Directional Drill Buying Guide

What should you look for when buying a directional drill?

Look for a rig that fits the bores you actually do. Write down typical and maximum bore lengths, product diameter, ground conditions and jobsite access, then ask each supplier how the quoted rig handles that work. An undersized drill limits the jobs you can take, and an oversized one is harder to move and set up.

• Typical and maximum bore lengths
• Product diameter and material you install
• Ground conditions: soil, clay, cobble or rock
• Jobsite access, setback space and transport between sites
• Crew size and experience

Which size HDD rig do you need?

The right size depends on the work you defined, not on a size class name. Thrust and pullback, rotational torque, rod length and capacity, rod handling and carriage speed all matter, so ask the supplier to explain how the quoted rig fits your typical and longest bores in your ground conditions.

What else do you need besides the drill?

A working HDD spread includes much more than the rig. Budget for tooling matched to your ground, a drilling fluid system, a locating or guidance system, a way to manage spoils and fluid, and trucks and trailers to move everything. Compare quotes by the complete package, not by the rig alone.

Tooling

Bits, housings, reamers and adapters suited to your ground conditions.

Drilling fluid

Mixing and pumping equipment sized for the bores you plan.

Guidance

A locating or guidance system compatible with your work.

Fluid cleanup

Vacuum excavation or other equipment to manage spoils and fluid.

Transport

Trailers and trucks to move the rig and support equipment.

How do you inspect a used directional drill?

Inspect a used directional drill with its records in hand. Check engine hours against the maintenance history, look over the rack, drive, vise and carriage, and count the rods and tooling included. Ask the seller to demonstrate the rig drilling, and bring a technician who knows the make if you can.

• Engine hours and maintenance records
• Condition of the rack, drive, vise and carriage
• Number and condition of rods included
• Tooling included in the sale
• Whether the seller will demonstrate the rig drilling

How much does a directional drill cost?

A directional drill's price depends on its age, size, hours, condition and seller, plus what comes with it. Rods, tooling, the fluid system and a locator can change the total considerably, so get a written quote that marks each item as included or not, using the checklist below.

Questions to ask the seller

1. What bore lengths and ground conditions is this package suited to?
2. Which rods, tooling and support equipment are included?
3. Can I see maintenance records and a drilling demonstration?
4. Who provides service and parts in my area?

What to have ready for a quote

• The listing link or written quote
• Who is selling it: a dealer, a private seller or an auction
• Year, make, model and hours or miles, if known
• The price and exactly what it includes
• When you need the equipment working

Many drill purchases include tooling and support equipment. Include the full quote in your inquiry so the whole package is clear. Options depend on your business, the equipment and the provider's review. See directional drill financing for what lenders commonly look at.

Frequently asked questions

How does a directional drill work?

A directional drill bores a steerable pilot hole underground from an entry point to an exit point while a locating system tracks the drill head. The hole is then enlarged with a reamer, and the pipe or conduit is pulled back through it, installing utilities under roads and waterways without open trenching.

Is directional drilling cheaper than trenching?

It depends on the job. Directional drilling avoids digging up and restoring roads, driveways and landscaping, which can favor it for crossings and developed sites. On open ground, trenching may cost less. Compare the full job cost of each method, including restoration and permits.

Can you rent a directional boring machine?

Yes, some equipment rental companies and dealers rent directional drills. Renting can suit occasional work or a trial on a new type of job, and buying is worth comparing once you have steady boring work. Weigh the rental rate against an ownership quote for your expected use.

Can you finance a used directional drill?

Used HDD rigs are commonly financed through third-party lenders, who focus on the rig's year, hours, condition and maintenance history along with your business. Requirements vary by lender. See directional drill financing for what lenders look at.

Can you lease a directional drill?

Some lenders offer leases on directional drills and support equipment alongside loans. Which fits depends on how long you will run the rig and what you want at the end of the term. See equipment leasing vs financing to compare the two.

Mark each item as included, not included or unknown on every quote you receive.

Directional drills financing

Read: Directional Drill Financing