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"A stake bed/flat bed option really comes in handy," agrees Ed Varel, engineering project manager, Stone Construction Equipment. "With our units, you can take the sides off the stake bed to turn it into a flat bed, which is good for moving materials that don't fit into a hopper, such as 2x4s."

Hopper size ¬- The most common hopper size is 16 cu. ft., but some manufacturers offer capacities to 21 cu. ft. "Typically, 16-cu.-ft. buggies are the most common due to the large capacity and the versatility to operate in more confined areas," says Fred Russell, Miller Spreader. "But 21-cu.-ft. machines have one and a half times the capacity and can move much more material per trip, given that the jobsite can accommodate the larger size. Smaller 11-cu.-ft. walk-behind machines are usually reserved for smaller jobs with very tight pathways or landscaping jobs."

Hopper design ¬- Manufacturers also offer hopper features designed to boost productivity, such as increased dump angles, higher discharge lips, splash protection, etc.

"We provide a dumping angle that promotes a clean dump," says Faler. "A greater dump angle eliminates the need to manually remove material. We also have a high discharge lip, so when you're backing up with the hopper raised, the lip of the power buggy doesn't scrape the forms. Our splash protection reduces concrete splatter on the operator."

Large fuel tanks ¬- Large fuel tanks are an important feature for extended, uninterrupted use. "You don't want to have to stop and refuel," says Faler.