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"I needed a larger, stronger piece of equipment to push blowers and the Utility Driver enables you to push a blower at a faster rate," says Hannah.

He says the unit features an 11-hp Honda gas engine, operates at up to 15 mph, and features an hydraulic system with an 8 ½-qt. reservoir, an adjustable seat, and a fold-down dual light bar system that provides light above the operator's head, not over the gun. An attachable rear cargo tray stores can store an extra 5-gal. bucket of paint or a stack of traffic cones.

A different approach is taken by the Accurate Striper, which is a compact self-contained unit that combines a Graco 3900 striper with a John Deere riding lawn mower. Richey says the one-piece machine turns quicker, has a variable foot operated speed due to the hydrostatic drive, the gun arm hinges up for easy loading and unloading, and takes up less space in a transport vehicle.

"We chose the JD mower because we wanted long-term use-ability and because if it did break down contractors could easily get parts throughout the U.S.," Richey says. "We wanted a more compact, one-unit machine because a smaller machine is easier to use, plus there's more room on the truck to put the supplies you need, more space to take paint, for example."

The Accurate Striper features hydrostatic drive and operator controls for the sprayer mounted near the steering wheel. A hose reel on the side offers easy access for spraying stencils, and two spray guns are parallel with the front axle so any bump or deviation in the pavement keeps the guns the same distance off the asphalt and keeps the lines consistent. The gas motor and pump platform are positioned behind the operator, and the paint bucket sits beneath the machine and the pump platform.