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Factor in the dealer and service issues

While backhoe-loader performance specifications and options differentiate machines, dealer support and warranty arguably play an even greater role.

"Probably 60% of the decision to purchase a certain brand from a certain person is the dealer and my relationship with them, in particular the sales people," says Garber at Dixie Excavating.

The service department is also critical. "I use the dealer to do my maintenance," says Garber. "I don't carry a mechanic." Benefits go beyond not having to fight for technicians, which are in short supply. "They have the records of your machine when you get ready to sell it or trade it in."

Preventing costly downtime is another issue. "One of the biggest things I really look at is warranty of the machine," says Burr. "We are on a five-year rotation now. We have never done that before. We used to keep them until they would not run any longer."

Finally, don't overlook the actual operating costs. "Service intervals are also important in order to know how often you are going to change oils, for example," says Tyler. "Over a three-year period, service items such as oil and filters can add up. A machine that needs servicing half as often as a competitor can really help to lower daily operating costs."