When Mike Torres started his landscaping business in St. George three years ago, he made a rookie mistake. He bought a skid steer.
"I financed a machine I use maybe 200 hours a year," he told us recently. "Do the math on that. I'm paying for a machine that sits in my yard eleven months out of twelve."
That's the thing about equipment ownership that nobody tells you upfront—the true cost isn't the sticker price. It's the maintenance, the storage, the insurance, the depreciation, and the opportunity cost of tying up capital in steel instead of growing your business.
This guide isn't a sales pitch. It's 30 years of watching contractors and homeowners in Southern Utah figure out what works—and what doesn't.
The Real Math on Owning vs. Renting
Let's be honest about the numbers.
Equipment ownership costs include maintenance, insurance, and depreciation—totaling roughly 20-30% of purchase price annually. If you're using equipment only 80-100 hours per year, that's a significant cost per hour of actual use.
Renting the same machine means you pay only for the days you need it—with zero maintenance headaches and no machine depreciating in your yard.
The breakeven point sits somewhere around 100-150 days of use per year. Below that threshold, renting almost always makes more financial sense. Call (435) 628-6663 for current rental rates.
The Three Traps That Catch First-Time Renters
The Meter vs. Clock Trap. When you rent a machine, you're charged for two things: clock time (how long the equipment is out) and meter time (actual operating hours). A day rental typically includes 8 meter hours. Pick up an excavator Monday morning, return it Tuesday morning—that's one day of clock time. But if you ran it for 10 hours, you exceeded the meter limit and you'll pay overage. Always ask about meter limits upfront and track your hours.
The Fuel Trap. Return the machine with a full tank. Always. No exceptions. We charge a premium rate per gallon to refuel equipment that comes back empty. That's not a profit center—it's intentionally high to encourage full returns. A couple gallons might seem like no big deal until you see the receipt.
The Cleaning Trap. "Reasonably clean" doesn't mean spotless. It means no caked-on mud or debris. A quick hose-down takes ten minutes and saves you a cleaning fee that nobody wants to pay.
Matching Equipment to Your Project
After three decades of "I think I need a..." conversations, we've learned that most people overthink this.
Moving dirt, gravel, or mulch? You probably need a skid steer. The S450 handles 90% of residential and light commercial work. Moving material across soft ground or slopes? Consider a track loader instead—the flotation makes a real difference on Southern Utah terrain.
Digging trenches or holes? Mini excavators answer 95% of these questions. The E35 is our most popular because it balances size, power, and maneuverability perfectly. Zero tail swing means you can rotate fully without hitting fences or buildings—essential for residential work.
Concrete work? This is where specifics matter. Mixing on-site, transporting across a jobsite, finishing a slab, cutting joints—each phase has specific equipment. Call us and describe exactly what you're doing. We'll match you to the right tools.
Landscaping prep? Tillers, aerators, dethatchers—these are straightforward. The main question is usually front-tine vs. rear-tine (rear-tine for hard, compacted soil) and how big an area you're covering.
What Southern Utah Does to Equipment
Equipment that works great in mild climates can struggle here. Our soil is rocky and compact. Summer temperatures hit 110°. The terrain ranges from sandy washes to red rock.
Track loaders consistently outperform wheeled skid steers on our terrain—the flotation on loose soil and gravel makes a measurable difference in productivity.
Dust protection matters more than people realize. Check air filters on multi-day rentals. Our fine red dust infiltrates everything.
Hydraulic systems run hot in our summers. Don't push equipment hard during mid-afternoon in July and August. Give machines periodic breaks, especially when working hard.
When to Call vs. When to Just Show Up
Call ahead if you need something specific and want to confirm availability, you're unsure what equipment fits your project, you need delivery, or you're a first-time renter with questions.
Just show up if you know exactly what you need, you're picking up something common like a trailer, generator, or hand tools, or you're returning equipment.
We're at 1175 Highland Drive in St. George. Open Monday through Friday 7 AM to 5 PM, Saturday 8 AM to noon.
The Bottom Line
Equipment rental isn't complicated. The confusion comes from not knowing what questions to ask.
Here's our promise: call us, describe your project, and we'll tell you exactly what you need—not the most expensive option, not the newest model, but the right tool for what you're actually trying to accomplish.
We've been doing this since 1994. That's 30 years of helping Southern Utah get the job done.
BeeHive Rental & Sales 1175 Highland Drive, St. George, UT 84770 435-628-6663 beehiverental@infowest.com