Buying a Wheelbarrow

What to Look For When Purchasing a Wheelbarrow and Why

Why should the design of your wheelbarrow matter? Because a poorly designed wheelbarrow can take a serious toll on your body. A wheelbarrow designed with the operator in mind can go a long way in preventing unnecessary back injuries that can have lasting effects. Wheelbarrows are used for manual hauling and for this reason they should be designed to protect your back.

What to Look For

The standard wheelbarrow design seems simple enough. But believe it or not, there are many important variables in the design of a wheelbarrow that can affect its overall safety and performance. If you are in the market for a wheelbarrow, the following are some design aspects to look for:

• Effective Weight Distribution- The average wheelbarrow requires the operator to bear about 30% of the load. With the Lifetime wheelbarrow, the operator only has to bear 15% of the load.
• An Extra-Wide Wheel Base - An extra wide wheel base provides a low center of gravity and more stability. The Lifetime wheelbarrow has an extra wide 23 inch double wheel base to prevent the wobbling and accidental tipping that often occurs with the traditional wheelbarrow design.
• A Generous Load Capacity - The greater the load capacity, the fewer trips you'll have to make. With a 550 lb. load capacity, the Lifetime Wheelbarrow not only exceeds that of many other models on the market, but the tub is even designed with built-in stake pockets so you can build up the sides!
• A Tapered Front - The design of a wheelbarrow tub can be a help or a hindrance when it comes to unloading the contents. The Lifetime Wheelbarrow is designed with a tapered front to help direct dumping during unloading.
• Sufficient Ground Clearance - Increased ground clearance eliminates the possibility of snagging the ground during transportation. Lifetime Wheelbarrows are designed with a 10.5” ground clearance. That’s 3 to 6 inches higher than other wheelbarrows on the market!
• Decreased Pivoting Distance - The appeal of wheelbarrows as valuable equipment for manual labor is their ability to pivot in close quarters. A decreased pivot point distance makes working in close quarters much easier. The Lifetime Wheelbarrow only has a pivot distance of 38” compared to other models on the market which have a pivot distance of 47 or 48 inches.
• Comfortable Handle Grips - Durable contoured steel handles with rubber grips provide you with better grip for steering control during transportation.

Tip:

In addition to the design, proper operation of your wheelbarrow can also prevent back strain and injuries. Some important tips to remember when operating a wheelbarrow are:

• Do not overload the wheelbarrow. This makes it necessary to push harder, which puts a strain on your hips and lower back.
• When you are ready to dump the load, bend your knees and lift using your leg muscles rather than your back. The muscles in the legs are much stronger and less vulnerable to strain and injury.
• Switch to an underhand grip on the handles when lifting the wheelbarrow into a vertical position for dumping. This avoids straining arms, shoulders, and neck.

The right design and the proper use of your wheelbarrow can make it the most valuable piece of equipment in your yard or on the construction site. Our engineers at Lifetime have designed a wheelbarrow with your safety and greater efficiency in mind.