detect any kind weird smells like burning oil or electrical short circuits. When you get behind the wheel or the levers, try to feel if the controls work as they should. However, you should keep in mind one thing: even the new heavy equipment may be faulty at times, which is why you should be prepared to face all problems that may arise with your used machinery, and not just assume the problem was caused by the fact that the machinery was old.

As a final advice on your shopping adventure for used heavy equipment, try to avoid buying from individuals that have no knowledge of construction equipment. Construction equipment dealers can often provide maintenance service and warranty with your used heavy equipment that can stretch from 30 to 60 days, making sure that unexpected problems will be dealt with professionally.

And, of course, don’t forget to negotiate the price of used heavy equipment. You can find a dealer that is flexible with pricing and negotiation and give you a better deal that a private owner. Good luck shopping for used machinery.

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Minis to titanic trucks

A 660-cc, three-cylinder engine provides a whopping 50-horsepower. That sliding side door must be a huge selling feature.

n CUBE: Made in Japan, Cube looks like . . . a cube. The payoff is an amazingly spacious interior and a huge back door allows maximum use of it.

A 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine offers 107-horsepower and spirited performance. A stretched version, called the Cube Cubic actually offers three rows of seating. Rumour has it that Cube is coming to the US for the ‘09 model year.

My favourite Nissan Mini car. Made in Sunderland, England, Micra is currently Nissan’s best-selling car in Europe.

Built on the first shared platform within the Renault-Nissan Alliance, it comes in three and five door hatchback models, as well as a two-door hard-top convertible called the C+C. A fun little car to drive, Micra buyers have a choice of four small engines, including a diesel.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance goes back to 1999 and the lopsided partnership between the two companies appears to be working. Renault owns 44.4 per cent of Nissan, while Nissan has a 15-per cent-stake in Renault.

The alliance shares common goals and has led to platform and powertrain sharing, plus combined purchasing advantages, yet both companies have distinct identities and brands.

How well is it working? Combined Renault and Nissan vehicle sales were a record 6,160,046 units or 9.1 per cent of the global automotive market in calendar year 2007.

Among those on show at 360 were two new ‘09 Nissan models, the just-released Murano and yet-to-be-released Maxima.

The second-generation Murano offers new exterior and interior styling and it’s built on a new advanced D-platform, first introduced on the 2007 Altima.

A VQ-series 3.5-litre V6 rated at 265-horsepower provides power and it’s mated to a second-generation CVT (auto transmission) with ASC (adaptive shift control).

The ‘09 Maxima is the seventh generation of Nissan’s flagship sedan. Made in Smyrna, Tenn., the Maxima is designed to be a four-door sports car.

Nissan calls its new exterior-design theme “liquid motion” and describes as “a powerful and beautiful surface, like the undulation of a wave.” A new Elite Package includes a fixed, full centre console that creates four seating positions.

The km/litre fuel consumption figures used in this article are based on a Japanese government test. They may differ with Canadian fuel economy test results, which are expressed in litres/100 km.

That’s it for this week. Ever heard of a Wingroad, Clipper, Elgrand or a Kubistar?

These vehicles and more, including Nissan’s new performance superstar the GT-R, are reviewed next week.

Bob McHugh is a freelance automotive journalist, writing on behalf of BCAA.

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