Fleet KPI — Replace vs Rebuild
Replace vs Rebuild for equipment fleet management decisions.
Certified rebuilds buy ~75% of a machine's life for ~55% of its price — arithmetic that favors rebuilding right up until a new generation offers fuel or uptime gains the old frame can't. The decision is per-machine: frames, like people, age at different rates.
Formula
Note: Planning estimate — your machine's real costs depend on application severity, operator, fuel price and maintenance history. Calibrate with your own records.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Replace vs Rebuild for equipment fleet management decisions. A free heavy equipment depreciation & ownership cost tool — no sign-up, no upload, instant results in your browser.
About Fleet KPI — Replace vs Rebuild
Fleet KPI — Replace vs Rebuild computes the governing relationship compare $/h of life: rebuild cost/(life×%) vs new/new life live as you type. Certified rebuilds buy ~75% of a machine's life for ~55% of its price — arithmetic that favors rebuilding right up until a new generation offers fuel or uptime gains the old frame can't. The decision is per-machine: frames, like people, age at different rates. Defaults are pre-filled with realistic values for this exact scenario, and the worked example substitutes your numbers step by step so the math is never a black box.
How to use Fleet KPI — Replace vs Rebuild
- 1Enter your values — New replacement price, Certified rebuild cost, Rebuild life vs new, New machine life (sensible defaults are pre-filled).
- 2Read the live results: New: capital per hour, Rebuild: capital per hour.
- 3Check the "with your numbers" line to see compare $/h of life: rebuild cost/(life×%) vs new/new life substituted step by step.
- 4Adjust inputs until the scenario matches yours, then copy or share the result.
Why use Fleet KPI — Replace vs Rebuild?
- ✓Instant, free and private — every calculation runs client-side in your browser; nothing is uploaded
- ✓Built on the stated formula compare $/h of life: rebuild cost/(life×%) vs new/new life with authoritative sources cited on the page (AEM / EquipmentWatch cost evaluation methods; Caterpillar Performance Handbook — owning & operating costs)
- ✓Certified rebuilds buy ~75% of a machine's life for ~55% of its price — arithmetic that favors rebuilding right up until a new generation offers fuel or uptime gains the old frame can't.
- ✓Niche-specific defaults give a meaningful worked answer the moment the page loads
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the fleet kpi — replace vs rebuild use?+
It evaluates compare $/h of life: rebuild cost/(life×%) vs new/new life, exactly as published. Sources: AEM / EquipmentWatch cost evaluation methods; Caterpillar Performance Handbook — owning & operating costs. The substituted worked example on the page lets you verify every step against the textbook.
How should I read the result — and how far can I trust it?+
Certified rebuilds buy ~75% of a machine's life for ~55% of its price — arithmetic that favors rebuilding right up until a new generation offers fuel or uptime gains the old frame can't. Planning estimate — your machine's real costs depend on application severity, operator, fuel price and maintenance history. Calibrate with your own records.
When is this calculator the right tool for the job?+
Replace vs Rebuild for equipment fleet management decisions. A free heavy equipment depreciation & ownership cost tool. The decision is per-machine: frames, like people, age at different rates. For neighbouring scenarios, the related tools below cover the same engine with different presets.
Do I need to install anything or create an account?+
No. The tool is pure client-side JavaScript: open the page and it works, offline once loaded, with no account, no quota and no data leaving your device.
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