Tool rental business opens in Burlington

What does one do when they notice people borrowing equipment from neighbors, equipment that, in other areas, can be rented from a service? Well, for Tim and Robin Allen of Burlington, the answer was to explore the need for such services and go after it. They conceived the idea of a local equipment rental business in the Burlington-area and so Toolman Rentals and Sales was born.
“We were renting stuff all of the time and thought something closer than Powell, Cody or Worland would be good,” said Tim.
In 2014, they started looking into what it would take to get a rental going. “There were a lot of things to look at before we could start,“ said Robin. “There was financing to secure, a business plan to develop, a place to build a shop, equipment to find, contracts to develop, a website to design — all of that had to fall into place. It was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, but the pieces kept moving and changing.”
This winter, all of the pieces fell into place and Toolman Rental and Sales became a reality. Toolman will rent or sell most of the equipment needed for projects around the farm or on the homestead.
“We have two excavators, two skidsteers, and 15 attachments for the skidsteers,” said Allen. “We have brush hogs, tillers, a post auger and a post pounder, a stump grinder, an extendable boom. All of the attachments fit the skid steers and are for rent or sale. In fact, everything is for sale.”
Other equipment they have will help with building projects, too. “We have a 4x4 man lift that will reach 43 feet, “ said Allen with a grin. “That will help put the roof on the barn. We also have an electric one for working inside. We have the excavators to dig the footers, the packers to firm the ground and ready it for forming, then we have a full line of concrete working equipment; screeds, floats, power trowels, knee boards and a soft cut saw. We even have concrete stamps so you can put designs into the concrete. We have the skid steers and the man lift to help with above-ground construction and roofing, and for finishing, we have a paint sprayer and a tile saw. Basically, we can help you with your DIY building from the ground up.”
The Allens are excited and a little apprehensive about starting a new business, but since Robin has already got her feet wet in the business world with Road 10 T-shirts and More and expanded that business over the last few years, she is confident the rental business will be a service that can and will be used and appreciated by many.
“I can’t say I am not scared,” Robin said. “There are times when I am terrified, but this is a service that is needed. It is considered a very under-served area for this kind of business, [which] might help us get some contracts from government agencies. I am excited to see the shop going up. When it is finished, I will be moving Road 10 into this shop, too.”
Toolman will also be expanding into other areas. They are looking into mini-exacavators and will have smaller rototillers and other garden tools. Soon, Tim hopes to have a mechanic working for them to repair and service their own and others’ equipment.
The Allens commended the help of the Basin Area/South Big Horn Chamber of Commerce and the Bank of Greybull for their help in getting Toolman Rentals started.
“Casey at the Bank of Greybull was so helpful,” said Tim. “He didn’t scoff at our dream, he was the most helpful.”
“And the Chamber was a big help in finding the right path to pursue,” added Robin.
So as of the first of March 30, Burlington has its very own “Tim the Toolman.” He can be reached by phone at (307) 272-0845 or emailed at Toolmanrentals@gmail.com. The website, which has a complete list of tools currently available, is toolmanrentalsandsales.com.