The Used Market Can Solve a Timing Problem
For many contractors, buying a crane isn't something they can put off indefinitely.
A project gets awarded. A customer needs a crane on-site. A new piece of equipment would be ideal—but the manufacturer says the lead time is 12 months, 18 months, or potentially longer. The project isn't going to wait, and neither is the customer.
That's one of the reasons the used crane market continues to play such an important role for businesses that depend on lifting equipment. When you need a crane in months rather than years, a good used machine can provide something a new crane sometimes can't:
Availability.
There are certainly advantages to buying new equipment. You get the latest technology, a new factory warranty, and equipment configured specifically for your needs.
But new isn't always the best answer for every project.
If your company has a contract starting in three months and the new crane you want won't be available for another year, the decision becomes less about whether you prefer new or used and more about whether you can afford to wait. For many contractors, the answer is no.
A properly selected used crane can allow you to:
- Put equipment to work sooner
- Take on projects that require additional lifting capacity rather than only what one job calls for
- Expand your fleet without waiting for a factory build
- Potentially reduce the capital required compared with buying new
- Acquire equipment that may be difficult to obtain through normal new-equipment channels
The Best Used Cranes Aren't Always Advertised
One of the biggest misconceptions about the used crane market is that everything available for sale can be found online. It can't. Some of the best
equipment changes hands through relationships. A contractor may own a crane that isn't being publicly advertised because they aren't actively trying to sell it. They may be willing to consider an offer if the right buyer comes along, but they have no reason to put the machine on every equipment website. These are often the opportunities that don't show up when you simply search:
"Used cranes for sale."
Finding those machines requires knowing the market and, more importantly, knowing the people in it. That's where relationships become valuable.
An experienced Crane Market Specialist is often able to identify equipment that isn't publicly available, contact owners directly, and determine whether there is a legitimate opportunity before a machine ever becomes a public listing.
Buying Used Isn't About Finding the Cheapest Crane
Price is obviously important, but the lowest asking price is rarely the best value. When evaluating a used crane, there are several factors that can have a significant impact on what the machine is actually worth.
- Hours and utilization
Two cranes of the same year and model can have dramatically different values depending on their operating hours and how they were used.
- Configuration
Boom length, jib, counterweight, auxiliary equipment, blocks, balls, drums, attachments, and other configuration details can substantially affect both value, resale value and desirability and usefulness.
- Maintenance history
A well-maintained crane with good records can be worth considerably more than an equivalent machine with an uncertain maintenance history.
- Certification and inspection
The condition of the crane and its current certification status matter when determining how quickly it can be put to work.
- Location
Transportation costs can make a significant difference in the actual acquisition cost of a large crane.
A machine that looks inexpensive on paper can become much less attractive after transportation, inspection, repairs, and other costs are considered.
- Market demand
Some models and configurations have a much stronger used market than others.
Knowing what buyers are currently looking for can be just as important as knowing what a machine is listed for.
The Most Important Question Isn't "What Does It Cost?"
It is:
"What will it cost me to put this crane to work?"
A $1 million crane that needs substantial repairs, transportation, parts, and downtime may ultimately cost more than a $1.1 million machine that is job-ready.
That's why buying used equipment requires more than searching listings and comparing asking prices.
You need to understand the total acquisition cost and the expected value of the machine once it is ready to work.
The Other Side of the Used Market: What Should You Avoid?
Knowing where to find good equipment is only half the job. Knowing what to walk away from can be just as important.
A machine may look attractive because of its price, but there may be reasons it is priced below the market like,
Significant deferred maintenance
Poor or incomplete records
Difficult-to-source components
Unfavorable configuration
Excessive hours
Structural or mechanical concerns
Certification issues
Expensive transportation requirements
Limited demand for the particular model or configuration
A good Crane Sales Consultant should not simply help you find a crane.
They should help you determine whether the crane actually makes sense for your operation.
Relationships Matter in the Used Crane Market
The used crane business is still a relationship-driven industry. Contractors know contractors. Equipment managers know equipment managers. Fleet owners know what other fleet owners are running. And people who have been involved in the market for years tend to know who takes care of their equipment, who is likely to sell, what equipment is coming available, and which machines deserve a closer look. That's difficult to replicate with an internet search. Sometimes the crane you're looking for isn't listed anywhere. Sometimes it takes one phone call to find it.
When Does Buying Used Make the Most Sense?
The used market can be particularly attractive when:
You need equipment quickly.
If the project starts before a new crane can be delivered, used equipment may be the only practical way to meet the schedule.
You need a specific configuration.
The used market can sometimes provide equipment that already has the boom, jib, counterweight, attachments, and other options you need.
You want to expand capacity without committing to a new machine.
A good used crane can allow a contractor to add lifting capacity while managing capital expenditures.
You're entering a new market.
Buying used can sometimes provide a way to test a new type of work or geographic market without making the largest possible equipment investment.
The right machine becomes available.
Sometimes the best reason to buy used is simply that the right crane becomes available at the right time.
The Used Crane Market Is About More Than Availability
The advantage of the used market isn't simply that there are cranes sitting in yards today.
It's that there are thousands of cranes already working—or sitting ready—in fleets across the country and around the world.
Some will be available publicly. Many won't. The challenge is identifying the right machine, determining what it is actually worth, understanding its condition and configuration, and getting the transaction done efficiently. That's where experience and relationships matter.
At Crane Sales Group, we work with contractors, crane owners, steel erectors, industrial companies, and other equipment owners to help identify and source used cranes. If you're looking for a specific make, model, capacity, or configuration, don't assume it has to be sitting on an equipment website waiting for you to find it.
It may be out there. You just have to know where to look.
Looking for a specific crane?
Tell us what you're looking for—including the make, model, capacity, year, configuration, or timeframe—and we'll put our market knowledge and relationships to work.
