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There is a place for metal hoppers, however, particularly in the demolition/cleanup application. "Poly tubs are easier to keep clean, but some applications like demolition debris cleanup, could damage poly," says Lowe at Crown.

Other hopper designs that allow for an easy transformation from a hopper to a flatbed increases utilization of the machine, Wenzel notes. "This feature allows the operator to quickly transition from the traditional material transport to a flatbed so that flat or stacked items can be transported," he says. "This feature requires no tools to complete the transformation."

Tires vs. tracks

Conventional rubber-tired buggies work best on dry, compacted surfaces free of ruts or potholes and large rocks or other debris, says Russell at Miller Spreader. Track buggies are designed to work in muddy, wet/slippery or rutted surfaces. The tracks increase the surface area in contact with the ground by approximately 400 percent, he says. This increase in surface area is analogous to walking through deep snow on snowshoes vs. boots. The increased surface area also allows a tracked buggy to climb steeper inclines than a rubber-tired buggy.

Russell notes that the steel tracks will mar concrete when the track buggy is operated on a concrete surface. A track buggy is also approximately 70 percent more expensive than a rubber-tired buggy.

Built tough

You want a power buggy in your fleet that is well built to take all the abuse that a concrete contractor can dish out. It also needs to be easy to service and to operate. Russell at Miller Spreader says there are three areas to focus on when looking for a quality machine: construction, convenience and safety.