Refurbished Boom Lift Financing

Refurbished and reconditioned boom lifts occupy a distinct tier in the aerial lift market, somewhere between a plain used machine and a new one. A proper refurb typically means the unit has gone through a mechanical inspection, had wear components replaced (cylinders, hoses, seals, drive motors as needed), received a fresh paint job, and been recertified to current ANSI/SAIA standards. The result is a machine that looks and functions close to new but carries a price tag 30 to 50 percent below the factory equivalent. That spread is real money, and it is why rental yards, contractors, and facilities operators continue to buy refurbished units in volume.

We finance refurbished booms from our $50,000 floor, short-doc to $400,000. The documentation is the same as any used-machine deal: application and recent bank statements gets most transactions started. B and C credit are both in scope. We close in roughly two weeks from complete documents. If you are buying a reconditioned unit from a dealer, a rental-company surplus sale, or a specialist refurb shop, we can fund it.

The distinction between a refurbished boom and a plain used one matters to us from an underwriting standpoint. A refurbished machine carries documentation of the work performed, usually a refurb report or rebuild record from the shop that did the work. That documentation supports the machine's stated condition and, critically, gives us something to hang a value on beyond the raw year and hours.

Not every seller uses the term consistently. Some dealers call a pressure-washed, decal-replaced unit a 'refurb' when it is really just a cleaned-up used machine. We are looking for something more substantive: evidence that load-bearing components, hydraulic systems, or structural elements were inspected and serviced, not just cosmetically refreshed. The rebuild record is what separates those two categories.

For a refurb coming from a major rental company's own refurbishment program, documentation is usually solid and the machines are well-represented. Companies like United Rentals and Sunbelt Rentals regularly cycle out equipment and run refurb programs that produce inspected, recertified machines. Those units are among the cleanest used-market buys available because the maintenance history is traceable.

If you are considering a refurb from a smaller independent shop, it is worth asking for the inspection report and the list of components replaced. We look at that documentation as part of our advance rate decision. A well-documented refurb may support a higher advance than a comparable plain-used unit of the same age and hours.

The economics of a refurbished boom versus a new one work out favorably in most scenarios where the buyer is not depending on a factory warranty and where the work is not so high-utilization that every hour of downtime is critical. A refurbished 60-foot diesel telescopic from a quality shop might run $85,000 to $105,000 versus $150,000 to $180,000 for a new comparable unit. Financed over five years at current rates, that price difference translates to roughly $900 to $1,400 in lower monthly payment per machine.

For a contractor buying a second or third unit to expand capacity, that monthly savings is meaningful. For a rental yard adding a unit to fill a height-class gap, the lower entry cost tightens the payback period significantly. A used telescopic boom that rents at $2,800 to $3,500 per week reaches break-even faster when the acquisition cost is $90,000 than when it is $160,000.

If you already own a boom that you plan to refurbish yourself or have had rebuilt, a refinance on the post-rebuild machine can recover the cash you spent on parts and labor. We assess the machine at its post-refurb value and lend against that. It is not a common transaction, but we have done it for operators who financed the rebuild out of pocket and wanted to recapture the capital. Also, if the refurb you are buying is part of a larger purchase, bundling it with other equipment as a fleet transaction can simplify the paperwork and give us more to work with on the structure.

Refurbished boom deals typically move on the same timeline as standard used purchases. From complete application and bank statements to a credit decision is usually 24 to 48 hours. From approval to funded is another few business days once you confirm terms and the seller is ready to close. The total from first contact to cash wired to the seller is roughly two weeks for most transactions.

We work with sellers straight through. You do not need to shuttle documents or manage the wire yourself. Once you accept the terms, we coordinate with the dealer or refurb shop, verify the unit, and close. Your job is to inspect the machine before you sign, confirm the rebuild documentation is in order, and have your recent bank statements ready. We handle the rest.

Short-doc financing to $400,000 means most refurbished boom purchases do not require financial statements or tax returns. Above that threshold, we bring in more documentation but still work through the process efficiently. If your deal is north of $400,000, it is worth a call upfront so we can tell you exactly what the file needs to look like.

B and C credit situations are evaluated on the merits of the business and the machine, not on the score alone. A business with a rough year in its history but stable current cash flow and a solid machine purchase is worth a serious look. Bad-credit boom financing is a regular part of our volume, not an exception.

Tell us the machine details and send us the rebuild documentation if you have it. We will evaluate the unit and get terms back to you fast. Refurbished telescopics, articulatings, rough-terrain diesels, electric slab booms: if the refurb is documented and the machine makes sense, we fund it. See also general used boom financing or our used telescopic boom page if the machine you are considering is not a formal refurb.