Why I Thought Buying a Potain MDLT 1109 Was a Good Idea
In early 2023, I was handling orders for a mid-sized construction firm. We had a big project coming up that needed a solid luffing jib crane. After looking at the specs, I convinced myself (and my boss) that buying a Potain MDLT 1109 crane was the smart move.
My logic was simple: we'd use it for this 18-month job, and then we'd have an asset. We could use it for future projects, or even rent it out. It felt like a no-brainer. I'd read all the brochures, and Potain's reputation for reliability is well-known. I was picturing the ROI.
That was my first mistake.
Spoiler alert: I was wrong. Not about the crane itself — the Potain MDLT 1109 is a beast — but about how to acquire it for our specific setup. The cost of ownership added up way faster than I expected, and by the time the project was done, we had spent more than we would have on a rental.
Let me break down what I learned, so you don't make the same error.
The Core Issue: Buying vs. Renting a Potain MDLT 1109
There's no single 'right' answer here. It depends entirely on your situation. But most people — myself included — jump to the wrong conclusion because they only look at the purchase price and the monthly rental fee.
Here are the three main categories I've seen (and personally experienced):
- Scenario A: The Single-Project Buyer. You have one big job. You think owning an asset is 'saving' you money.
- Scenario B: The Rental Renegade. You consistently need a crane, but your pipeline is uncertain. You need flexibility.
- Scenario C: The Fleet Operator. You're a dedicated crane rental company. You have a crew for assembly/disassembly, and you know how to manage utilization.
If you're in Scenario A or B, this article is for you. If you're in Scenario C, you probably already know what you're doing.
My Mistake: The True Cost of a 'Cheap' Crane
I've only worked with mid-range tower cranes for about 200 orders over the past 4 years. If you're in heavy civil or high-rise residential, your numbers will be different. But for a standard commercial build, my experience is pretty typical.
In September 2023, we finalized the purchase of a used Potain MDLT 1109 crane for sale. The price tag was $95,000. The rental quote for 18 months was about $72,000. So, in my head (note to self: do better math), I thought I was 'saving' $23,000 by buying.
Here's what actually happened (ugh):
- Transport & Rigging: The seller was in Texas. We're in Ohio. That was $4,200.
- Inspection & Repairs: The crane's service history wasn't perfect. We spent $3,800 on a certified inspector finding issues, and then $6,200 on parts and a technician to fix them. (Thankfully, we kept a backup budget for this.)
- Insurance & Storage: Insurance for an owned asset is different than for a rental. And when the project was delayed by a month, we had to store the sections. That was another $1,200.
- Resale Headache: After the job, I had to sell it. It took 5 months. I sold it for $68,000. The market for used Potain MDLT 1109 cranes had softened.
The math:
Purchase: $95,000
+ Transport, Repairs, Storage: $15,400
- Resale: -$68,000
Net Cost of Ownership: $42,400
The rental would have cost $72,000 — but with zero resale risk, zero repair costs, and zero downtime dealing with technicians. The 'cheap' option cost me $42,400 vs. $72,000. I 'saved' $29,600 on paper, but the actual cash flow and headache were brutal.
Honestly, I'm not sure why the resale market dropped so fast. My best guess is that a lot of firms bought during the post-pandemic boom and are now offloading. If you're thinking of buying, check the used market carefully.
Scenario A: When Buying a Potain MDLT 1109 Makes You Crazy
If you're a contractor with a single, defined job, do not buy. The cost of capital is too high. The risk of the project being delayed or canceled is real.
What most people don't realize is that the 'standard' cost of ownership includes a big buffer for downtime and repairs that you are on the hook for. The rental company has already baked that risk into their price.
Buying a Potain tower crane for sale for a single project is like buying an airplane for a single vacation. It's a commodity, and the transaction costs will kill you.
Scenario B: When Renting is the Only Smart Move
If your pipeline is uncertain, you should be looking at Potain MDLT 1109 crane for rent options. We actually ended up renting a different crane for a later project because my boss refused to buy again (smart man).
Here's something vendors won't tell you: the first rental quote often includes 'free' assembly and disassembly if you negotiate a long-term deal. The rental company wants the crane on your site generating revenue.
For our second project, the rental cost was $3,200 per month for a 9-month term. That included transport to site and pick-up. Our total cost was $28,800. No insurance spikes, no storage, no resale. Just a crane that worked. (And honestly, the support team was super responsive when we had a sensor issue.)
Scenario C: The Fleet Operator's Advantage
If you're a dedicated rental company and you have a crew that can assemble and disassemble a Potain MDLT 1109 in 2 days, the math changes completely. You can buy, depreciate it over 7-10 years, and make your money back on rent-outs. You are effectively selling 'uptime' and 'logistics,' not steel.
But even then, you're playing a different game. You're not buying a crane for a job; you're buying a tool to make money from multiple jobs.
How to Decide: The One-Question Test
Stop looking at the purchase price vs. the rental fee. Instead, ask yourself this single question:
"After this project, do I have a guaranteed use for this crane for the next 3 years?"
If the answer is 'No' — which it is for 80% of contractors — then rent. Pay the premium for the rental. You are buying certainty.
In March 2024, we paid $400 extra for a rush delivery of a rented crane. The alternative was missing a $15,000 event. That $400 was the best investment we made. The 'probably on time' promise from a third-party would have been a huge risk.
Don't be like me. Don't buy a crane you can't guarantee you'll use. Find a good Potain MDLT 1109 for rent or a reliable used Potain tower crane for sale if you know your pipeline is full. Otherwise, just rent.
