Western Tri-State Equipment: Building a Legacy with Takeuchi

In the rugged landscape of Southeastern Nevada and Northwestern Arizona, Western Tri-State Equipment stands as a beacon of reliability and customer-centric service. The dealership in Mesquite, Nevada began as Mesquite Lumber Ace Hardware back in 1987. In 2018, Todd Leavitt branched out on his own and launched Western Tri-State Equipment, expanding the business from equipment rental to sales and service. Today, with ten employees and two locations, Western Tri-State Equipment continues to put customers first, making it a priority to understand their needs and help them find just the right equipment.

“We’re a small-town, home-grown operation that relies heavily on the communities around us,” said Brent Leavitt, sales representative for Western Tri-State Equipment’s Mesquite location. “We take pride in offering quality equipment backed by world-class sales and service. It’s all about setting our customers up for success, whether they’re a contractor working at a jobsite or a homeowner renovating the backyard.”

The personal journey that brought Brent to his current role at Western Tri-State Equipment started during his three decades employed as the facility manager at Virgin Valley High School. There, he often worked on the school’s water lines, and he needed a machine that was both compact and powerful enough to break through the tough desert landscape. Brent would end up renting Takeuchi machines from Western Tri-State Equipment.

Over the years, he continued to use several Takeuchi machines, including the TB16 and TB230 compact excavators and the TL6 compact track loader. His preference for Takeuchi was rooted in the machines’ user-friendliness and consistent performance, which simplified his work and increased his productivity.

“I liked Takeuchi equipment better than the other brands because the machines were so easy to use,” he said. “I didn’t have to re-learn how to operate them every time I worked with a different machine. Their intuitive design made it simple to go from one machine to another with great results.”

In August 2021, Brent retired from his job at Virgin Valley High and started a new venture at Western Tri-States Equipment the very next month, selling the Takeuchi equipment he’d worked with for years. Today, he’s taking the expertise gained from years of using Takeuchi machines at the high school and applying it to help his customers get the best equipment for their projects.

“Here in the desert, our customers need machines that can handle hot, dusty, rocky environments,” Brent said. “We’re located on a giant lakebed, and once you dig down a few feet, you hit solid rock. That’s when you really need a piece of equipment that’s not only dependable but also offers the power and performance you need to keep digging to the next level. Takeuchi machines can do that and more.”

Western Tri-State Equipment caters to a diverse clientele, ranging from property owners to construction companies, many of whom rely on Takeuchi equipment for its stability, ruggedness and ease of operation. The most in-demand Takeuchi machines at Western Tri-State are the TL8 high-flow compact track loader and the cab version of the TB240 compact excavator. According to Brent, the TB240 has the digging power of a much larger machine while still being small enough to fit in confined spaces. And the TL8 is a “literal beast” that can take everything his customers dish out and then some.

In the words of satisfied customers, Takeuchi equipment embodies reliability and value, making it the preferred choice time and again. As Western Tri-State Equipment continues to serve the needs of its communities, its partnership with Takeuchi remains a cornerstone of its success, ensuring that customers receive nothing but the best quality and performance for their projects.

“Our customers love Takeuchi equipment because it’s stable, rugged and easy to use,” Brent said. “They continue to choose Takeuchi because of the same reasons I chose it back when I was a customer. Takeuchi gets the job done, and it gives you a bigger bang for your buck.”

For more information about Takeuchi track loaders, excavators and wheel loaders, or to find a dealer near you, visit . Follow Takeuchi-US on , , or .

About Takeuchi

Takeuchi is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of an extensive line of compact track loaders, compact excavators, compact wheel loaders, and skid steer loaders. Founded in 1963, Takeuchi was the first company to introduce the compact excavator to North America, setting the stage for one of the highest growth product segments ever introduced in the compact equipment market. The compact excavator has become a main line product for both rental and construction/utility companies. Takeuchi continued to lead the compact construction industry with the introduction of the first compact track loader to North America.

For more information, please contact:

Lynette Von Minden, Swanson Russell

Phone: 402-437-6457

Stephen Odum, Takeuchi-US

Phone: 678-873-3070