The best barrow is....

[British Red]

It may seem prosaic & less fun than knives, but if you are ever going to grow anything or raise any kind of livestock, you are going to need a barrow.

A good one is a joy to use.

A bad one is wheeled misery.

 

[Pattree]

I loved the old ball barrow. There was even an extension if you felt fit!
but
Plastic and outdoors doesn’t last all that long.

 

[Pattree]

……. the one with the ball!

 

[TeeDee]

 

[TeeDee]

I'd really like to see barrow makers offer some upgrade where one can extend the sides front and back in an upwards direction to allow for easier movement of light , but loose material - leaves etc

Just a pain. Could probably fashion something up just surprised its not commonly offered.

For building site / homestead work - I'd want built fairly robust and with longer handles. - C.O.G is an important consideration.

 

[Pattree]

The original ball Barrow (with ball) did exactly that but unless you were clearing bedding or leaves etc it became very heavy to push or pull. It was also made of plastic and prone to damage.
It went the way of all sunlit plastic.

 

[British Red]

View attachment 92809

Taxi for TeeDee!

 

[British Red]

I'd really like to see barrow makers offer some upgrade where one can extend the sides front and back in an upwards direction to allow for easier movement of light , but loose material - leaves etc

That's very much what the 350litre Henchman is used for, really cuts down on traipsing back & forth

 

[Broch]

I've not looked back since I stopped buying barrows with pneumatic tyres. I've now swapped the tyres on my sack barrow with solid as well. I know, occasionally, a tyre with more compliance would be better, but, on balance I prefer the solid tyres. I just hate the times when I go out to get on with a job and then have to spend the next hour finding and fixing a puncture

 

[Dave Budd]

haemerlin barrows all the way for me! They have the right sort of capacity, wide tops, relatively short legs (which means I don't have to lift the handles too high to get it above the lumps in the ground surface), solidly built and easy to handle. I always replace the wheels with solid PU ones though, but that's because I get tired of punctures!

 

[British Red]

There is a consensus here on solid wheels

 

[Kadushu]

I use a few different ones. Solid wheels and a galvanised tub are a solid choice but a few plastic ones have surprised me with their longevity. There's a huge plastic 2 wheeler that is very robust and a joy to use.

 

[forrestdweller]

View attachment 92809

sorry for going off-topic, but where's that?!

to get back on subject: wheelbarrows are an important farm tool here, too, but the quality is (typical) central american substandard... :-(

 

[TeeDee]

sorry for going off-topic, but where's that?!

to get back on subject: wheelbarrows are an important farm tool here, too, but the quality is (typical) central american substandard... :-(

We have quite a few of these lying around.

Bit of a pain if I'm being honest.


Happy to sell you one if interested?

 

[Falstaff]

Odd one out here, I bought a pneumatic tyred one, a revelation, so much easier getting over bumps and bits of timber etc. Yes, I do need to keep the pressures up to prevent/reduce punctures but for my purposes its much better.
I fitted a removable board on the top so that I can load toolboxes, seed trays etc etc like a big sack barrow. I prefer single wheel, I find it more manouverable onto planks on ramps or to position easily between bed or narrow spaces.

 

[Pattree]

sorry for going off-topic, but where's that?!

Just in case you were wondering WHAT it was as well as where it was:

Sorry I cannot locate this mount for you but it is a prehistoric burial mound called a Barrow.

 

[HillBill]

I've not looked back since I stopped buying barrows with pneumatic tyres. I've now swapped the tyres on my sack barrow with solid as well. I know, occasionally, a tyre with more compliance would be better, but, on balance I prefer the solid tyres. I just hate the times when I go out to get on with a job and then have to spend the next hour finding and fixing a puncture

Might be a silly question, as its not something i'm familiar with. But cant you get non solid puncture resistant (ish) tyres for them? Rubber and filled with air, but compartmentalised? So if one part gets a hole, it makes little difference in the short term?

 

[mrmike]

I'd really like to see barrow makers offer some upgrade where one can extend the sides front and back in an upwards direction to allow for easier movement of light , but loose material - leaves etc

Just a pain. Could probably fashion something up just surprised its not commonly offered.

For building site / homestead work - I'd want built fairly robust and with longer handles. - C.O.G is an important consideration.

I remember my grandad having a metal extension for one of his wheelbarrows that did exactly this...

 

[TeeDee]

I remember my grandad having a metal extension for one of his wheelbarrows that did exactly this...

Ideal.

I used to have to a seemingly sisyphusian chore list of tasks as a child - mostly and probably appropriately involving 'dunging out' various animals..

It could probably be a maths equation suitable for a physics paper but I know there was a 'sweet spot' of Me ( sub 11 year old Power input ) vs distance to dung heap ( with hazardous obstacles and bumps en route ) with variables of dead weight and volume/size of load thrown in.

Torque on handles on turning against the grip and the overall COG moving was also a real thing having numerous loads wrenched from ones hands and being accidently tipped.

If I could pile it just a bit higher and heavier in the barrow ( but not so high I lost control . it tipped and s##t was on the ground - because that created even more work ) , AND still make the trip safe and sound it was worth an almost Faustian bargain with the barrow God and I'd chance my little arm and leg.


Too light or small a load meant more time -more time plodding ( Boots-Boots-Boots ) along day dreaming of all the things an 11 year year red neck boy could entertain himself with.


So yes please barrow manufacturers - Barrows with slippy-on, slippy-off raised sidings for extra loads please!!

( And maybe some screw in weighted stabilizers for the learners out there )

 

[Broch]

Might be a silly question, as its not something i'm familiar with. But cant you get non solid puncture resistant (ish) tyres for them? Rubber and filled with air, but compartmentalised? So if one part gets a hole, it makes little difference in the short term?

I suspect that's what these ones are to be honest as there is some compliance in them. Probably not as sophisticated as 'compartmentalised' but a 'sponge' type material with air in it.