Craigslist Heavy Equipment For Sale (2024)

FAQs

What is the most profitable piece of heavy equipment? ›

Excavators, particularly mini excavators, are one of the most versatile and lucrative pieces of heavy equipment for making money.

Limited depreciation: New heavy machinery will immediately depreciate when taken off the lot and can depreciate significantly within the first year. The value of new equipment can depreciate as much as 40% from the original price.

Notably, the adjective “heavy” does not refer to the machine's weight or size, but rather to the heavy-duty nature of the jobs it performs. For example, there is a vast difference in size and weight between a mining dump truck, a skid steer loader, and a small excavator, but they are all considered heavy equipment.

Number. Yes, all equipment with a VIN or serial number, should be required to provide it.

Typically, once a piece of equipment weighs more than 5,000 pounds it's classified as heavy construction machinery. This could include forklifts, backhoes, excavators, and more.

OSHA Regulations for Heavy Equipment. When it comes to heavy equipment, OSHA has specific safety standards that must be followed to protect workers from hazards. These regulations cover a wide range of equipment, including but not limited to cranes, bulldozers, forklifts, and excavators.

Excavator. The excavator is the gold standard in construction and a highly versatile piece of equipment. These machines (which can also be called track hoes and hoes) come in a wide range of sizes and, depending on the manufacturer, have an operating weight of around 30,000 lbs up to more than 200,000 lbs.

Don't be a Victim to Buying Stolen Construction Equipment

In our industry, we refer to this type of equipment as, “non-titled equipment.” As you may already know, most construction equipment like excavators, bulldozers, and skid steers do not have titles.

How do you prove ownership of equipment? ›

Proof of ownership is documentation that proves an item belonged to you before it was damaged or stolen. Documentation can be bank statements, receipts, online registration or photos.

Another way to check ownership of used equipment is to ask or look for the item's serial number or PIN (Product Identification Number). Once you have the item's unique number, have your local police station or a service run the number to see if the item has been reported stolen.

While excavators, bulldozers, cranes, and loaders are generally among the most profitable due to their essential roles and high demand in construction projects, the specific most profitable equipment may vary based on regional market conditions and industry trends.

For instance, small equipment businesses typically have higher margins: the gross profit margin for cycles can be as high as 70% for example. Instead, heavy construction and other equipment companies have gross margins of about 40% and net profit margins around 15-20%.

Most Profitable: Mini Excavators

They are relatively low cost to buy, but you can charge a relatively high price when billing. The cost for mini excavators also benefits because transportation is inexpensive, fuel use is low, and maintenance costs are mini, too!

Skid steer loaders are known for being one of the most versatile pieces of heavy equipment on any job site. They are available in a range of sizes and can load, push and carry dirt and other materials.