We hire machines out for a living and take buy enquiries on fleet machines — so we can play this straight.
Hire wins when…
- Usage is under ~30–40% of working days. An idle machine still costs money: finance, storage, insurance, compliance.
- Jobs vary. This month a 19ft electric, next month a tracked machine. Owning one machine locks you into one answer.
- You don’t want the compliance tail. Owned EWPs need periodic inspections, 10-year major inspections, maintenance records and storage.
Buying wins when…
- The machine works most weeks. A fit-out crew using a 19ft electric 4 days a week will out-spend a purchase price within a couple of years of hire fees.
- You have storage, transport and a maintenance plan. A trailer (Brian James DP35 class) or truck, and someone who owns servicing.
The middle path
Long-term hire gets you a dedicated machine without capital outlay, with maintenance included — often the right answer for 6–18 month projects. And if you’re leaning toward buying, hiring the exact model first is the cheapest test drive you’ll ever get. Every Equip Hire product page has an Enquire to buy button for exactly this.
FAQs
Can I buy an ex-hire machine from Equip Hire? We welcome buy enquiries on fleet machines — enquire on any product page.
What should I check before buying used? See What to Check Before Buying a Used Scissor Lift.
Need a machine for this job? Get a hire quote — tell us the job and suburb and we’ll quote the right machine and delivery. Or use Help Me Choose. Call 0472 721 234.