3 Mistakes You Should Not Make When Renting an Excavator
Homeowners who would like to perform home improvement projects may wish to rent earthmoving equipment to ease their work. However, some of those homeowners may be disappointed when the equipment that they rent fails to work as expected because they made mistakes during the renting process. This article discusses some of those costly mistakes that you shouldn't make while selecting an excavator to hire.
Focusing Only on Engine Horsepower
It is wise to consider how much power the engine of a piece of earthmoving equipment is capable of producing. However, it is unwise to focus all your energy on looking for the excavator with the highest horsepower rating. This is because the machine may perform poorly despite having a high horsepower rating. Such a possibility exists because the excavator may have an inferior hydraulics system that can't take full advantage of the horsepower of that engine. It is therefore better for you to pay more attention to the hydraulic system so that you can select a machine that will work effectively. For instance, pick an excavator with auxiliary hydraulics so that it is possible for you to use a variety of attachments to perform different tasks during your project.
Ignoring Tail Swing
Tail swing refers to how much space is needed for the back of the cab to rotate as the excavator is being used. Minimal tail swing enables an excavator to operate in tight spaces without damaging adjoining structures. Ignoring tail swing is therefore a recipe for being unable to use the excavator in a constricted section of your property. Avoid such a disappointment by selecting an excavator with the least amount of tail swing so that you will be able to use the machine anywhere that you want to use it on your property.
Being Obsessed with Comfort Features
Excavator manufacturers now include a wide range of comfort features, such as air conditioning, heated seats and fully enclosed cabs. Such features can dazzle you and make you to forget that those comfort features are just extras to a functional machine. Besides, you are likely to keep moving out of the cab in order to inspect the jobsite or change the attachments on the excavator. The obsession with comfort features is therefore not justified because you will spend a limited amount of time inside the excavator cab. You should therefore only consider comfort features once you have worked out all the other excavator performance aspects, such as whether tracks or wheels are better for your application.
Explain your needs to excavation experts so that you receive professional help in case you are unsure about which particular excavator will be best suited for the tasks that you would like to perform during your home improvement project.