I’m looking into this too. Has anyone had good long-term experience with Altec or Versalift trucks in a growing utility fleet, especially when it comes to uptime and maintenance costs?
We’ve always had good luck using a combination of the excavator’s own boom and heavy-duty cribbing. It’s simple, stable, and surprisingly effective for undercarriage work when set up properly. Just make sure everything is securely supported and never rely solely on the hydraulics while working...
From what I've seen, the biggest value isn't just predicting failures, it's helping fleet managers schedule maintenance around actual machine usage instead of fixed intervals.
Good point on the brakes. I've also learned it's worth checking the operator's manual first
some skid loaders have specific procedures for releasing the parking brake or disengaging the drive system before moving them.
I’m seeing the same thing. A new attachment can completely change what a skid steer can do, so for a lot of contractors it’s a much easier upgrade than taking on the cost of a whole new machine.
I'd start by checking the smoke color first coz it can tell you a lot. Black smoke often points to air or fuel issues, while blue smoke can mean oil is getting into the combustion chamber. I'd also inspect the air filter, turbo, and injectors before digging deeper.
Hey @James R. from what I've seen, the A-adjustment is basically calibrating the stepping motor to match fuel delivery, so you'll need to enter service mode on the monitor and follow the calibration sequence. Definitely worth grabbing the Kobelco service manual or using diagnostic software to...
From my experience, seeing the bids live definitely builds trust, coz you know exactly where the market is, but it also pushes you to bid smarter instead of just guessing
I usually stick with OEM dealers or verified suppliers first, and a good tip is to always cross-check part numbers before ordering to avoid costly mistakes.
Hey folks,
Has anyone here had success using SmartEquip for fleet maintenance planning?
I'm trying to figure out the best ways to track service schedules, parts inventory, and upcoming repairs without it turning into a full-time job.
Are there features that most people overlook but end up...
Hey, for mini excavators I’ve seen rates usually run $75-$120/hr depending on size and attachments, justmake sure to factor in fuel, wear-and-tear, and delivery costs when setting your price
i've noticed the same-uShip gives you more eyeballs, but Citizenship can be way less hassle when you just want quotes rolling in without bbaysitting the listing.
@Josh , VeriTread's solid, not denying that... but I've had a couple smoother runs with uShip when timing was tight. Might not beat VeriTread on heavy hauls, but for anything imd-size or quick turnaround, they've surprised me more than once.