Service Station Becomes a Rental Business

The origins of Ahern Rentals began in 1953 when John P. Ahern purchased a Signal Oil & Gas station in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Before going into business for himself, John graduated college with a degree in agriculture, and then served in the military during World War II. Upon returning home, John put his degree to work with farmers and ranchers throughout Southern Nevada as a County Extension Agent where he spent several years managing a local dairy in Las Vegas.

At age 45, John and his wife Martha began selling gas and diesel and renting equipment from a Signal Oil & Gas station in 1953, located where the 1,100-foot Stratosphere Hotel & Tower now stands. Their son, Don F. Ahern, was born the same year.

One of the first items rented were automobile window-mounted swamp coolers used primarily by tourists traveling to California. Later, the rental inventory was expanded to include trailers, hand tools and trucks. This was soon followed by construction equipment and homeowner items, such as lawn and garden equipment.

Within a few years, John and Martha decided to move the rental business to its own location so that it could grow outside the confines of the service station. In 1958, they opened Ahern's Trailer & Equipment Rental after closing Signal Super Service to focus solely on renting tools and equipment to residents in the Las Vegas area.

Growing his rental business, John launched Ahern Renter's Center in 1970 and offered a wide range of equipment for homeowners and local businesses. When his son, Don, joined the family business in the 1970s, the Ahern family name would serve as the anchor to a global venture.

Ahern Rentals Takes Shape

While working for his father at Ahern Renter’s Center, Don F. Ahern saw the potential rental market for high reach equipment. He set up his own small rental store in 1978, which started with a fleet of eight scissor lifts. Due to increased demand, the business would be relocated and renamed to Los Arcos Equipment, expanding across Southern Nevada and Southern California by 1983.

Don later bought Ahern Renter’s Center from his father in 1990. The two companies were combined into one business and became Ahern Rentals in 1997.

Ahern Rentals has developed excellent working relationships with original equipment manufacturers, such as JLG, Genie, Skyjack, Multiquip, Xtreme Manufacturing, Snorkel and Kubota. Equipment is purchased from a large variety of manufacturers to provide valued customers with a “one-stop” solution for their rental needs.

Today, Ahern Rentals is the largest independently owned equipment rental company in the United States, offering a selection of over 67,000 rental items including over 33,000 high reach units, such as fork lifts, boom lifts and scissor lifts. Its extensive rental fleet includes general rental units, such as backhoes, skid steers, skip loaders, trenchers, compressors, generators, light towers, welders, lawn and garden equipment, hand tools and much more.

Commitment to Customers

The Ahern family’s commitment is providing quality customer service. Ahern Rentals promises to always provide quality service and the finest professionally trained staff in the rental industry.

Thanks to Don’s far-reaching vision and the hard work of some very special employees who have spent many years with the company, Ahern Rentals has provided personal, quality service to customers. The Ahern family has always felt a sincere love for its customers and employees.