TREVLAC — Just outside Trevlac, two large buildings have been rising next to State Road 45.
By late winter or early spring, they will become offices, a showroom and large garage work space for C&C Equipment, a business currently in Unionville, owner Clinton Chitwood said.
In addition to selling used military trucks and military and civilian construction equipment, C&C will be selling new parts for military trucks and equipment, Chitwood said.
The new buildings will provide more space and facilities specifically designed for the equipment they refurbish and sell, Chitwood said. They were able to build steel tracks into the floor to support the weight of equipment that can reach more than 40 tons.
“We also sell new undercarriage parts for almost anything that has steel or rubber tracks on it,” he said.
Chitwood said he expects they will continue to use the facilities in Unionville as a place to keep some of their equipment.
Chitwood employs six people, two of whom already live in Brown County. As much as he likes having a smaller operation, he said he may have to begin hiring more to meet the demands of the business.
Chitwood got started in equipment resale about 10 years ago in connection with his father’s excavation business. A couple years into reselling excavation equipment, he got clued into the market for used military equipment.
“I actually bought one military truck for myself about eight years ago, and turned around and brought it home,” he said. “Some guy showed up the next day and bought a dozer, and ended up buying the truck. So, I went and bought 14 more after that.”
The business has grown over that decade, not just in sales, but in reach, Chitwood said. While many customers choose to come to their place to shop for equipment, many would have to buy a plane ticket and pack a passport to do that.
“We have stuff going to Africa, Asia, Alaska — we shipped some stuff to Australia last month,” Chitwood said.
Particularly in Third World countries and remote locations, customers take an interest in the older equipment because it can be fixed with minimal tools and some know-how, Chitwood said.
“All the new stuff nowadays has all the emissions and computers and stuff in it, so that lower-hour military stuff shines,” he said. “It’s simple. You can still work on it.”
