ForConstructionPros.com

If you don't need or want to make the investment in a large, dedicated compactor, but require something with greater productivity than a walk-behind unit, a compaction attachment may be the answer. One benefit is it gives you flexibility to use the carrier (i.e., excavator, backhoe-loader or skid-steer loader) for other tasks.

"If you have a self-propelled roller, the machine (whole investment) will be parked in the lot until the specific job of compacting is needed again," says Heather Christensen, Mountain Valley Equipment, distributor of Stehr equipment. "With an attachment, you just remove it and use the prime mover in a different way. Only the small part of the investment — the attachment — sits unused."

Obviously, if equipment is sitting idle, it isn't generating a profit. "Any equipment purchased by the contractor is an expense. The more value you can get out of a capital investment, the better your return on that investment will be," says Bo Pratt, Rockland Mfg. "Choosing to purchase a dedicated machine for a specific purpose that isn't operating all the time — or in other words, producing value — doesn't give you as good of a return as purchasing a machine that can do more than one job and produce value more often."

There are also advantages when it comes to jobsite safety. For example, an attachment mounted on a carrier that provides extended reach may enable you to avoid the need to have workers in the trench. This in turn eliminates the dangers associated with having workers below ground, and may reduce or eliminate shoring requirements in some situations.

And because any power needs are supplied by the carrier, compaction attachments offer lower maintenance requirements compared to dedicated equipment. With fewer engines to maintain, you cut down on time and maintenance costs.