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Wagon vs wheelbarrow: which one is better suited for your gardening needs? Keep reading and find out.
Wagons and wheelbarrows are essential tools for gardening as there’s always stuff that needs to be moved around, such as compost, bags of soil, plants, or weeds among many other things.
But there are significant differences between wagons and wheelbarrows that may make one or the other a better fit for you and your gardening needs.
Is it better to use a Wagon or a Wheel Barrow in my garden? A wheelbarrow is a cart with one to two wheels in the front and two support legs for when it’s standing still, the wagon is a flat cart, typically a flatbed with four sides, and in the front of the cart, a handle to pull from. Each one has different characteristics and benefits for working around the garden, as well as disadvantages.
Read on below and learn if a wagon or a wheelbarrow is a better choice for you, as well as our top pick for each type!
Wagon Vs Wheel Barrow: Which Is Right for You?
The wagon vs wheelbarrow debate rages on amongst gardeners, landscapers, and everyday people like you and me.
Both tools are amazing compared to using your hands. Further, both may save your back and knees a ton of pain and agony.
Using a Wagon or a wheelbarrow is essential to help you carry things around your garden. As with every gardening tool, they both have their pros and cons.
Here is the most pertinent and useful information to help you make your choice:
1. Wagon vs Wheel Barrow: Shape and Size
Wheelbarrows have sloping sides, which would come in handy for carrying loose materials. On the other hand, wagons have straight sides and flat bottoms, which allows them to carry bigger loads.
They both come in different sizes, the bigger ones will help you carry more materials all at once and save time, but this will also make the wagon or wheelbarrow heavier to handle.
2. Maneuverability
Wheelbarrows are prepared to be pushed from two handles, this makes them easier to maneuver and control, especially if you have to navigate on uneven surfaces.
Wagons are more stable and designed to pull from them. This task may be a little more difficult if the surface is not smooth.
3. Your Garden Surface
Before deciding if a wheelbarrow or a wagon is better for you, you have to consider the surface where you’ll have to navigate them.
If you have a rocky surface in your garden, then maybe you should consider a wagon as they navigate better on bumpy terrain. If you have hills.
However, a wagon can get ahead of you. In that case, a wheelbarrow that is pushed from behind may be better.
4. Capacity
When fully loaded a wheelbarrow will turn more difficult to maneuver as it will become more unstable.
Wagons, on the other hand, are better to manage a full load, as their gravity center is lower, which makes them more stable.
5. Tires and Materials
Once you’ve chosen if you’re getting a wagon or a wheelbarrow you have to consider the materials they are made of and the quality of the tires.
The tray should feel solid and firm. If you decide to buy one made of metal, consider that it can rust if exposed to rain.
If you consider buying one made of plastic, make sure it’s UV-resistent, otherwise, it may crack when exposed to sunlight.
As for the tires, they can be air-filled or solid. While air-filled ones are easier to push, the solid ones are generally bigger, which helps navigate uneven terrains.
Best Wagon for Your Garden
Whether you think you’ve already decided to invest in a wheelbarrow, or a wagon, it’s worth having a look over the full range of possibilities since you’re already here!
Below, we discuss our number one pick for the best wagon for your gardening needs. Have a look!
Garden Carts Yard Dump Wagon Cart
The green gardening wagon in the picture above is light yet extremely sturdy. It’s got four tough pneumatic tires with solid metal rims, a metal frame, with heavy-duty wire bottom and sides, as well as a metal steering bar and handle.
This cart is a utility wagon that works well for moving all sorts of stuff to and from the garden as well as around the yard and property.
It’s not the greatest, however, for moving loose soil, leaves, and other loose organic materials like wheelbarrows.
Benefits for Gardening
- Carries up to 400 lbs of gardening tools and materials
- Comes with a rubber handle for a better pulling-grip
- Larger tires than some competitor wagons
- Lightweight but with a heavy-duty design
- Fits slightly more than wheelbarrows do
Disadvantages for Gardening
- Can’t be dumped like a wheelbarrow can
Best Wagon for Your Garden
Picking the best wheelbarrow for your garden is a crucial step in making your gardening work as easy as possible.
Just remember all the things you need to consider while shopping for the best one for you and your garden (explained in the sections above).
Have a look at our top pick, below!
Best Choice Products Dual-Wheel Home Utility Yard Wheelbarrow
This green wheelbarrow is perfect for all your gardening and landscaping needs. It has two oversized wheels which make it much easier to handle than wheelbarrows with just one wheel.
The two-wheel design also makes it possible for the wheelbarrow to hold more weight than competitor wheelbarrows.
That said, it’s not as convenient for moving large bags of fertilizer, soil, or other tools and bagged materials as wagons are.
Benefits for Gardening
- Big two-wheel design
- Versatile angled handle for better leverage
- Heavy-duty bucket design
- Easy to use and holds up to 330 lbs
- Can be dumped right where you want it
Disadvantages for Gardening
- Can not be pulled like wagons can
- Fits slightly less than wagons do
Suggested Reading: Riding Mower Vs Walkbehind Mower: Which is Better?
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