Road Widener’s new attachment reduces maintenance ‘by 90%’

Road Widener LLC has introduced the FH-R shouldering and side paver attachment for skid steers, compact track loaders, road graders and wheel loaders

For contractors who use skid steers, compact track loaders (CTLs), road graders and wheel loaders for road construction, Road Widener LLC has introduced a new remote-controlled attachment: the patented FH-R shouldering and side paver attachment.

According to the manufacturer, because the FH-R has no engine or transmission of its own and instead works off the host machine’s engine and hydraulics, the attachment slashes maintenance costs by 90% compared to self-propelled machines.

“The FH-R cuts out jobsite clutter and enhances efficiency by eliminating extra machines and reducing the multi-step process down to just two passes, dispensing and compacting,” said Road Widener President Lynn Marsh. “Contractors will get a high-quality, profitable and efficient solution for their business that makes for an unrivaled total cost of ownership.”

Road Widener’s new attachment, available in left, right and dual-dispensing configurations, can accomplish tasks such as backfilling, road widening, road shoulder repairs, remediation and aggregate placement.

Contractors can pour almost any material – the manufacturer said the FH-R can handle topsoil, gravel, asphalt, limestone and more – into the hopper at the top of the attachment and then precisely dispensed via remote control in adjustable lay down widths from 1-6 feet.

Road Widener said the FH-R can dispense up to 20 tons of material in under 10 minutes without the need for any additional scraping or sweeping, and the company claims their customers have reported up to 50% savings in labor costs.

“Typically, road construction tasks like aggregate placement involve a tedious four-step process where a machine piles aggregate on the roadway and large crews scrape, push and sweep it into place,” Marsh said. “The FH-R cuts out half of those steps by placing the material right where it needs to go the first time.”

Compatible with standard and high-flow hydraulics, the FH-R has only five grease fittings to maintain. Road Widener said its new attachment, which comes with a one-year warranty, costs up to 80% less than a self-propelled shouldering machine.

The FH-R is compact, can fit on the same commercial trailer as the host machine and can be towed by a common pickup truck, according to the manufacturer.

Its maneuverability is an asset, as well, with a 360-degree swivel caster that allows the FH-R to easily maneuver around posts, guard rails or any common objects.

Road Widener said the FH-R can also be purchased in an all-manual configuration, the FH, without a remote.