Last growing season I was given the opportunity to use, test and review this awesome electric wheelbarrow from http://ElectricWheelbarrows.com. If you’ve known me or have been following me for any length of time you know that I am huge, flag waving fan of single wheel, construction grade Jackson wheelbarrows. To the point that even offer up “Wheelbarrow Tips and Tricks”.
But at the same time, I’m a true believer in using the right tool for the job, and sometimes you need to move large amounts of material long distances, over rough or soft terrain. If you want to take your cardio workout to an insane level, or a truly deadly level for an old guy like me, try pushing a loaded wheelbarrow across a muddy yard or through the snow.
So even though I am not ready and never will be ready to give up my Jackson wheelbarrow I can see a ton of uses for this electric wheelbarrow which holds more, crosses rough terrain with ease and will allow just about anybody to move large amounts of material just about any distance they need to safely.
This electric wheelbarrow would be a life saver on a horse farm or just about any farm for that. Great for hauling a few bales of hay or cleaning out stalls and hauling manure.
It would be equally valuable for landscaping. Having landscaped over 500 homes in my younger days I’d never trade my single wheel Jackson for wheeling mulch into the beds because it’s soooo easy to maneuver a single wheel wheelbarrow between planted shrubs. But it sure would have been nice to have one of these electric wheelbarrows for moving 10 or 20 cubic yards of topsoil from the curb to the back of the house, something we did many times by hand.
Note the heavy duty tractor type tread on the tires and having dual wheels gives you more support and more floatation on wet, or uneven ground. The tub is positioned on this machine so the majority of the weight is on the drive axle. The tub is designed and balanced on the machine in such a way that as soon as you release the dump lever, the tub dumps automatically. You don’t have to fight with it, and when you dump or operate the machine the weight is never on your back.
This machine has a 10 cubic foot tub, which is a considerably larger than most construction wheelbarrows.
This machine is rechargeable, has a long battery and use life between chargings. You should be able to use it all day without the battery running down. There are indicator lights on the little control panel so you know when the battery is due for it’s next charge.
If I were still landscaping and building brick patios and walks like I did in the old days, I’d make a flat platform to set on top of the tub so we could put several straps of paving bricks on the platform to move them around to the back of the house or where ever we were working. If you’ve even carried 11 bricks in a brick strap all day, one strap in each hand, you know what true back pain is all about. This machine could easily make that job 100 times easier and it would be a lot more ergonomically correct than having all of that weight on your spine.
This machine would be awesome for hauling stone or wet concrete in places where the cement truck is not likely to go. It would be worth it’s weight in gold for that!
All in all I think this is a well built, well designed piece of equipment if you have an application where you could put one of these machines to use.
These two videos are great demonstrations of how well the electric wheelbarrow works and in the second video you’ll see how a community college adapted the one they bought for hauling books and other parcels around the college grounds.
For pricing and other information visit http://Electric Wheelbarrows.com.
Harold Brainerd III says
I have looked at as many reviews as I can find and I only see this being used on flat surfaces. I have a steep yard and wonder if it could handle that situation?
Mike says
Harold,
I’m not sure, I’d call the company and ask them.
Viki Steiner says
I just turned 72. Although I can still manage 50 pound sacks of chicken feed, I do move lots of compost and dirt around my 5 acres. We have a mower with a trailer, but it looks like the electric wheelbarrow would be a good option for those places I can’t get the mower in. Now I just need to check the price.
Mike says
Viki,
I agree, it would be perfect for somebody in your situation. It is the ideal tool for some, not so much for others. It just depends on who is going to use it and for what.
Jack says
Looks good, but could it pass the test of time, constant hard work and a little abuse? I doubt it! Anything capable of holding 10 cf of anything should at least have a metal hopper. Give my crew 3 months regular duty use and allow me to give an honest review of the results. Unfortunately, there are no product specs to review…first thought here is: buyer beware
Mike says
Jack,
You might be right in a commercial setting with the machine being used by rugged employees who don’t own the machine. If I were to buy one of these, I’d ask to speak with somebody that is using it in the same application that I were going to use it in.
Then again, a metal hopper and all of that would probably more than double the price so you just have to decide at what investment it’s worth it to you.
ricky says
would the electric wheelbarrow work well on a gentle slope?
Mike says
Ricky,
I’m sure it would, that’s the beauty of these things. They are quite powerful. See if you can get somebody to promise you that before you invest in it. I did not test this one loaded going up hill.
Roger says
I have a DR brand gas powered wheel barrow. I love it. You can get a plastic standard wheel barrow type box or a square box for hauling wood etc. or you can have both. It will haul up to 800 lbs and can go slow or fast. One of the best yard equipment buys I have made.
http://www.drpower.com/power-equipment/haulers/powerwagons/prw-6-75-fpt-e-s-b-s-new-pro-50st-epa.axd
Roger says
I also have a DR with both beds. A wonderful machine and would appear to haul more than the
one shown and I would say it is likely more stable. I’m 71 and it is one of the best purchases I made after I retired. I’m thinking of a Jonnie Bucket to add to my garden tractor. http://johnnyproducts.com/
Mike says
Daniel,
I only reviewed the Electric Wheelbarrow that was loaned to me so I can’t compare it to other brands. I did provide links to the company website.