Excavator Rental: Everything You Need to Know

In the world of heavy equipment, one of the most versatile and useful pieces of machinery available is an excavator. This is why you will see at least one of them on almost every construction site that you encounter.

As their name implies, excavators are designed primarily for excavation work, such as digging trenches or ditches, lowering a basement floor, installing an irrigation or drainage system, digging a foundation, and waterproofing a foundation.

However, excavators are not only good for digging, they are often considered the swiss army knife of the fleet. Their powerful arm makes them the perfect machine to use for demolition jobs, such as demolishing a building, pool, concrete, or even other machinery and with the right attachments, an excavator can be used to cut down trees and brush, create mulch, drive piles and shafts, level land, or construct retainer walls.

No matter what industry you are in, if you use heavy equipment, an excavator will likely complement your fleet!

What are the benefits of renting an excavator over buying one?

There are several great reasons why you should consider renting an excavator rather than buying one. Budgeting is a big factor companies look at when considering purchase over rental. Naturally, the purchase/financing costs are considered, but the ability to budget maintenance and repairs as a part of a regular rental fee and not a variable cost can help in a company’s ability to forecast costs and therefore bid appropriately on upcoming jobs.

Maintenance and repair costs can add up to large sums over time when you own a machine. However, since most rentals include provisions for maintenance, you may not be responsible for additional expenditures when your excavator is rented.

Another great benefit of renting an excavator is that you will always have access to the latest and greatest technology since most rental fleets keep themselves stocked with the newest and most innovative models of excavators.

On the other hand, if you buy an excavator, you are limited to the technology available at the time of purchase, or in need of equipment technology upgrades that may or may not be available for the model you have purchased.

What steps should you take when renting an excavator?

While it is clear that there are many potential benefits to renting an excavator rather than buying one, before you can start to reap those advantages, you must figure out the rental process.

Getting the most out of your excavator rental requires that you do some considerable planning and research ahead of time to ensure you find a rental arrangement that works best for you.

If you decide to go the rental route, it is important to have a solid understanding of the following steps that you should take during this process:

1. Confirm the type of excavator you need

Since excavators come in a wide variety of types and sizes, your first step should be looking into the specific size and attachment that will best suit your needs.

This is always determined by the project requirements. What hole in your fleet is this excavator filling and are there any special requirements (environmental, spacial, safety-related) that need to be addressed? A reputable rental firm will ask these questions to ensure you are getting the right equipment for the job.

2. Know your budget and how long you need the excavator

Once you have an idea of the type of excavator you require, the next step is to sort out how long you will need it for, as you will have to decide on a rental agreement period when you first rent the machine. Most of the time, you will have daily, weekly, and monthly rental options available to you.

As with most rentals, longer term agreements generally come with a lower hourly/daily rate average, while a shorter-term rental might have a higher cost/hour or day.

Of course, it is usually possible to extend your rental period if you end up needing your rented excavator for longer than expected. If you are looking to return your rental early, there may be an adjustment to the cost to reflect the difference in average cost for the time period the equipment was actually rented for.

3. Source your rental

Keeping all of the factors mentioned above in mind, start looking into what your options are in terms of sourcing your rental excavator.

There are many suppliers available, so it may be overwhelming at first to narrow that list down. But take things such as available equipment brands, contract types, and machine specifics into account as you make your decision. Make sure you understand the process if you need to keep the equipment longer or return the equipment early. Get quotes from various equipment suppliers as well so that you can get an idea of price comparisons between the different options that are available and check the Blue Book Rental Rate Guide.

How Great West Equipment Can Help You Rent an Excavator for Your Needs

If you are looking for an excavator rental option that will meet all of your needs, Great West Equipment can certainly help. We have a sizable stock of Volvo excavators available for rent.

All of our machines available for rent have low hours and have been thoroughly maintained by our team of experienced equipment technicians. Therefore, you can be confident that you will get a machine that performs well and meets your expectations.

We also carry a large assortment of excavator attachments that you can rent along with your excavator to make it suitable for any job. If you are unsure what attachments would be most effective for your project, we would gladly provide guidance. Our logistics team would also be happy to arrange for equipment hauls.

​​For more information about our excavator rental options or to learn more about the different types of excavators we have in stock, call Great West Equipment at 1-833-730-0613 or contact us here.