Hot or Not? Two Wheel Wheelbarrows
By Chuck Cage
TM reader Colin writes: “I was talking with a couple of friends this weekend about the differences between one-wheel vs. two-wheel wheelbarrows, but I’d really like to hear what Toolmongers think. Are the two-wheel kind hot?”
We’re gonna pass this on to you, because (cheap bastards that we are) we’ve never used a two-wheel model. In fact, we’ve never used a new wheelbarrow, either.
So you’ll have to help us out. Do the two-wheel models carry more? Do they make fewer ruts in soft soil? Do they, as we say, rock? Let us know in comments.
Two-Wheel Wheelbarrows [Google Products]
Via Amazon
June 27th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Hotter than hot.
Ever load a single wheeled ‘barrow with too much dirt then hit a hole or soft ground? That’s where expletives come from. Having to refill it with the same dirt sucks.
2 wheels = 2x the stability
June 27th, 2007 at 10:48 am
I’ve been using an easyroller for a few years, and love it. Why? Because my wife can use it
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=155900-000000302-2463875&lpage=none
True, its not a true wheelbarrow, but it is surprisingly versatile.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Mega burning hot.
spreads the load out. I can fill it with bricks and while the tires get low I can actually still push it around. The days of 1 wheel wheelbarrows are ending
2 wheels = 2x the weight
June 27th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Hottie hot hot hot.
Just 2 weeks ago replaced my old wheelbarrow with the 2 wheeled flavor. Heavy loads can be easily pulled as well as pushed.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:29 am
I’ve been wanting something like this for a while, ever since I tried one at a friends’ house. They are most certainly hot. I keep telling myself that I’ll get one when my ancient workhorse wheelbarrow finally rusts through, but my darn partner keeps putting it away in the shed instead of letting it sit outside in the rain!
June 27th, 2007 at 11:35 am
Well I guess I should bring up the negatives.
1. It doesn’t turn like a regular wheelbarrow. After too many years of hauling just about everything it takes some getting used to turning without leaning.
2. The axle on mine (it’s a Stanley) was too far forward for my height, it was causing the nose to dig into uneven surfaces.
On the positive side it is a very stable wheelbarrow for someone who never had to use one for a living and the plastic tub won’t ever rust (although we’ll have to wait and see about UV damage).
So, HOT for the casual user, MILD for the serious wheelies.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Bought one a couple of months ago and should have done it years ago. I’m 57 yrs old and its all this old man needs.HOT !!
June 27th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
HOT! As another commenter says, if you’re tall then sometimes the nose digs into the ground/other objects..you end up learning to keep and eye out and dropping the handles lower to pop over sharp bumps.
But otherwise, it’s awesome - no more unbalanced loads, just fill it up & go!
June 27th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Hot. This would seem a good tool for the more casual user. Sort of a wheel barrow with training wheels.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
I’ve never used one so I can’t say. But, many years ago, when my father was young, he had acquired a couple rims and tires for a DIY moped that never came to fruition. My grandfather re-purposed those 12-14 inch wide wheels and built a couple vary stable wheelbarrows. At least one is still pulling it’s weight (and more) after 35 or more years. Unfortunately, the tire refuses to remain sealed to the rim on one of them and replacements or tubes are imposable to find due to the odd shape and size. I’ll have to upload a picture to the photo pool next time I remember to take my camera to visit my parents.
June 27th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
I’ve had the exact wheelbarrow pictured above and it has worked out great. I would definitely recommend a two wheeler. I can only think of a couple rare cases where a one wheeler would be a better choice and the home user would almost never run into them. So I would vote HOT, particularly for home use.
June 27th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Best thing about it is that you can move it around with one hand (that frees the other hand up for carrying a beverage.)
Worst thing about it is that you need a wider ramp to wheel a load into the the back of a truck.
June 27th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
I used to think these were dorky until I used one.
We now have two at work, and I’ll literally give away the old metal single wheelers they replaced to anyone that is in central Ohio.
The 2-wheelers are great for all day use as you don’t get tired and drop a load. I’ve cut the front nose-piece off of mine and moved the end piece back so that the barrow will tip all the way forward on the wheels without the nose hitting dirt. We’ve also had to reinforce ours with angle iron braces to replace the stamped metal after a couple of years. The flex in the plastic wears on the braces over time.
I really like the ease of use and extra capacity.
June 27th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
NOT
They are nice and stable for mixing mortar. They carry a lot of weight. They are also very difficult to manuver over rough terrain like a foundation site. There will always be a place for single-wheel styles. For flat yards though these are great.
June 27th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Never tried one, but I would guess Lukewarm.
As a landscaper there are so many things I can do with a one wheeler that I can’t imagine doing with that. I can see having one of each in the shed though.
June 27th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
I like the stability of the two-wheel but prefer the maneuverability of the single wheel. Stability has never been an issue because of my excessive mass and profound strength
Seems to me it wouldn’t be to hard to have both in one unit. But the two-wheel but if you need a single, pop the wheels off and stick one of them in between the rails just like the old days. Yeh, I know it might take some modification, but that’s what all those tools you have laying around are for……. and if you don’t have what you need, go BUY IT!
June 27th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
They suck if you have a sloped site. If you have to walk along a sloped incline instead of going up or down then the handles are at an angle and makes the thing completely unusable.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Hot. I have a one and a two-wheeler. The one wheeler is seldom used. Only when I need two wheelbarrows at the same time.
The typically two-wheeler has much more capacity than than even the largest traditional one-wheelers. So while all the nay-sayers are debating over slopes and maneuverability, blah, blah, blah. My work is done and I am drinkin’ a cold one. Watchin’ you make all those extra trips!
June 27th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Hot! As a person with a bad back this is a must. I got the one that dumps itself so I don’t have to lift. Southpaw is right though, going sideways on a slope is not recommended with a two-wheeler.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Super hot. Got one 2 years ago and it gets tons of use. The landscapers in the area use nothing but. The masonry guys? Same deal for hauling stone. Very stable, large capacity, pretty cheap. Won’t rust.
June 28th, 2007 at 1:01 am
The frame rails look just like the ones on a single wheel unit. Would it be possible, with a little work and another wheel/tire, to convert an existing single wheel wheelbarrow to a double wheel one?
June 28th, 2007 at 5:29 am
My 1 wheeler is been used tremendously. I overload that thing with 200 pound and it’s still maneuverable, though it’s harder to balance. However, while I can see the 2 wheeler being easier to haul, I just can’t imagine it being easier to zip around corners. It seems also to be taking up more space in my little work shed. For now I do keep my 1 wheeler.
June 28th, 2007 at 6:21 am
I was thinking the same think as PaulS, converting my 1 wheel to 2 wheels. I need a new wheel anyway because the current one won’t hold air. I just need to find a longer axle.
June 28th, 2007 at 8:14 am
Paul S. and William,
Harbor Freight sells a set of wheels that you could adapt to make your one wheeler into a dualie. Sears will go you one better–they sell a two wheel kit that includes everything you’d need.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Not hot!!! I do construction for a living and two wheels compromises your maneuverability way too much. Besides, you can only push so much, so why have such a huge tub? No, give me a 6 cu. ft. metal tub single wheel any day.
July 6th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
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