ForConstructionPros.com

By Kim Berndtson

How many attachments do you own? How many do you wish you owned? If your answer to both questions is the same, you're likely getting maximum utilization from your attachments. But if you own a lot of attachments that you rarely use, or don't have the right attachments to make infrequent or one-off jobs most efficient, you may want to take a look at rental instead.

With the large volume of attachments available for skid steers, excavators, backhoe-loaders and other carriers, maintaining an inventory of every attachment you might use some day can not only be daunting but impractical and expensive. That's why, in some situations, contractors turn to rental houses and equipment dealer rental departments to find an attachment that is right for the job.

"Rental is a cost-effective way to have the right work tool [attachment] for the right job," says Chris Gustafson, Caterpillar. "Contractors will own the carrier (skid steer or mini-excavator) and the most-often utilized tools. Renting the other tools allows the contractor to maximize the usage of the carrier."

Utilization and availability
To determine which attachments are better suited for rental and which may be more cost effective to purchase, Gustafson suggests working with your dealer or rental service provider to determine what's best for your individual situation or job.

Typically, the dealer or rental house staff will start by inquiring about the scope and frequency of the work. "We ask how often they will need the attachment," says Scott Pierce, Sunbelt Rentals.