I need a good wheelbarrow - what do you guys use?

I bought a steel wheelbarrow from Lowe's several years ago, the problem with it is that I leave it outside and one of the wood handles has almost rotted through. The steel has performed very well. I am rough on a wheelbarrow and the plastic ones just did not cut it for me. I think if I bought another one I would get fiberglass handles, or maybe just take better care of the wood handles. Mine is a rather large wheelbarrow and it will carry a heavy load, not sure that would be something you would want as the wheelbarrow itself is fairly heavy.

I have the Worx Aerocart which works well for me in that it is easy to handle with two wheels instead of one. https://www.worx.com/aerocart-...

Floridaoceangirl: Welcome!! Get the size you feel comfortable using - 4"cu. ft or 6'cu. ft. ONE VERY IMPORTANT POINT!! Do not buy one which has rivets going through the pan into the handles underneath, because everytime you put a shovel in the pan, you will hit the rivetrs/bolts!. Larry, up here replacement wooden handles are readible available, or a jury-rig one is easy to make with a 2 x 3 or 2 x 4. And Larry I agree with you, too much trouble to put a wheelbarrow under wraps everytime it rains or snows! I usually just turn them upside down. Cheers1

Here is my wheelbarrow, a PT-422 Powertrac with a 10 cubit foot bucket.

I love your wheelbarrow, Frank! I'm envious. I'd love to find a used one somewhere. We could really put one to use.

I would get a small steel wheelbarrow. A load of dirt will be heavy enough at that size.

It is true that a full load of dirt in my large wheelbarrow would be more than I could manage to push up my hill here. But at clean up time I really like the extra volume for weeds and discarded flowers, they are often bulky but light in weight. Also for handling light things like compost (if not wet) and mulch the extra volume is very nice. If I do have some heavy material to move, I just don't put as much in the wheelbarrow.

Floridaoceangirl said:I need a good wheelbarrow - what do you guys use?

I have a 6 cu ft metal wheelbarrow.

Someone passed it down to me when the wheel stopped holding air/ stopped turning... other things...

I took the metal tub off the frame and then took off the ragged plastic tub off the frame I had... a few adjustments, additional pieces from other old wheel barrows and... good to go.... Incidentally, the handles are metal... good rot prevention... pretty important when storing tools outdoors.

The wheel barrow I had previously... same deal... took parts from 5 or six wheelbarrows and made one.

I did have to purchase a solid core tire/wheel...


Oh yeah, some of those metal wheelbarrows I see at the hardware store seem like they would be too heavy empty! Others seem like the balance is wrong...

I suggest taking all the wheelbarrows for a spin.


Edit:

FrankMosher said:Larry, up here replacement wooden handles are readible available, or a jury-rig one is easy to make with a 2 x 3 or 2 x 4.

Really? A 2x4?
I disbelieve a fir board would tolerate the abuse I give my tools.
I suggest osage orange or ironwood...
alternatively, maybe ash or hickory or locust.... Do you allow saplings to grow in your yard until you can use them?
Maybe time to start.

I have used treated 2x4's in the past to make handles, and they held up pretty well. No, I didn't get cancer or anything from them.

Yuck!
Much better just to grow rot resistant trees!

That pine they soak in vats of poison... doesn't seem like it would hold up either.

Stone, shake your head? Fine to offer an opinion about various woods for the handles, osage orange, ironwood, and I am amazed you didn't suggest "Lignum vitae" - the hardest wood on the face of the Earth, but you surely must realize that not everyone lives in Macon, Georgia, and thus does not have the choice of exotic woods you apparently have, or had, (heard the lumber industry took a major hit with Michael)! Not everyone has five or six old remains of wheelbarrows lying around that they can interchange parts with? The one thing you did say that made sense, was buying the solid core tire! A solid core up here runs around $60. while an inflatable tire is about $40. I can't count all the inflatables I went through with two wheelbarrows on the go, until I finally realized the solid core was the best bet. Never looked back. Yes I could go to a sawmill and ask same to cut me a wheelbarrow handle out of oak, or hickory or ash, and they would mill it specially for me, and I could do the finish work. Just the cost of the milling alone for one handle would cost me more that buying a brand new wheelbarrow! Do I have saplings growing up on my property - way more than I can get rid of! Am I going to start growing rot-resistent trees for wheelbarrow handles? Am I about to get rid of my beautiful Scotch Pines, my Buhr Oaks, all of which I transplanted or grew from acorns - all over thirty 30', because Pine soaks up all those poisons??? Wow!! Quite a stretch from replacing a handle. Cheers!

Lignum vitae sounds like just the ticket.
Surely you have or can get the trees I mentioned.

Where do you live?

I have ironwood (hop hornbeam) growing on the place naturally.
I brought in black walnut, Osage orange, black locust, red mulberry because they are rot resistant... think 30 year fence posts. I also tried planting honey locust without success.

Bummer if you haven't made room for this kind of tree.

No need to carry tree to lumberyard, I make handles with draw blade.

Re :
Old wheelbarrows...
Some were given to me, some were found on trash day, before the garbage truck got there.
Not saying everyone should be hoarders, but OP did ask what we were using.

I've got to buy a new wheelbarrow after many years of using the old, cheap, one-wheel metal one from a big box store. It served me well, but finally bit the dust (or should I say rust). It wasn't the easiest to manipulate, as I tend to overload it so it got tipsy. But it got through tight spaces and it handled plenty of abuse.
I was considering a 2-wheel metal one for the stability. *But* I don't want to spend $200 or more on a professional one, want something that lasts, and I still like maneuverability for mulching through beds, sidewalks, between trees, etc. I don't think a cart would be right for me, and I'm so rough on stuff that I've nixed the thought of poly.
I would appreciate any and all comments, suggestions, etc. I've read through several of the threads, but would like to have more input.
Thanks!!!

pdermer1x said:I've got to buy a new wheelbarrow after many years of using the old, cheap, one-wheel metal one from a big box store. It served me well, but finally bit the dust (or should I say rust). It wasn't the easiest to manipulate, as I tend to overload it so it got tipsy. But it got through tight spaces and it handled plenty of abuse.
I was considering a 2-wheel metal one for the stability. *But* I don't want to spend $200 or more on a professional one, want something that lasts, and I still like maneuverability for mulching through beds, sidewalks, between trees, etc. I don't think a cart would be right for me, and I'm so rough on stuff that I've nixed the thought of poly.
I would appreciate any and all comments, suggestions, etc. I've read through several of the threads, but would like to have more input.
Thanks!!!

Check the local classifieds. You are bound to find dozens of wheelbarrows for penny or even for free.
If you are lucky enough you may find a NuBarrow for sale, but owners tend to stick with them. It was basically a Dyson Ballbarrow built like a tool, not a toy and it would fit your requirements perfectly.

I know it's an old thread but here's some input for future wheelbarrow/garden cart owners.

I've abused many wheelbarrows, steel, plastic, fiberglass, wood handles, steel handles. The steel wheelbarrows will rust. The plastic will break. The fiberglass, well I broke it somehow too. I've used duct tape and kept it going for the last couple years, but the steel handles are starting to show their age. I put a never go flat tire on it a year or two ago and like those. I'll take it off and put it on the new one I'm getting this spring. So I'm going to get a 6' cubic foot. Sure the load of gravel or soil will be heavy if you fill it up. SO don't fill it up all the way. I'd rather have one that's too large than not large enough for the lighter stuff. If I can find one, I'll get one with fiberglass handles and another fiberglass or non brittle plastic bed. I like the idea of dual wheels but the single wheel gives me more manueverability so I'll likely stay with the single wheel.

pdermer1x said:I've got to buy a new wheelbarrow after many years of using the old, cheap, one-wheel metal one from a big box store. It served me well, but finally bit the dust (or should I say rust). It wasn't the easiest to manipulate, as I tend to overload it so it got tipsy. But it got through tight spaces and it handled plenty of abuse.
I was considering a 2-wheel metal one for the stability. *But* I don't want to spend $200 or more on a professional one, want something that lasts, and I still like maneuverability for mulching through beds, sidewalks, between trees, etc. I don't think a cart would be right for me, and I'm so rough on stuff that I've nixed the thought of poly.
I would appreciate any and all comments, suggestions, etc. I've read through several of the threads, but would like to have more input.
Thanks!!!

My advice is know the difference between a cart and a wheelbarrow.

I use a small 4cu foot steel wheelbarrow, They have only 1 wheel and are designed to be maneuverable, but the heavy loads are easier when the wheel does not stick out too far in the front, rather the load rides more directly over the wheel or as near as possible but it is easy to shake or dump or shovel out the curved funneled nose. 2 bags of Black Kow fill mine , and wet sand, earth or rocks make 4cu feet seem big enough. You get more done if you do not get worn out. The small size is very useful between garden rows or getting around and between trees and obstacles.

My wooden garden cart has two 26" wheels for loading over obstacles and carries 14 cu feet instead of the 4cu of the barrow. While it can carry 400lbs, it might become heavier than one finds pleasant. While it is brilliant for bulky material, it has a leverage where it can be stood on its head, a large stump levered or rolled in, and then the cart can be tipped back, meaning I never lifted the stump.

Thank you, @dirtmechanic - you have good points and advice. I might, indeed, need to think about two different machines instead of a one-for-all-purposes.

Both are very handy for different reasons and can be used in a multitude of applications. I think this is sound advice.