How to choose a garden wheelbarrow and what work to use it for?

When choosing a garden wheelbarrow or construction cart for work on the site, you must collect all the information about their characteristics and purpose. Only in this case you are guaranteed to use this equipment with pleasure.

To work in the garden and vegetable garden, summer residents use a wide range of tools: scissors, pruners, brush cutters, shovels, hoes, etc. Garden wheelbarrows are used to transport building materials, soil, fertilizers, garbage and other items necessary for work on the site. There are several varieties of this country “transport” that perform different tasks, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Types of wheelbarrows

Wheelbarrows are classified using several criteria. Usually the division is carried out in three directions.

By purpose:

• construction;
• garden

A one-wheeled garden wheelbarrow is a lightweight and cheap garden assistant

Depending on the number of wheels:

• single-wheeled wheelbarrows are the fastest and most maneuverable; they are good for use on uneven terrain and in confined spaces (for example, in narrow beds). The wheelbarrow is easy to unload - just lift it by the handles and tilt it in the desired direction. The downside is that the wheelbarrows are unstable, so you will need to constantly maintain its balance during loading and unloading. It is more difficult to push such a cart, and the wheel sometimes gets stuck deep in the ground;
• two-wheeled garden carts are considered the most stable, they are easy to move, since the weight of the load is almost not felt. The axle creates an additional stiffening rib, so such carts can carry more cargo. But the maneuverability of two-wheeled carts is worse and it is more difficult to control them.

Depending on the body shape:

• trapezoidal in shape with a wide top and a small bottom;
• rectangular shape;
• with an oval bottom.

In wheelbarrows with a trapezoidal bottom, the center of gravity is shifted downward, which ensures stability.

The most reliable are considered to be wheelbarrows with a body made of galvanized metal, aluminum or steel, 5-10 mm thick. Plastic carts are unreliable and quickly break down, even though they are the lightest.

What are they?

Those people who often deal with work on a plot of land are well aware that having the right tools helps in any situation. Without a wheelbarrow, performing some tasks like cleaning a garden or building a shed becomes simply unrealistic.

Some summer residents prefer to buy inexpensive models that are equipped with only two wheels. As a rule, they are inexpensive, lightweight and unpretentious to use. When choosing such a product, you should take into account the load on the wheel.

And here you need to be especially careful. To reduce the cost of production, developers often save on the main thing - the wheel. They simply use a plastic structure rather than a metal one for the base. Because of this, various breakdowns occur. Once the cart is overloaded, the wheel breaks into two pieces.

Therefore, this option is suitable only for those who do not intend to carry heavy loads in a cart. This model is quite suitable for cleaning leaves and snow. Therefore, choose more reliable products, the main parts of which are equipped with metal parts. The wheels must have the following parameters: a reliable inner tube made of thicker material, two powerful bearings and a disk made of durable stainless metal.

However, do not forget to also consider the load on your spine. To start moving with a full wheelbarrow, you will need to lift it slightly. And this task can become quite difficult. The inconvenience is that you will not only have to push the mechanism forward, but also take part of the heavy load on your shoulders.

It's another matter when the cart is equipped with three wheels. In this case, your problem will be greatly alleviated. The main burden will fall not on the shoulders, but on the device itself.

Whatever the device, choose it according to your individual needs. A sufficient quantity of goods at the moment will allow this to be done without much effort.

When purchasing, you should consider the height of the model. If you are short, then any type of product will suit you. If you are tall, then moving around the terrain with a low wheelbarrow will be difficult. This is explained simply. You will have to hunch and adjust to this tool so as not to tip over or spill the load.

Another important fact is the special protection of the front wheel in the form of a welded frame. Most breakdowns occur when soil is removed (emptied). At this moment, a special device “takes” the entire load on itself, and your household item is not at risk.

What is the difference between a garden wheelbarrow and a construction wheelbarrow?

A non-specialist will not immediately distinguish a garden wheelbarrow from a construction wheelbarrow by eye. The simplest criterion is the number of wheels. It is believed that all garden wheelbarrows are equipment with one wheel, and those with two or more are construction equipment.

Garden wheelbarrows are designed for work in the garden and vegetable garden. They transport grass, weeds, compost, leaves, cuttings, garden tools, potato tubers and bulbs and other light luggage. Such cars are quite compact, with one wheel, a small body and handles, they weigh no more than 15 kg. Construction wheelbarrows are used for transporting bulk and other construction materials: sand, cement, soil, crushed stone, boards, etc. These are massive structures with two wheels, a reliable and durable frame, a voluminous body and comfortable handles.

Construction wheelbarrows are usually massive and designed to carry heavy loads.

Also, garden wheelbarrows are distinguished depending on the material from which the body is made. Garden wheelbarrows should have increased resistance to moisture (in case you forgot it in the rain, are transporting wet soil, etc.). Therefore, their bodies are usually made of aluminum or galvanized steel. The containers of construction trolleys are made of galvanized or painted steel.

Where to begin

How to choose? The first thing you should think about if you decide to buy a cart is the purpose for which the inventory was needed.

• If the cart will be used at the dacha, for building a house or barn, or arranging a gazebo, then it is worth buying a construction wheelbarrow.
• If a vehicle is needed to transport fertilizers, soil, plants, and so on, then the choice is obvious. Need a garden.

This is an obvious fact, but beginners may forget about it. It seems to them that there is no difference between these species. And it exists and is very significant.

After determining the type of cart, you need to study the reviews. It’s difficult to make a purchase in a store or online because your eyes are overwhelmed by the number of products. New models appear very quickly. It is difficult to compare characteristics and look for a suitable option. You can talk to friends or neighbors in the area. They will tell you what they use and voice the disadvantages of their model.

What to look for when choosing a garden wheelbarrow

Even something as simple as a garden wheelbarrow has a number of important characteristics that you should know before making a purchase.

If for some reason the garden wheelbarrow is not suitable for you, it can be used as an element of garden design

• Capacity (body volume) - this indicator reflects the maximum volume of materials that can be transported in the body. As a rule, the measure is bulk materials - based on their quantity, the volume of the body of a garden wheelbarrow is determined (usually from 60 to 130 liters). Capacity is the most important, although largely arbitrary, indicator. Firstly, bulk material can be transported “heaped”, that is, going beyond the container. And secondly, it does not reflect the real capacity, for example, of dry branches, construction waste and other oversized items.
• The load capacity shows the maximum weight that the wheelbarrow structure can support. A dual characteristic: on the one hand, a large load capacity allows you to remove a large number of materials “at once,” but pushing a loaded cart is also more difficult. The average carrying capacity will force you to make several “raids”, but it will also be easier to drive the car. Optimal load capacity is 60-120 kg.
• Wheels – the ease of use of the wheelbarrow depends on their diameter. The larger the wheel (disc sizes from 30 to 50 cm), the better the shock absorption. The most modern and reliable option is considered to be pneumatic tires on a metal disk - they allow you to drive a wheelbarrow and overcome any terrain;
• Wheelbarrow dimensions – this refers to the overall dimensions of a garden cart. You need to know them so as not to run into trouble when, for example, a wheelbarrow cannot fit through a gate, barn door, or confidently move along a garden path.
• Handles - they should be comfortable, long and equipped with rubber or plastic ends that are easy to grasp. The handles of wheelbarrows are usually longitudinal (as if they “grow” out of the body). They are convenient for “steering” and tilting the cart, unloading material. A small detail - your body should fit in the opening between them. Trolleys usually also have a transverse handle. By holding onto it, you can push the cart along with you, regardless of the unevenness of the road. This is also convenient if you have overdone the amount of cargo and pushing the cart in front of you has become difficult.
• General design of the wheelbarrow . It includes the “pattern” of the frame (the strongest ones are made of welded pipes), the weight of the wheelbarrow (preferably no more than 20-30 kg, but this depends on the load capacity and volume of the body) and the presence of stiffeners and supports.

How to choose?

There are many recommendations for purchasing this product.
Consumers have already been able to evaluate its quality and reliability. Among all the offers, the most common ones are the Belamos two-wheeled construction wheelbarrow, the Vinco construction wheelbarrow, the Zubr construction wheelbarrow, the Haemmerlin construction wheelbarrow, the Haemmerlin Cargo PREMIUM 90 MG. These models are four-wheeled. They are powerful and practical to use. They have a capacity of more than 100 liters. Of course, this model should be used in more serious work, such as construction or removal of hard and heavy materials.

How much effort and precious time is saved if all the necessary, but rather heavy components (paints, sand, building mixtures) fit in one place.

So, when buying a four-wheeled car, consider the width of the body. If you need to use this device for household needs, then choose a model that is not very wide, since a body that is too voluminous may not fit through some gates or doorways.

For heavy work, purchase a product with a reinforced bottom using stiffeners. The sides of high-quality models are usually rolled. This is done in order to avoid injury. Before purchasing, check the play on the wheels. Turn the product on its side and press down. If it sag, then the product should be discarded.

The main part of the car is the frame. It must be made from a single piece of pipe and have no welds or seams. And also the frame should completely go around the entire body, protecting and strengthening it.

Look at the design of the handles. Their specified length will be sufficient, and the ends are usually equipped with convenient plastic attachments. If you take a closer look and “try the thing on,” you will see that the height of the cart will be quite comfortable for you. Otherwise, you will quickly feel tired due to the fact that you have to “hunch over” all the time.

The wheels are: inflatable, cast, equipped with a bearing (makes the ride easier). Their diameter ranges from 350 to 450 mm. Make sure that your car has this device made of high-quality metal.

The production of construction trolleys is in full swing around the world. All that remains is to choose the most reliable suppliers.

See below for more details.

The best option for a wheelbarrow or cart for your site

Let's consider several typical conditions under which the need to purchase a garden wheelbarrow arises.

Construction wheelbarrows can sometimes serve as garden wheelbarrows - they are stronger and more reliable.

1. A small plot (6-10 acres) , narrow beds, visiting the plot and working on it occurs only during the season, construction work is mostly completed, elderly people plan to take care of the garden. In this case, a light and compact one-wheeled wheelbarrow with a trapezoidal body with a capacity of up to 80 liters and a load capacity of up to 100 kg with a wheel size of at least 40 cm is suitable. The body material is plastic or aluminum. The total weight of the wheelbarrow must not exceed 10 kg and it must be equipped with stops.
2. A medium-sized plot (10-25 acres) with narrow and wide beds, the work is mainly seasonal, construction work has generally been completed, young and middle-aged people will be involved in gardening. For such a garden you need a “more powerful” wheelbarrow. It is still possible to use a single-wheeled version with a trapezoidal or rectangular body with a volume of 100-110 liters and a load capacity of 150-180 kg. Body material – aluminum. It is necessary to have stops, the weight of the wheelbarrow will be close to 13-15 kg, and the diameter of the wheels will be at least 40 cm.
3. A medium or large plot of land (about 0.5 hectares) with sufficient distance between beds and plantings. They visit it quite often and plan to build a barn, a bathhouse, a garage, or all together. Young and strong people work there, sometimes work is carried out out of season. In this case, you cannot do without an entry-level construction cart. Its approximate characteristics: two pneumatic wheels, body volume 100-110 l, load capacity 200-220 kg. Body material – galvanized steel or aluminum. Such a cart will be equipped with stops, its weight will be 18-20 kg, and the diameter of the wheels will be at least 40 cm.
4. And finally, the most difficult option. A large plot (over 0.5 hectares) allocated for the construction of a house, a clear separation of work areas and recreation areas is planned; construction work on the construction of the house has not yet begun and is unlikely to end with its construction. Professional workers and builders will work. They will need a professional construction truck. This is a massive two-wheeled device with a volume of 220-250 liters, a load capacity of 300 kg, equipped with stops. Body material – galvanized steel. Wheel diameter is 40-45 cm, total weight is 25-28 kg.

Choose a garden wheelbarrow or cart based on your own needs and preferences. This is a convenient and unpretentious garden tool that can serve for decades and will always be at hand.

It’s very good that we’re still feeling bad! But then...!!!

You know how it happens. Once you help out of kindness, twice, and then it seems like you become obligated. This is exactly the situation that took place in my case. The neighbor aunt mentioned above decided that day to use the surging happiness in the form of free labor to the fullest. After we arrived at the place and unloaded the dacha belongings (the car sighed with relief), it turned out that it would not be possible to go straight back to the city.

It was planned to rearrange, move, move some things on the site. Then I had to bring from somewhere a dozen buckets of sand, a couple of dozen manure, haul water into the tank... In a word, the pack horse in my person had every chance of not making it until sunset. However, I also had no moral right to die on the boundary. In the evening I had to take my spontaneous employer home with the promise of feeding me a good dinner.

At first I set to work with student fervor, but very soon I realized that at this rate I would not make it until the evening. And it was then that a garden wheelbarrow , aimlessly chilling on a neighbor’s property, came into my field of vision. The neighbor himself was also present at this, but he was doing such work that he clearly did not need the wheelbarrow. He whitewashed the trunks of apple trees.

Then a great plan matured in my head. For a couple of good bottles of beer, I borrowed a vehicle in the hope of easing my backbreaking hard labor. According to my calculations, using a cart, I could finish all the work in an hour and a half, and then take a walk through the forest, in the vicinity of which there was a neighbor’s dacha. Alas, the rosy plans were not destined to come true. You'll never guess why.

It was just a two-wheeled cart. I somehow didn’t think about the fact that the paths along which I had to travel were quite narrow. And if one wheel rode along them, then the second always strived to follow “dug up”, “planted” and other places where the mere thought of the movement of wheeled vehicles was considered blasphemous. As a result, after paying two bottles of beer to rent the cart, I was never able to use it.

Because I dared to slightly crush a couple of beds and break a branch near a currant bush, I was given a severe reprimand and given the strictest order to “immediately do everything as it was.” I eliminated the consequences of my outrageous behavior by lamenting about modern youth, for whom, it seems, nothing is sacred at all.

Of course, it was impossible to even think about a good dinner. Quite coldly saying goodbye to me at the entrance, the strict auntie said that she would never ask me for anything again.

That day seemed terrible to me, but the lessons learned helped me many years later to make the right choice when buying a garden wheelbarrow .

Perhaps this was the case when a negative result is also a result.

Step-by-step instruction

We will devote this section to step-by-step instructions for creating a two-wheeled wheelbarrow for the garden with a frame made of metal corners and a profile pipe.

For independent work you will need the following set of materials:

• sheet metal 1 mm thick;
• two wheels;
• a solid, non-hollow blank pipe 20 mm wide for making an axle;
• corners and profile pipes; welding machine;
• Bulgarian;
• tape measure and tap;
• set of bolts and nuts.

First of all, you should take care of creating the axis. We cut it to the required length, and in the end parts we cut out threads for the bolt. Due to it, you can hold the wheels on the front side.

As for the limiter on the inside, we use a washer here. Carefully weld it to the inside of the axle. We seat the wheel on bearings.

A frame should be welded onto a manufactured pair of wheels for a wheelbarrow, followed by a body. Making a frame is not difficult. We take 32x32 mm corners and cut them into rectangle shapes. The lower form should be smaller than the upper one. It will be possible to secure the parts together using metal jumpers.

The bottom rectangle should be re-strengthened. To do this, we use two flat profile pipes. Due to them, the weight of the entire box is retained, which means the bottom is supported.

The next step in the instructions on how to make a garden wheelbarrow with your own hands involves collecting and welding the handles. It is recommended to make them H-shaped. For correct bending, it is necessary to clearly weld two pipes, then heat them to give the desired look. Then separate and weld to the rear area of ​​the frame.

The next step is welding the axle. Due to a slight shift of its central part back, the front part of the wheelbarrow lowers on its own. This is necessary for easy cargo transportation.

The last thing left to do is to cut out the sheet metal pieces and attach them to the frame using a welding machine. If desired, the garden wheelbarrow can be painted in the desired color.

Now you know how to make a wheelbarrow for the garden and what material is best to choose for this. Remember that in the household it is better to use items that are resistant to adverse external factors. In case of high humidity, the material of the cart will remain intact and unharmed.

Device

A modern car is the result of many trials and errors. Its main structural elements are as follows:

• bent frame made of steel pipe with a diameter of up to 40 mm, turning into handles; often the bends of the frame are supports that hold the wheelbarrow in an upright position during loading (unloading);
• one or two wheels located under the body;
• the cargo body can be solid or assembled from separate elements; the material can be wood (plywood), metal or plastic, and the shape of the body can be different - a solid metal or plastic version has smooth contours and is called a trough, and a prefabricated body is a box that is assembled in various ways from individual elements.

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Comparison table of characteristics

A general table will help you quickly compare the described models.