Wheelbarrow Buyers Guide

Choose the Perfect Wheelbarrow

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Wheelbarrow Buyers Guide

There are tons of different wheelbarrows, with many different designs.  You would be surprised at how many - how do you choose the right one for you?

Wheelbarrows have been around for donkeys years, and fill many needs, from hauling manure from the stable to the compost bin, to mixing concrete mortar on building sites. I use one to sift compost into, with a screen that sits over it.

All of the different permutations may look similar, but the slight alterations in dimension and size, not to mention weight, make them perfect, or not so perfect, for a particular task.

Flatter and shallower wheelbarrows sold as homeowner types are good for general use - a few twigs or grass clippings are all it will hold. 

Deeper ones are designed to hold concrete to transport it, so they are much more sturdy to carry the weight.

The height of the sides makes it possible to really load it up with wet or sloppy materials, but the trade off is that it makes it a lot more top heavy and hard to handle.

If you're lucky enough to be able to purchase a new wheelbarrow, and you know what it will most likely be used for, here are a few things to look for;

  • Steel construction is much more durable than plastic or aluminum. 

  • What you give up in weight will add more maneuverability.
  • Size matters; heavy when empty means that if you load it up with heavy materials like compost or manure, it will be extremely hard to move.
  • The construction of the wheelbarrow reflects the quality; flimsy and poorly made tools will be horrible to use; buy the best quality you can afford and make it last a lot longer.

  • The shape of a wheelbarrow is what makes the construction wheelbarrow a bad choice for gardening; steep sides and a narrow box are great for transporting concrete, not so good for loading with garden mulch or waste. The height of a construction wheelbarrow makes it really tippy.
  • For a gardening wheelbarrow, look for one with an inflatable tire, not a solid one, and a wider box.  This will make it easier to push on uneven ground.

Donna from Hamilton asked this question about Wheelbarrow Dimensions;

I use a wheelbarrow pretty much every single day in my garden.

The best type for me is one with a low wheelbase, and one wheel in front, in the typical setup.

Wheeling it along my narrow pathways is easy, and it's also a snap to dump it out. My question is, why are wheelbarrows so different in shape and size? I see wide shallow ones, deep unstable ones and all kinds of other dimensions.

What is the purpose for them all?

I would like to buy a new one to replace my current one, but I'm not sure which would work the best for hauling plants in flats and pots, manure and compost, and tree trimmings.

There are so many wheelbarrows. Depending on what you'll be primarily using it for. The shape and size of the perfect wheelbarrow for your height, and the situation you'll use it in, vary.

Here are a few choices that are popular for all kinds of gardening; This one is 31.8 x 8.5 x 24.5 inches.

Garden Star 70018 Easy Barrow Wheelbarrow

This style is 36 x 25.5 x 27 inches;

Jackson M6T22 6 Cubic Steel Wheelbarrow

This one has dimensions of 57.8 x 27 x 25.5 inches;

True Temper R625 6 Cubic Foot Steel Wheelbarrow

This is just a quick glimpse at all the types of wheelbarrows available. Choose the one that is comfortable for you to use, is easy to keep stable, and doesn't let you fill it too full.



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