Wheelbarrows

[Mark 5]

Last year the kids bought me a wheel barrow to replace my very trusty, holed and battered all purpose barrow I had had for some 30+ years.

The new one is a S/F one, metal, not the largest capacity bucket but it should do, I've yet to use it.

It will be my first with a solid tyre.

 

[Agrismith]

The wheel position is better on some of the plastic ones aswell. Slightly further under the load so better balanced.
I've seen them on tarmac gangs as well which is pretty impressive but don't know how long they last at it.
But if dead set against plastic then the next best is the extra deep galvanized haemerlin

 

[Robotstar5]

Ours are all plastic bin type now. Metal ones last 2-3 weeks we have at least one plastic bin one that was new in 2018.

I used to work next door to Walsall wheelbarrows and they used to ship hundreds out each day, I was talking to one of the guys and he reckoned a barrow lasted an average of 3 days on a building site!

 

[Mick Annick]

Just don’t do what Mrs A did and buy one of these, I’m the laughing stock of the village…

 

[Robotstar5]

We use a Chillington barrow at the stables, regularly move 40-50kg at a time and horse urine is pretty corrosive stuff, it's still fine after 5 years use

 

[Smallfry]

The Belle ones seem to be the best compromise of quality and price, but make sure the stickers come off

Some of the gaily coloured equestrian ones, have big hoppers, but will only carry light loads.

We have had some cheapish plastic hopper ones, but under load, the hopper has deformed and pressed against the tyre, making it very hard work.

If theft is likely, cheap metal one and replace more often.

 

[oldbikedavey]

A barrow skip narrower than the span of the handles gives a lot of mechanical advantage to the operators shoulders.
That having been said, properly using a wheelbarrow to its full efficiency is a considerable skill.

 

[Eric the chicken]

It probably also depends on what you're using the barrow for. my barrow is 15 years old and plastic. I changed the original pneumatic tyre for a solid one after three punctures. The barrow doesn't get really heavy use, its been used to transport concrete three times and other than that weeds soil and general garden waste. I've had to fit steel reinforcing strips to the legs where the original steel tubes wore through, but as I say the amount of heavy use it gets minimal. I'd buy another cheap one, if this one collapses and I bought another tomorrow it would last me until was 91!

 

[Morrisman]

Can't use the plastic one as a welding/cutting bench.....
Nor load hot ashes when cleaning up after a fire.
So some plus's & minus's all around.

Why don't any of them come with a simple hand brake for when decending
or trying to dump a very heavy load ?

Power assisted, brakes, the lot.

 

[Erie Fred]

Power assisted, brakes, the lot.

View attachment 451097

This is better than just a like....to quote Homer Simpson "WooHoo !"

 

[nickk]

I’ve given up buying any replacements,I have 3, 2&1 wheelers,the 1 wheeler is due a new skip,which I’ll make from 1.5mm ,then galvanise. I made one for a customer once,thought he was mad paying me that expense,that was 12 years ago,I realise it was economical now.

 

[Brad93]

Belle barrow has been really good for my pal

 

[Onoff]

Got bought a heavy duty, galvanised B&Q one for my 40th. 17 years on it's still going after one refurb by the in house, cheap labour:

https://flic.kr/p/2h4khHe

 

[Bobupndown]

We use a Chillington barrow at the stables, regularly move 40-50kg at a time and horse urine is pretty corrosive stuff, it's still fine after 5 years use

Must be a hell of a horse that pi$$es 40 - 50 kg of the stuff.

 

[6ply]

Power assisted, brakes, the lot.

View attachment 451097

Looks like a Zimmer frame with a shopping basket mounted up front.

 

[Robotstar5]

Must be a hell of a horse that pi$$es 40 - 50 kg of the stuff.

Poo plus urine soaked shavings, mrs Robo is really finicky about keeping the horses bed immaculate, which means more for me to barrow to the muck heap

 

[Wildefalcon]

Hammberlin are well balanced.

 

[JimmyS]

I've had a Belle one for about 7 years now, can't fault it.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Just don’t do what Mrs A did and buy one of these, I’m the laughing stock of the village…

View attachment 451096

Thief proof

 

[Guzrik]

Can't use the plastic one as a welding/cutting bench.....
Nor load hot ashes when cleaning up after a fire.
So some plus's & minus's all around.

Why don't any of them come with a simple hand brake for when decending
or trying to dump a very heavy load ?

That is a brilliant idea, as any biker would recognise.
The moment you block the front wheel of a motorbike it becomes so much easier to balance.