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good quality homeowner wheelbarrow

cheechi

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Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
4,384
Location
Triad, NC
Lowe's, HD, Ace, Northern, FF&S, and TSC are what I have nearby. I am looking for a wheelbarrow.

Does not need to be indestructible as it won't be dealing with 'jobsite' type stresses. I don't need any kind of special wheels just some decent tread on the tire not the super smooth like some do.

I won't buy a flimsy 'garden' type with the shallow bucket that's more a decoration than a tool.

I will spend good money if it will get me a good product but won't go with the expensive options until I know for sure it's needed.

I don't need 2 wheels or D handles, and don't have a preference in bucket material but I won't ignore a good suggestion just because it has a feature like that.

I have spent off and on several hours sanding and grinding rust and **** from the parents old wheelbarrow, painted the inside of the bucket with truck bed liner, cleaned all the rust off much of the hardware and bought replacements for the rest, and put on 2 new handles. It's finally done and it's likely going back to them very soon. It has given me appreciation for certain things. This was not the cheapest nor the most expensive ~15 years ago from Lowe's I think. Being made in USA didn't stop it from being destroyed by the weather but may have helped it be repairable and not scrapped.

I know the 'equivalent' to this one they sell now they want about $70 and it's about the same item/price at all the bigger stores. However his is much nicer and cost less at the time and I don't know if that was just a sale or if 'they don't make them like they used to' or what. This is where I'd like your expertise; if there's a reason to wait for a certain time to get it on sale, to go (for example) Lowe's over Ace or vice versa, get a certain model, let me know.

I do have one of those 'yard wagons' that Northern sells and it is great for a lot of things, especially heavy things that are going to make a wheelbarrow tip over like bags of soil and logs and so on.
 
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Ign

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Jul 7, 2006
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12,769
Location
Butte Peak ND
HD sells an all-metal version, it's still around $70 or $80. All metal + flat free tire = zero maintenance and no headache.
 

theoldwizard1

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Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,303
Location
SE MI
I don't need 2 wheels ...

I am old. I probably will not buy another wheelbarrow in this life, but boy I sure wish I had one with 2 wheels for the few times a year I use it !

A lot of the new ones have issues with the tires holding air, so foam filled may be the way to go.
 

madcrisis

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Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
216
Not sure what your yard is like, but if youve never used one with two wheels. I highly reccomend it. They sink far less, much harder to tip over, and are easier to push. Plus they typically have larger buckets so it makes for less trips.
 

Ign

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Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
12,769
Location
Butte Peak ND
2 wheels ***** on uneven terrain. If you live in suburbia, probably great. If you live in BFE, don't do it.
 

Beemer533

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Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
2,057
Location
Syracuse, NY
I am old. I probably will not buy another wheelbarrow in this life, but boy I sure wish I had one with 2 wheels for the few times a year I use it !

A lot of the new ones have issues with the tires holding air, so foam filled may be the way to go.

I am not old (relatively speaking:lol_hitti) and I love my 2 wheel)

I have found it really stable and plenty maneuverable. I bought it last year at Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/p/True-Tem...heels-CP6DWUT8/202616068?N=5yc1vZbx50Z1z0yl76
for a retaining wall project and I wish I had done it sooner.

I went for the composite version as I feel stuff doesn't stick as well to it compared to the metal ones, and I don't need to worry about it rusting.. But YMMV..
 

the gypsy

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Joined
Mar 13, 2013
Messages
1,780
Location
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
The 2 wheel , wheelbarrow is good when working on delicate ground or a roof to distribute the weight. But they feel awkward when pushing on uneven ground because it will follow the ground, so sometime you will feel all the weight on one side (hand) or the other.
compared to the single wheel feels a lot more comfortable because the weight is equal on both hands regardless the terrain.
 

gungatim

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Joined
Jan 8, 2013
Messages
8,101
Location
west mich
last wheelbarrow I bought, the home stores had the wheels, handles, and trays all sold seperately. you could pick the handles you wanted, the tray size, tire, etc. and basically put together as good or as cheap a wheelbarow as you wanted. That was 20 yrs. ago, and I spent more time typing this than I spent picking out the wheelbarrow. not that complicated a machine really....
 

the spyder

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Joined
Jan 1, 2007
Messages
589
Location
Oregon
I've had the generic lowes single wheel for, 5 years? It gets used regularly and outside of putting a tube in the tire, it's been just fine for our use on 5 acres.
 

geojag

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Joined
Oct 11, 2012
Messages
359
Location
Little Rock, AR
I have a true temper with steel handles and a flat free tire. It has served me well for the last couple of years. It is about $85.
 

turbodave

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Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
673
Location
IL/WI
I've got a cheap 2 wheel one with a poly tray. I've used for soil, rocks, scrap metal, bricks, mixed concrete in it and the poly tray has held up great.

The 2 wheels however, it seems like one is always going flat, good wheelbarrow tires are hard to find, all seem to be made in china and degrade in the UV after a few years. With 2 wheels it's cost prohibitive to swap on the flat free tires so I keep patching tubes. I was over the moon last week when I grabbed it from it's winter slumber out against the woodpile to find both tires still had air in them. Other than twice the tire maintenance the 2 wheeler works fine for my needs and it's nice to be able to roll the empty wheelbarrow across the yard with one hand while juggling a shovel, rake or other pointy objects in the other.
 
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garandman

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Oct 5, 2011
Messages
667
Location
Boston MA / Mt Sunapee NH
I bought a two wheeled model, 8 cu ft. The wheels are spaced out to the edge of the bucket. Much more stable and doesn't sink in on soft ground. Been filling it with firewood.

http://www.amestruetemper.com/products/detail.aspx?ProductId=1082&FamilyId=856&LineId=31

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Skin

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Feb 24, 2010
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11,713
Location
Boston
Jackson and True-Temper are nearly identical. Maybe if you buy a high end Jackson, but for consumer models a Jackson is a True-Temper with some very slight changes. Same parent company (Ames) so this shouldn't be a surprise. In fact Ames supplies the vast majority of wheelbarrows under at least 3 or 4 brands and they're all nearly the same in construction. Grade 5 zinc plated hardware, wood handles, metal or plastic buckets, sheet metal thin supports, cheap tires. They do the job fine but don't plan on passing it on to your kids. Unless you're going to spend the money for American, buy whatever in my opinion.
 
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cheechi

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Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
4,384
Location
Triad, NC
last wheelbarrow I bought, the home stores had the wheels, handles, and trays all sold seperately. you could pick the handles you wanted, the tray size, tire, etc. and basically put together as good or as cheap a wheelbarow as you wanted. That was 20 yrs. ago, and I spent more time typing this than I spent picking out the wheelbarrow. not that complicated a machine really....
The last time I bought one it was this way also. They have changed it. Now all of the wheelbarrows are assembled and live outdoors all year round.

Skin sees where I was going with this; Ames, Jackson, & True Temper are all the same company. I have no issue going with one of these but I was also assuming some of the house brands were made by them and might be less money for the same quality. For example, this one I just finished fixing is exactly the same as the green Ace branded one.

I also was interested in what options are important to others that I might not be considering very highly myself.

One thing that surprised me at Lowe's yesterday is none of the TT/Jacksons say a COO. Both dad's Jackson & TT say USA so there's that also. I'm kind of liking the orange TT as it's basically the same as the Jackson at Lowe's.

So logical, sometimes a question is going to get the same answers you expect it to get and sometimes you are surprised at what you can learn about something. Happens all the time on GJ. I didn't know if there was some magical time of year they're on sale or if I should be looking for something that I hadn't considered. Even if this was one of those times where a wheelbarrow is just a wheelbarrow and there is no hidden gems to have uncovered I still felt it was worth asking.
 

signcrafter

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Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
12,518
Not sure what your yard is like, but if youve never used one with two wheels. I highly reccomend it. They sink far less, much harder to tip over, and are easier to push. Plus they typically have larger buckets so it makes for less trips.

All depends on your yard if two wheels are harder to tip. If you have level ground two wheels would be good. If you have any grade you need to drive on then two wheels can make it more tippy. You can't "lean" a two wheel wheelbarrow like you can a one wheel to level it out.

I am not old (relatively speaking:lol_hitti) and I love my 2 wheel)

I have found it really stable and plenty maneuverable. I bought it last year at Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/p/True-Tem...heels-CP6DWUT8/202616068?N=5yc1vZbx50Z1z0yl76
for a retaining wall project and I wish I had done it sooner.

I went for the composite version as I feel stuff doesn't stick as well to it compared to the metal ones, and I don't need to worry about it rusting.. But YMMV..

I bought a plastic or whatever tub a while back and it didn't last. It ended up cracking when I was mixing and hauling cement in it. I haven't replaced it yet but I've been looking at the lowes wheelbarrow for some time now that is a jackson metal one.
 

signcrafter

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Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
12,518
I'm guessing that buying a car must be about a 14 month project for some of you. Take an hour Saturday morning and look at them all, furthest away one last, buy the one that tripped your trigger on the drive home.

Just going to look at them isn't always the best way to do it. Some times real world advice from others who have had good or bad experiences can really help. A good wheelbarrow is around 100 bucks, not a huge chunk of money but still a good deal of money for most guys. So asking for some real world advice before shelling out 100 bucks isn't a horrible thing. Sometimes I wonder what some guys think should be discussed on this forum if they make a big deal talking about tools like wheelbarrows.
 

logical

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Joined
Aug 31, 2005
Messages
2,469
Location
Northern fringe of the Motor City Suburbs
Just going to look at them isn't always the best way to do it. Some times real world advice from others who have had good or bad experiences can really help. A good wheelbarrow is around 100 bucks, not a huge chunk of money but still a good deal of money for most guys. So asking for some real world advice before shelling out 100 bucks isn't a horrible thing. Sometimes I wonder what some guys think should be discussed on this forum if they make a big deal talking about tools like wheelbarrows.

I never said you or anyone else shouldn't talk about it.
 

Aqua-Andy

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Joined
Oct 1, 2013
Messages
332
Go with the Jackson. Coat the handles with boiled linseed oil a few times before you assemble it and then re coat once a year. You will be handing this tool down to your grand kids. I use my wheel barrel for firewood and the Jackson is the only one that has lasted. The polly tub I had cracked after one season, cheaper steel tub tore through after three years, Jackson still going with very few dents after five years.
 

teddlett

Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2015
Messages
22
Growing up my grandparents had 2 of these (a smallish one and a big one) and they spoiled me, every other wheelbarrow I've encountered was sub par. As a kid I drug these around their 8 acres of hill county with full loads of dirt, rocks, brush, it handled it all like a champ.

https://www.lehmans.com/product/practical-garden-carts/

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