search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
      • Enter Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
      • Enter the Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Steep Slope RoofingRoofing Technology

The Equipter Reduces Labor, Saves Time, Impresses Homeowners

By Stephanie Fujiwara
equip1
The wide doors extend the catch area to 10.5 feet, ensuring all debris goes into the Equipter. 

equip2

The Equipter is a self-propelled, towable trailer with a lifting box that is able to fit into tight areas while streamlining shingle removal and jobsite cleanup.

equip3
The Equipter can be hooked up like any trailer and hauled to the jobsite. Once at the site, the RB4000 can move around under its own power with its gasolinepowered hydraulic drive system.

equip1
equip2
equip3
May 1, 2012

The phrase “Work smarter rather than harder” was something Aaron Beiler, president of New Heights LLC, often tried to practice when he ran his own roofing company. Aaron and his son Raymond invented the Equipter, a self-propelled, towable trailer with a lifting box that is able to fit into tight areas while streamlining shingle removal and jobsite cleanup.

“The Equipter RB4000 minimizes landscape destruction and keep lawns cleaner, with more time to focus on installation,” said Raymond.

Pickup Truck
Pick up EXCLUSIVE content here!

The Equipter can be hooked up like any trailer and hauled to the jobsite. Once at the site, the RB4000 can move around under its own power with its gasoline-powered hydraulic drive system. It is designed with a rear extension rollback feature that extends its large container over obstacles like shrubs and flowerbeds. It also places the container well within reach of the crew on the roof for either debris removal or new material transport. The wide doors extend the catch area to 10.5 feet, ensuring all debris goes into the Equipter.

From 1985 to 2011, Aaron owned and operated a residential roofing company along with his son. The Beilers noted that they were always trying new ideas to make it easier and faster to tear off old roofs. In 2003 they came up the concept that would eventually result in the Equipter, and a prototype for a self propelled trailer with a lifting box was manufactured. Not everything went smoothly during the creation process, though. Raymond explains that their early ideas were based on tarps and cables and little trailers pulled by ATVs. However, the concept evolved to a fully self-powered, drivable, lifting and dumping trailer. The conversion of the tow-able trailer to a jobsite drivable piece of equipment was the most challenging feature to design.

Beiler Hydraulics in Lancaster, Pa., played an instrumental part in developing the first units for Aaron’s roofing company. In 2006, Aaron Beiler established New Heights LLC for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing the Equipter and other quality equipment to the roofing industry.

Raymond Beiler says it’s no surprise that contractors have taken a liking to the Equipter. He notes the machine specifically helps contractors reduce the amount of cleanup time on the jobsite, resulting in increased profits. The bottom line: more jobs are completed with fewer employees.

“Many of our customers have told us they save the equivalent of at least one laborer (sometimes more) in their cleanup process,” said Raymond. “Some contractors say they can complete 25 percent more jobs per month by utilizing the Equipter.”

 

Out in the Field

Contractors who spoke with Roofing Contractorwere impressed with the product. Ben Kottke, owner of B Kottke Construction LLC in Fond du Lac, Wis., started using the Equipter three years ago. Kottke explained that the Equipter is not only impressive to the client, but it is well built and actually does what it promises. “Unlike a lot of other tools on the market, this one has not disappointed me in any way,” he said. “There have been no big breakdowns with standard maintenance.”

B Kottke Construction LLC has been in business since 2000 and the company does both residential and commercial work. He noted that the Equipter is a favorite of both his employees and his customers. “I figure on average it saves me a minimum of 4-5 man hours every day that used to be spent on cleanup,” said Kottke. “By eliminating that and putting that man back on the roof, it has more than paid for itself. Plus, it keeps the employees happy to not have to clean up tear-off and the homeowners are happy to not have their landscaping destroyed. Another added benefit is that it separates you from the competition and attracts the eye of the neighbor who is potentially your next customer.”

John Roberson, president of Joe Roberson & Son Roofing, Inc. in Greenville, S.C., starting using the Equipter in 2007. He has specialized in residential work since 1965, and he explained how much safer, cleaner and faster the Equipter makes each project.

“The Equipter makes my job faster by cutting way down on ground cleanup, as well as having the ability to carry the shingles from the buggy right to the roof,” he said. “The jobs are made safer, of course, by not having to carry the shingles up the ladder. We actually have two of the Equipter buggies so we use one in the tear-off phase and the second is loaded with the new shingles so as soon as a section of the roof is torn off the second buggy is moved into place and the re-shingling starts quicker.”

James Boose, owner of Boose Roofing in Glen Mills, Pa., has been in business for 30 years doing residential work. Boose pointed out that he first found out about the Equipter while reading Roofing Contractormagazine, and he has owned one for about six years now.

“I haven’t been to the chiropractor in years,” he said. “It has been the best piece of equipment I have ever bought in my life.”

Boose said he and his employees no longer dread going to work every day and the company saves hundreds of hours in cleanup time annually. “I’d even like to buy another one,” said Boose. “I’m just as thrilled about it today as when I bought it six years ago. It is worth every penny.” 


KEYWORDS: lift equipment roofing materials

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

 

Stephanie Fujiwara is associate editor of Roofing Contractor. She can be reached at 248-786-1620.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Columns
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Columns
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

QXO closed its acquisition of Beacon Building Supply on April 29, 2025.

QXO Closes Beacon Acquisition, Rebrands Immediately; Jacobs to Ring NYSE Bell

New executive orders signed by President Trump will likely further constrict an already tight labor market for the construction industry.

New Executive Orders Will Further Squeeze Labor Force

President Trump’s trade war is causing real harm to the construction sector, including roofing contractors.

Trade War Fallout: Contractors Are Delaying Projects and Cutting Crews

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

May 22, 2025

Remote Teams 101: The New Way to Hire

Our industry experts will guide you through what remote hiring and outsourcing should look like, how it can help you grow, and why it’s easier (and less scary) than you might think. If you want to save time, find great talent, and grow your business, this is one session you don’t want to miss!

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • case9

    Equipter Saves $100,000 in Labor on Steep Slope Roof Tear-Off

    See More
  • The Right Accessory Saves the Day

    See More
  • 2008 Case Study: The Invention of the Equipter "Roofers Buggy"

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • revisited.png

    Markup & Profit: A Contractor's Guide Revisited

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • December 3, 2025

    The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

    Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.
  • February 27, 2025

    2025 State of the Industry Report: Roofing Contractor

    On-Demand This webinar is a must-attend for all roofing contractors who are looking to understand market insights related to current and future installation trends.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing