Why we publish this magazine
Hans Equipment started because too many maintenance guides read like they were written by someone who has never drained a hydraulic tank. We wanted a publication that talks about track tension, fuel contamination, and worn bushings the way mechanics actually talk about them. No glossy corporate language, no salespeople pushing parts you do not need. Just field-tested routines from people who keep machines running on real job sites.
Every issue includes interviews with mechanics who work on backhoes, loaders, and tractors daily. They tell us what actually breaks, what gets ignored, and which fixes hold up over time. We pass those conversations straight to you.
Replacing a fuel filter, bleeding a diesel line, adjusting track tension. We photograph each step and explain the reasoning behind it, so you understand the job rather than just following instructions.
Many breakdowns can be prevented with the right inspection habits. Our goal is to give you the confidence to handle routine maintenance yourself and know exactly when a problem needs a specialist.
We keep the focus on practical outcomes. You will find hydraulic system checklists you can print and take to the shop, explanations of undercarriage wear patterns with photos of real components, and fuel management habits that protect your engine between services. Workshop owners also share the small modifications they made to save downtime, from better hose routing to simple grease points that are easier to reach.
If you run a contracting or farming operation and want straight answers on keeping your equipment running without guesswork, this magazine is written for you. Subscribe and get field-tested advice delivered before the next breakdown hits.
Hans Equipment Review is not written by marketing teams. The people on this list have spent years inside workshops, on job sites, and behind the controls of machines that earn their keep. They contribute because they have seen what happens when maintenance advice comes from someone who has never held a wrench.
Editor & Field Contributor
Ran a mobile repair service for nine years before picking up the pen. Dawie writes most of the hydraulic and undercarriage pieces, drawing from jobs where a fifteen-minute inspection saved a customer from a full track replacement.
Diesel Specialist
Twenty years in diesel fuel systems, mostly on tractors and loaders in dusty conditions. Sipho handles the fuel management guides and has strong opinions about water separators and where you park the fuel tank.
Workshop Owner & Columnist
Runs a small equipment workshop that services backhoes for local contractors. Marietjie contributes the troubleshooting stories and the small shop upgrades that cut downtime without spending a fortune on new tooling.
Heavy Equipment Operator
Operates excavators and track loaders on farming and small construction sites. Thabo reviews our maintenance routines from the operator's seat, making sure the advice works between shifts, not just in a clean shop.
Technical Editor
Former dealer technician who got tired of selling parts people did not need. Johan fact-checks every step-by-step guide and makes sure the torque specs and bleed procedures match what is actually in the service manual.
Photography & Diagrams
Spends her days in workshops photographing greased parts and worn components. Lindiwe builds the blueprint-style diagrams that show exactly where to measure track sag and which hose to check first.
Every issue is reviewed by at least two people who work on machines for a living. If a procedure does not make sense on a dusty farm or a muddy site, it does not get published. That is the standard we hold ourselves to.