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 crap 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.
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 ) 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/?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'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.
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.
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 ) 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/?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.
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