What To Do Before Returning Your Dry Hire Equipment

Dry hire is the way to go if you’re looking for an efficient, affordable and convenient way to complete a construction or landscaping project. Rather than hiring costly operators to handle machinery, with dry hire you can do it all yourself, and you’ll be surprised at how easy it is. You don’t need any special licences, just your open driver’s licence to make the hire. Not to mention, you’ll be saving yourself an arm and a leg. Often wet hire rates are paid on an hourly basis with operators charging up to $70 on the hour (with a minimum hour spend). Dry hire equipment is priced at a flat rate for the loan period, making it much more affordable for the casual renovator completing smaller jobs. Ryno Hire’s machinery are perfect for those small to medium construction projects, especially for home renovations. Many Aussies use dry hire equipment to build retaining walls, pools, driveways—whatever their next DIY project may be. Of course, many commercial businesses also love using Ryno Hire for their construction needs. Depending on your project, Ryno Hire staff can give you helpful pointers on the machinery and attachments you may possibly need. Ryno Hire are always there to assist with your project—get in contact today to discuss your upcoming plans and equipment needs.

When you hire equipment from Ryno Hire, you can always be assured that your machinery will be clean, lubricated, and fuelled ready for use. As we work hard to ensure all of our machines are well maintained and up to safety standards, there are also some responsibilities that we entrust with our customers. So, what should you do before you hand your dry hire equipment back to Ryno Hire? Do you know what your responsibilities are as the hirer and what you should check for?

What are your key responsibilities?:

As you are supplied with a clean and fuelled machine prior to commencing any tasks, we ask that any machines (along with their attachments) are returned in the same condition, so please clean and refuel your equipment before returning. On top of that, there are some other considerations our customers should make whilst handling equipment. The first, of course, is safety. Always exercise caution whilst using any heavy machinery. Your safety is always paramount. To ensure your site is safe and free of hazards that may endanger you or other workers, it’s a good idea to perform a risk assessment. If you’re not sure about how to conduct a risk assessment, check out this resource for a guide in construction safety. Once you’ve assessed all risks and feel confident managing any potential hazards, go ahead and get stuck into some work!

So, what about when you’re working? While using Ryno Hire’s machinery, you should ensure your work practices are safe. Don’t overload the equipment—it’s not worth it trying to rush the job. Overloaded trays and buckets might lead to damage, which is something you may become liable to pay. Remember, you are always free to extend your hire period! In general, ensure all equipment is being used as intended. Not sure about something? We provide all hired machines with the manufacturer’s instruction manual for reference. Of course, you are also always free to call our friendly Ryno Hire team if you get stuck.

Another big thing to look out for is the machine’s storage. Make sure to keep any equipment in a safe place whilst not in use or while holding overnight. Protecting our equipment from loss or damage is your responsibility. Whilst our insurance covers the transportation of the equipment, once you begin using a machine as a tool of trade, hire insurance can’t cover any person or business for loss or damage.

To help you spot any damage or issues prior to them developing into major problems, we recommend performing daily inspections of the equipment. If your machine isn’t safe to use, a replacement might be needed. On top of daily inspections, daily maintenance, such as keeping machines lubricated and cleaned, will mean your equipment runs smoothly over the duration of your rental period, and there will be less clean up at the end of your hire. Remember to report any issues or damage to Ryno Hire as soon as you find it—if it’s found that damage has occurred to the machine due to negligence, you may be liable to pay. To ease your mind about any markings, take pictures of your machines prior to use, at the start of your hire period.

To avoid any extra charges, please fill-up the machine’s tank and transport the equipment safely by securing it in the same manner you got it. Ryno Hire isn’t liable to cover any parking or speeding fines or other infringements or penalties incurred while its equipment has been in use. On top of that, equipment that is brought back not fuelled will need to be refuelled at a cost higher than what you might pay at a service station. So, it’s obviously much less of a hassle to do the right thing. There is also a call out charge which is applied should Ryno staff have to tend to any breakdowns and safety issues. That’s why we recommend those daily inspections and maintenance, to keep everything in check!

The return process

When you’ve reached the end of your agreed-upon hiring period, it’s time to bring the equipment back to Ryno Hires warehouse. Need more time? That’s totally fine. Just make sure you contact Ryno Hire in advance to organise an extended hire period. Apart from this situation, always return all equipment within the time frame allocated. To help us anticipate your return, call at least one hour prior to your delivery so that we can be prepared to collect your hired machinery. Prior to calling us, however, we recommend doing a final inspection to check for any issues regarding the various features of your equipment. Don’t forget to wash and clean the machinery and any other hired equipment you are returning. For a little guidance, you may want to check the following parts of a machine to cover all your bases.

Your final inspection:

• • Trailer: The trailer must be secured, all nuts are secured into the wheels, tyres maintained at correct pressure according to roadworthy standards, trailer is safely latched, there are no oil or water leaks. The trailer’s load is tied down safely and securely.
  • Lights: Check the LEDs. Are all lights functioning?

• Engine: Is everything intact and working properly?
• Tyres: Are there any chunks or splits in the tyres? Are all the bolts visible on the wheel?
• Brakes: Are the brakes in perfect working order? If not, do they may need to be changed
• Bucket Teeth: Are the bucket used in good condition? Are there any cracks? What should you do if it is damaged?
• Fuel Tank: The fuel tank must be refuelled with Diesel before handover, unless the machine specifies differently. Otherwise, the process of refuelling may be time-consuming and costly and incur extra charges if Ryno Hire refills the fuel.
• Electricals: Is there any wiring that might be caught or damaged? Is it a live wire? Does it need to be replaced/fixed? Do the alarms/horns work?
• Cabin: The cabin must be clean from rubbish or debris before handing it back to the owners. Also, check the cabin for any internal damage, such as to the controls or dashboard
• Controls: Is every control working? Are there any electrical faults. Are there any warnings coming from the dashboard?
• Exterior: Are there any cracks or panel damage? It’s good etiquette to wash the machine after use as this prevents dirt build-up. Otherwise, you may incur a wash charge.

While this may sound like a lot of responsibilities on your part, it’s pretty much common sense. Ryno’s machines are sturdy, safe, and reliable. They’re of the highest standard in safety and functionality and are built to withstand a range of construction tasks. That being said, they still need a little TLC to keep them running smoothly and lasting their entire lifespan. All we ask is for a little rational thinking when it comes to their use. That way, the equipment stays tip-top for your project to be completed in the safest and most efficient way now and in the future.

Need heavy machinery for an upcoming job? Ryno Hire can equip you with the machinery to suit your specific job. Browse through our list of equipment to get an idea of what you may need and contact us for more information about our services and to make a booking.