Wheelbarrow Types, Materials and How to Choose the Best

It is an indisputable fact that a wheelbarrow is an essential tool in a myriad of niches that involve transportation of materials from one place to another.

While owning a wheelbarrow may seem like no big deal, it takes some basic understanding of some essential tips to get one that will effectively cater to your needs and last longer.

With this knowledge, you can quickly determine the tasks that can be achieved by the model you plan to buy, its strength and durability, and even its effectiveness.

Here, you will find perfectly detailed information about different types of wheelbarrows, the materials used to make them as well as their pros and cons, and finally, an all-inclusive buyer’s guide to direct you systematically on how to choose the right wheelbarrow for your diverse needs.

Different Types of Wheelbarrows

The market divides wheelbarrows into different categories based on their design, materials and unique features.

The most common materials used in wheelbarrows include steel, wood, and plastic. Each of these materials and wheelbarrow types bears their share of advantages and disadvantages.

These will surely come in handy when you are choosing the right wheelbarrow for your needs.

The most popular kinds of wheelbarrows we describe below.

1. Categorized by Type of Material

Stainless Steel Wheelbarrow

If stainless steel is a material for a wheelbarrow, you will not have problems with the rust. However, if you use other metals like iron, then you may need to repaint it frequently and avoid exposing it to moisture and water to prevent rusting.

When and where are steel wheelbarrows used?

Steel wheelbarrows are typical in multiple niches ranging from when you want to move heavy loads around your home or within your garden, to the industrial environment when transporting supplies and products from one area to the other. Since they are durable, sturdy and resistant to damage, steel and metal wheelbarrows can perform unlimited transportation tasks.

Plastic Wheelbarrows

However, no matter how durable and sturdy the plastic is, there is a very high possibility of cracking if loaded with bulky items, which may eventually lead to complete destruction of the wheelbarrow.

There is also another concern of plastic wheelbarrows losing their strength and quality when left in the sun for too long, or cracking when exposed to shallow temperatures.

When and where are plastic wheelbarrows used?

Thanks to their lightweight and ease of maneuverability, plastic wheelbarrows are best used in transporting items in areas with less defined passageways. Since they are weak, it is crucial that they are used only for light tasks like less demanding gardening chores.

Wooden Wheelbarrows

As much as they are not prone to cracking like plastic wheelbarrows or rusting like their metallic counterparts, they are very prone to moisture damage.

When exposed to water or moisture for long, they become more massive, may rot, splinter and mold easily. For this reason, it is always advisable to store them in a covered storage area whenever they are not in use.

When and where are wooden wheelbarrows used?

Since wooden wheelbarrows are quite heavy without providing as much loading space, they are most commonly used for aesthetic enhancement of areas, for example by being used as decorative planters for flowers and ornamental plants.

However, they can also be used for light to medium duty tasks and should be kept away from water and moisture, as these are known to damage them.

Canvas Wheelbarrows

This makes it incredibly useful at home, especially for carrying large stable loads. It is also great for people with limited storage facilities.

However, due to its flexible nature, you may not be able to carry specific loads such as sand, as it will pour out of it. It is also not feasible to take heavy loads on a canvas wheelbarrow.

Canvas wheelbarrows are not made entirely of canvas; they usually have a metallic frame that may at times extend to the full tub for more stability.

When and where are canvas wheelbarrows used?

This type of wheelbarrows is commonly used by people who are conscious about storage space and don’t need to move heavy loads from one place to another on a frequent basis.

Since they are flexible and foldable, they can comfortably fit under furniture and cabinets rather than taking an entire corner of the room like the other wheelbarrow types discussed above.

For instance, we may have a wheelbarrow with a stainless steel load tub and wooden frame, or one with a wooden or plastic load tub and metallic structure. Most of their wheels are made of durable rubber, whether pneumatic or non-pneumatic.

2. Categorized by Wheel Design

Single-Wheeled Barrow

When compared to wheelbarrows with multiple wheels, they are the easiest to maneuver especially where space is an issue. However, they will require the user to have more upper body strength than the latter.

Multiple-Wheeled Barrow

However, they are less maneuverable as compared to the single wheeled barrow and they may be hard to use on inclined terrain. While the double-wheeled barrow offers less maneuverability compared to the single wheeled one, it is much easier to maneuver as compared to the three- and four-wheeled barrow that has started gaining popularity lately.

Pneumatic Wheelbarrow

These kinds of wheelbarrows are known to offer a smoother transportation experience, especially when traversing rough terrain.

However, their wheels need to be inflated from time to time to ensure constant air pressure and that you don’t experience a flat tire unexpectedly.

Non-Pneumatic Wheelbarrow

These wheelbarrows consist of solid rubber tires that will never go flat under any circumstance.

Since their wheels do not need frequent air refills, these wheelbarrows are low-maintenance, which is great for any owner.

Semi-Pneumatic Wheelbarrow

On the other hand, they are reliable enough to provide sturdiness, thus great for use in rough conditions without being punctured and going flat.

3.Categorized by How it is Propelled

Manual Wheelbarrow

This wheelbarrow type is purely propelled manually. It requires you to use your physical energy to push it forward and is severe when carrying weighty loads. This is the most common wheelbarrow in the market, and it is more affordable than the motorized one.

Motorized Wheelbarrow

This kind of wheelbarrow makes use of electric power to propel the wheels, thus leaving you with the task of maneuvering it. It is the most suitable for weighty loads, the main reason why it is only common in the industrial and manufacturing environment. It is not common among gardeners or at home. It comes with a prohibitive price tag and will require maintenance and repair procedures that are more complex than the traditional manual wheelbarrow.

4. Categorized by Strength

Heavy-duty Wheelbarrow

These are designed specifically for tough transportation tasks. They work correctly in the manufacturing scene, as they are stronger and more durable, with a higher weight and load capacity limit. They prominent in size and heavy, thus harder to maneuver. Their load capacity is in the range of at least eight cubic feet.

Light Duty Wheelbarrow

These are the smaller, most common type of wheelbarrows that you will find in many homes. They are light, and they have a low weight, and load capacity limit than other types. Their capacity goes up to 5 cubic feet, which is suitable for lighter and smaller loads as compared to the medium-duty wheelbarrow whose size ranges from 5 to 8 cubic feet.

Buyer’s guide: What to Consider When Choosing the Best Wheelbarrow

Choosing a wheelbarrow may not seem like a big deal, but selecting the best type that will serve you effectively for longer, and cater for all your needs will require some consideration of relevant factors.

With the factors and tips discussed below, it will be entirely accessible to find the ideal barrow for you.

Consider Your Needs

The first step to finding the perfect wheelbarrow is identifying your needs, which is the reason why you need the wheelbarrow.

For instance, if you want to transport huge and heavy loads, then it is necessary to choose a heavy-duty wheelbarrow with high load capacity and weight limit. This ensures that the frame does not break under pressure from the heavy load as would have been if you were to use a light duty wheelbarrow.

If your needs are as simple as more quiet operation, then metallic wheelbarrows will not be a suitable option. Instead, it would be better to invest in plastic or wooden ones, which do not produce a lot of noise during loading and offloading.

Identifying your specific needs, no matter how simple or complex they may seem, is very handy when it comes to choosing the exact model that will serve you with diligence.

Construction Materials and Quality

The construction materials and the build quality are significant determinants of the strength and durability of a wheelbarrow.

If you are after the strongest and most durable, then you should go for the metallic or steel wheelbarrow. However, since this comes with a high price tag, you may have to look for sturdy plastic or wooden wheelbarrows if you are working on a low budget.

Apart from ensuring that the materials used in your wheelbarrow are not weak and flimsy, it is essential to look at its build quality too. Make sure that all connections and joints are securely affixed.

Since your wheelbarrow will be performing heavy tasks frequently, having a reliable quality of construction will prevent incidences of parts of the wheelbarrow falling apart during and after use.

Ease of Maneuverability

Any vehicle that is hard to maneuver is not anyone’s dream, mainly if it is operated manually like the wheelbarrow. This means that you should ensure that the wheelbarrow you purchase is easy to maneuver.

First, unless you want to go heavy-duty, you should choose one that is significantly light and compact, with one or two wheels. This ensures that you can easily maneuver it even when space is constrained such as in the garden. A heavy wheelbarrow will require you to have the more upper body strength to be able to move it, especially when it is fully laden.

Capacity and Weight Limit

Depending on how much load you want to transport, you will be able to determine the suitable capacity and weight limit of the wheelbarrow you want to invest in. For heavy loads, it is best to find a wheelbarrow with higher load capacity, and you may even reinforce it further for even heavier loads.

The lighter items you transport, the lower capacity of wheelbarrow you will need. The size of the load is also a determinant of the ideal function of the wheelbarrow you choose. More significant loads will require larger load tub capacity while smaller loads will require smaller load tub capacity.

The size and weight of the load should always be proportional to the load tub capacity and weight limit of the wheelbarrow respectively. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense to carry one potted plant on a huge ten cubic foot wheelbarrow, or a massive tank on a small five cubic foot wheelbarrow.

Ease of Use and Comfort

Since you will be pushing the wheelbarrow around with lots of stuff on it, it is critical that the whole experience remains as comfortable as possible.

First, the handles should be of the right length as very short handles could lead to poor posture that may cause back pain.

The stems should be ergonomically designed to offer comfort and cushioning while preventing slippage. It is best if the handles are made of rubber grips. The number of wheels is also a factor that will determine ease of use and comfort.

A single-wheeled barrow is easy to maneuver, a double-wheeled one offers more comfort, but the ideal one is the three-wheelbarrow that is the easier to operate, offers better support and is best for people with physical limitations such as disability or sickness.

Type of Terrain

Depending on the type of terrain you will be using the wheelbarrow on, you can deliberate on the type and number of wheels that is best, as well as the general design of the wheelbarrow. For instance, in rocky terrain, a wheelbarrow with non-pneumatic wheels is perfect as you won’t have to worry about punctures and flat tires.

In fact, a single-wheeled design may not work as best as a wheelbarrow with two or three wheels on such terrain. If you are carrying fragile items across rough terrain, then you should use a wheelbarrow with pneumatic wheels as they absorb most of the shock, thus keeping the details safer.

Conclusion and Recommendations

With the above factors in mind, finding the ideal wheelbarrow should no longer be a problem for anyone. There are different stores from which you can purchase your wheelbarrow, both online and offline.

verdict

All you need to do is identify a couple of wheelbarrow models that can cater to your needs, seek recommendations and check out user reviews and ratings before making your final investment decision.

You should always be on the lookout for offers and discounts on your best models, and you may land an unbelievable bargain. With your budget in hand and the tips discussed above, you will surely get the wheelbarrow you have always desired to own.