With winter approaching there are many preparations to think about in terms of the rental business — namely, preparing inactive equipment for storage and readying popular winter rental items, such as light towers, mobile generators and heaters, for use. There are three keys to success and profitability during the outdoor off-season. The first is to ensure that idle equipment is maintained and stored properly so that it's ready to go to work when the ground thaws. The second is to winterize and perform maintenance on equipment that will work throughout the cold season. The third is to stock the rental fleet with items that will continue to bring in revenue and serve customers throughout the winter.
Rental season extenders
Heaters make conditions more tolerable for workers on frigid jobsites, and light towers can prolong the workday, giving contractors more time to complete the job despite having less natural light to work by. These items also improve conditions so that utilization of other equipment can be extended.
Hydronic surface heaters, a new product developed over the past decade, are designed to allow contractors to thaw ground and continue building year round. Hydronic heaters are also a suitable way to cure concrete in cold weather. Benefits of employing hydronic heaters on winter jobsites, according to Ed Jaroszewicz, vice president of sales and marketing for Spring Lake, Mich.-based Ground Heaters, include an increased quality of work, decreased project costs and keeping on schedule.
“Contractors are realizing the value of controlling their construction environment,” says Jaroszewicz. “These units are designed to keep the worksite warm and dry, allowing the job to move forward no matter what the temperature.”
Light towers and generators can extend the workday into the evening and overnight hours, supplying light, power and comfort on dreary winter days and nights.
“In the northern climate, light tower rentals tend to be brisk between late August through November as the days get shorter and contractors need to complete projects before the coldest temperatures set in,” says Marc Leupi, pump, power and light product manager for Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based Wacker Corp.
In Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, wintertime mercury drops to minus 40 F, but the work continues, making reliable generators — which power everything from jobsite housing and tools, to cokers — critical equipment to have.
Hertz Equipment Rental worked with its generator supplier, Wacker, when it first moved into the western Canada market in 1999 to develop a package of options that would allow its generators to work in extremely cold temperatures. Hertz, which used to rent only about a half-dozen generators there, now has more than 150 rental units in the market, nearly half of which are supplied by the Fort McMurray branch. The collaboration led to the development of Wacker's cold-weather package for generators.
“This series of options includes several critical components to aid in cold-weather operation including temperature-activated shutters, LCD strip heater and a block heater,” says Leupi. “These components work together to allow generators to work in cold weather down to a reported minus 70 F.”
Snow removal attachments, which can provide additional rental revenue, include blades, pushers, blowers, brooms and spreaders. Mike Fitzgerald, loader product specialist for West Fargo, N.D.-based Bobcat Co., suggests that rental companies work with their equipment dealers to create a long-term rental agreement to supplement fleets with additional snow removal equipment as needed during the winter.
Alsip, Ill.-based Blue Island Equipment Rental works with facilities, such as shopping malls, in the wintertime to develop short-term agreements that allow the equipment to sit on site, so that it's on hand when snow falls.
Coming in from the outdoors and thinking creatively about indoor projects that require rental equipment can also help rental companies stay busy and profitable in the off-season. Winter months provide an excellent opportunity to increase rentals of indoor remodeling equipment such as tile saws, floor sanders, wallpaper steamers, carpet-laying tools, hammers, concrete saws and heaters, suggests Tim Johnson, president of Janesville, Wis.-based Janesville Rental.
Winter maintenance tips
In harsh winter environments, equipment, whether it's being rented or stored, should be winterized. Manufacturers agree that rental companies should first consult owners' manuals for guidelines on which types of oils and fluids to use during the winter.
“We get service calls every fall from customers that can't get their tractor or light tower to start,” says Doug Dahlgren, product manager for Allmand Bros. “More often than not, we find that they didn't change oil viscosities, or they haven't cleaned and serviced their battery, or they haven't conducted any of a number of standard winter preparation steps. So these are real issues that come up every year, and owners/operators would be a lot better off if they implemented a winter maintenance procedure into their overall maintenance schedule.”
Equipment that will be utilized in cold weather conditions may require either an arctic fuel, which is specially refined to harness the power of No. 2 fuel while retaining the movement properties of a lighter fuel, or a blended fuel.
In addition, hydraulic fuel viscosity should also be checked to make sure it meets the lowest seasonal temperatures in the region, and engine coolant should be checked to ensure that it meets the glycol concentration required for good freezing protection, according to Diego Navarro, service marketing manager for Moline, Ill.-based John Deere.
Manufacturers also suggest checking tire pressure and condition because tires lose pressure more quickly in cold temperatures. Batteries should be fully charged and have the correct electrolyte level and concentration. Air filters, fuel filters, recoil starter ropes, and cables and connections should also be checked.
Equipment that will be stored over the winter months should have fresh engine oil and a gas stabilizer added to the fuel tank. Fuel should be drained down, leaving only enough to run the machine in preparation for storage. Diesel-powered equipment requires additives to prevent the growth of bacteria in the fuel tank. Change spark plugs on gasoline-powered equipment and lubricate all grease points, chains and sprockets prior to storage.
Antifreeze should be checked to ensure it can withstand the lowest possible temperature expected where the equipment is stored. Fluids more than 2 years old should be changed, regardless of condition.
Manufacturers recommend storing equipment inside or undercover. If equipment must be stored outdoors, cover it loosely with plastic, then secure.
For more equipment winterization tips, please visit the October issue at www.rermag.com.
