Sandhills Report: Used Equipment Deals Can Be Found in Ariel Lifts and Telehandlers
Sandhills Global’s latest market report shows how August shaped the used equipment market across compact tractors, medium-duty construction, aerial lifts, telehandlers and more. The data tracks inventory, asking values and auction values, offering a picture of where supply and demand are moving. Let’s dig in.
Compact and Utility Tractors
Compact and utility tractors remain in short supply. Inventory fell 2.78 percent from July and dropped more than 24 percent compared to last year. Sub-40 hp machines posted the steepest losses, down almost 28 percent year over year. Despite fewer listings, values moved upward. Asking prices gained slightly month over month and year over year, while auction prices followed the same path with modest increases. Tractors in the 40- to 99-hp range led price growth, highlighting consistent buyer demand. With inventory shrinking for 10 months straight, this segment continues to show resilience, especially for clean, low-hour models.
Quick take on tractors:
- Inventory keeps falling, especially under 40 hp
- Asking and auction values both trending up
- Buyers are competing hardest in the 40- to 99-hp range
Medium-Duty Construction Equipment
The medium-duty market, which includes skid steers, backhoes and mini excavators, also saw inventory shrink. Levels dipped a fraction month over month but fell more than 11 percent compared to last year. Mini excavators led the decline with a 22 percent yearly drop, making them the scarcest category. Pricing held steady overall. Asking values slipped slightly in August, but long-term trends point upward. Auction values rose modestly, with loader backhoes showing the strongest gains. The numbers suggest buyers remain selective, but demand for versatile machines is keeping prices from softening.
Aerial Lifts
Unlike tractors and minis, the aerial lift market is moving in the opposite direction. Inventory rose almost 2 percent from July and climbed more than 4 percent compared to a year ago. Articulating boom lifts contributed the most to monthly gains, while rough-terrain scissors surged nearly 30 percent year over year. Asking prices told a different story, continuing a six-month slide. They were slightly higher month over month but remain well below last year’s levels, with rough-terrain scissors showing the steepest losses. Auction values moved sideways, slipping year over year but climbing modestly in August. This rising supply combined with soft pricing suggests a market tilted in favor of buyers.
Telehandlers
Telehandlers also present a clear buyer’s market. Inventory has risen for 30 consecutive months, including a 4 percent increase from July and a 21 percent surge compared to last year. Prices are easing under the weight of this supply. Asking values fell slightly both month over month and year over year. Auction values showed a small gain in August but remain lower than a year ago. The long streak of growing inventory paired with flat or falling prices highlights oversupply, forcing sellers to sharpen pricing strategies or consider faster turnover options.
Why telehandlers favor buyers now:
- 30 months of continuous inventory growth
- Asking values slipping despite higher supply
- Auctions showing limited strength, pointing to oversupply
What the Numbers Say
Compact and utility tractors and mini excavators remain the hardest machines to find, and prices reflect that scarcity. Dealers can expect solid margins on clean units while buyers face less negotiating room. Aerial lifts and telehandlers tell the opposite story. Expanding inventory and falling values put pressure on sellers but create opportunities for buyers to secure equipment at lower costs. For contractors, the market data signals where deals are most likely and where patience may be necessary.
Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.
Are you curious about how to size and buy a rotary tiller for your tractor? We have the answers!
