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I want a bad **** wheelbarrow

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zkling

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Messages
16,939
Build or piece one together. Metal tub. Metal handles. Good tire/hub. Keep it painted to prevent rust, should last a very long time.

Why do you want a lifetime from a disposable item?

Why would you want a disposable item vs something you can get a lifetime of good use out of? :dunno:
 

RivennHewn

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 4, 2011
Messages
10,376
Location
PNW
Burn it up and replace it.

they aren't expensive.

Better to use a new one than an old POS.
 
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jhelrey

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
7,253
Location
MN
Time to buy some fender washers!

Na, my buddy has a plastic wheel barrow and the thing is a bear to use. I am used to the top of the line Jacksons.
 

jhelrey

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
7,253
Location
MN
PS: The plastic ones flex and I don't like that. I used to be a landscape foreman and the boss went cheap. They lasted 2 days.
 

Montosi82

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
Messages
101
Another fan of the Jackson's. Run flat tires. Metal not plastic. I bought two barrels about 7 years ago when I started my landscape business. They show their wear but they both have been through two lifetimes of wear and left outside year round. Still 100% functional. Good luck
 

Dustball

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 25, 2011
Messages
2,081
Location
Hudson, WI
I bought a wheelbarrow from Northern Tool many years ago and it's the best I've ever owned. I don't think it's made any more though.

The tray is powder coated and there are no holes in the tray anywhere for hardware. The tray is bolted to the frame from underneath with welded on tabs to capture the screw heads. The handles are rectangular tubing so they're very strong. With a full load in the tray, there is no jiggle anywhere when you try moving the handles up and down opposite from each other.

Those are the things I'd look for if I was to buy another wheelbarrow- powder coated tray, steel handles, strong frame.
 

IHI

Banned
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
464
Location
Iowa
Yep, you definitely want all steel and fully welded. Bolts just create pivot points and everything comes out of square. I've been doing this with stock wheelbarrows; get rid of the wood and fully weld all the "framework". Flat free tire is a must. Post #25:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211676

Exactly!! We never did much wheelbarrow work since we used equipment to move stuff around, but obviously there were times it was needed. Got a basic steel wheelbarrow, once handles cracked from loading too heavy, bought the steel handles for them, removed the angled wood shims and used steel, welded it all together. Also bought a run flat/solid rubber tire for it- pretty much indestructible now since it's all steel, welded, and no way for the tire to ever go flat again:)

So Start with a basic steel model, run it into the ground, and when it comes time to upgrade the worn parts 5,6,7,8,etc...yrs later, give it the heavy duty makeover:) Might even consider a unit with the dual front tires for stability purposes, I've thought about it myself, just haven't dne it yet...but when when I do, I'll just buy another run flat, buy a piece of steel rod that's longer for the axle and make the conversion kit myself vs paying for a kit, simply because there's nothing to them.
 

Engineer61

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 26, 2012
Messages
225
Location
Colorado
Last spring I bought one from Ace, steel handles & framework, steel tub, dual wheels for $90. Just looked on their website and it isn't there anymore.
 

Ign

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
12,769
Location
Butte Peak ND
Last spring I bought one from Ace, steel handles & framework, steel tub, dual wheels for $90. Just looked on their website and it isn't there anymore.

The dual wheels are pesonal preference but arguments against them is that they **** on uneven terrain (makes PERFECT sense to me), but my Ace has several of these out front, maybe with the single wheels tho......for $85 to $90. I WILL say that from a fabricator's standpoint the steel square tube is too thin..........optimistically it's 16ga but more likely 18-20ga; I'm only allowing the benefit of the doubt as I haven't put calipers on it.

Kind of a bummer 'cause I've been thinking of "doing up" the two extra wheelbarrows I have and selling them on CL but after I factor in labor and a flat free tire I can't hardly sell them for $85.
 

KEH

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
5,142
Homeowner use only here. I found a discarded large body wheelbarrow missing wheel and steel legs needed some welding, plus handles. Used steel wheel until I found a good new wheel and tire. Made wheel mounts. Took an oak 2 x 4 and used a band saw to cut out the handle shape so I wouldn't have to fool with that separate wedge shaped wood piece. Trimmed handle hand grip with ax. Bolted body(tray?) to handles with machine bolts and washers instead of dealing with carriage bolts. Has worked fine for about 40 years. They often are for sale at flea markets or yard sales. Got one just needing a tire so cheap I couldn't resist last year.

Wheel barrows last indefinately in non commercial service is they are sheltered. The biggest abuse wheelbarrows take is hauling wet cement for masons. They last a couple of years then.

KEH
 
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