Today at the Equip Expo, attendees were able to witness the release of the W.I.T.C.H. (Wheelbarrow In Tow Conversion Hitch), a new product that is the first and only patented system that allows standard wheelbarrows to be instantly hitched and released from tow, according to the manufacturer.
The wheelbarrow has been the trusted tool for moving material through tight, uneven terrain. But when jobs involve long distances, steep slopes or multiple trips, crews can wear out, jobs can slow down and productivity can suffer. Front-mounted dump carts and tow-behinds work well in open areas, but many jobs demand getting material where only wheelbarrows can go.
“We’re showing people what no one thought wheelbarrows could do,” says inventor Jim Adams, owner of Outdoor Impressions Inc. in Bridgewater, N.J. “From tow to push with one touch, in just one second, giving you the freedom to get material exactly where it’s needed … that’s how you make wheelbarrows fly.”
The W.I.T.C.H. is a new way to work, according to the company. When paired with innovations like automated wheelbarrow loaders, crews can create a complete load-to-dump delivery system that hopes to redefine efficiency. Crews can move heavy loads quickly across open space, slopes or soft ground using the power of tow, yet still deliver every load with the precision of a wheelbarrow to areas where machines can’t reach.
“After 40 years in the field, hard work has worn me down. I’m the slowest and weakest on the crew, but with this hitch, I become the most productive — hauling load after load — like a wheelbarrow conveyor,” Adams said. “It’s not just a tool … it’s how I stayed in the game.”
