Using a garden trolley can be useful in both domestic and professional settings.
Not only are trolleys great for transporting heavy items around the garden, like compost, gravel, mulch and fertiliser, they can also be used on family camping and beach trips too.
They’re becoming a lot more popular with gardeners, particularly because they offer more versatility than traditional wheelbarrows.
To get a better idea of what to look out for, take a look at the following information and tips.
Garden Trolley Weight Capacity
One of the most important things to look at when searching for the best garden trolley is weight capacity. This will give you an idea of how much the trolley can transport, and therefore what it’s most suitable for.
A capacity of 50 – 100 kg should be sufficient for light gardening jobs. 50 kg will allow you to transport one large bag of compost as well as some gardening tools. Even this light weight can be useful for transporting equipment or supplies when camping as well. For standard gardening, you probably won’t need to exceed 100 kg.
However, if you’ll be carrying heavier items, you’ll want a trolley that can hold a couple of hundred kilograms. This will be necessary if you want to transport logs, large amounts of dirt, rocks, etc.
The maximum capacity on a trolley might vary depending on the terrain it’s used on, or if it has a tipping function. Be sure to double-check this as it’s easy to miss. Keep in mind that whilst a higher carrying capacity may mean you need to make fewer trips, it can also mean the trolley itself is bigger and harder to store.
Checking the initial weight of the trolley is also important, as you’ll need to pull it around alongside its contents.
Aside from weight capacity, you can also check the dimensions of the trolley body to make sure it will hold the size of the objects you’ll be carrying. Some have a bigger body and higher sides than others.
Selecting a Long-Lasting Trolley
Durability is key to ensuring your trolley lasts well over time. How durable you need your garden trolley to be will depend on how often you’ll be using it and what you’ll be using it for.
In general, trolleys with fabric bodies are less durable than those made from plastic or metal. However, most fabric trolleys still have metal frames which ensure they can stand up to a good amount of wear. Where possible, check customer reviews online for reports that the stitching is secure and that the fabric is durable (nylon and polyester are great options).
If you want to use your trolley a few times a year to go to the beach or to do light gardening, a collapsible fabric trolley with a metal frame will be suitable. It’ll also be much easier to fit in the car and transport. On the other hand, if you’re going to be using it frequently for gardening, something sturdy and robust is key. You might opt for a metal frame and body, or a plastic body with a metal frame.
Ease of Movement
Look for a garden trolley with good steering and check that the handle is comfortable to hold. An ergonomically-shaped handle is good to look out for, as is a rubber grip.
The tyres will make a big difference to how easily your trolley can be moved. Look for trolleys which have wheels that move through 360°. On some trolleys, this will only apply to the front wheels, but for better movement, check if all the wheels rotate the whole way round.
Think about what sort of terrain you want to use your trolley on. If you’re going to be using it on mostly hard ground that isn’t too rough, smaller wheels will be fine. However, if you want it to move easily over varied terrains, such as rough, bumpy ground, mud, or sand, then bigger, thicker wheels will be more suitable.
The diameter of the wheels will typically be listed in the description and they will state that the tyres are either solid or pneumatic. Make sure solid wheels are covered by grippy rubber tyres. They may not offer good shock absorption but they still tend to have good traction.
Pneumatic wheels absorb shock well and are more versatile in terms of the terrain they can be used across. However, they may puncture if used over spiky, broken ground. If pneumatic wheels go flat, they will need to be reinflated which is an additional point of maintenance.
Ease of Assembly
Many trolleys will need to be assembled when they first arrive. Some will be easier to put together than others so check out the description and the reviews so you’re prepared. Some might need tools and a helping hand from another person.
Depending on the type of trolley you choose, many will be collapsible to make storage and transport easy. Look for indications in the description and reviews to figure out how easy they are to fold down and pop back up. Others, like metal and plastic trolleys, might have parts that can be removed for transportation. It’s worthwhile checking how easy they are to remove and put back on if this is something you will be doing regularly,
Additional Features
Lots of garden trolleys will come with additional features, and these can vary quite a bit. Whether these additional features will be useful to you will depend on what you want to use the trolley for.
Some trolleys will have sides that lower which can make loading and unloading easier. This is particularly useful when dealing with heavy objects.
Others might have a tipping function. This can help with emptying out large loads of loose material, like soil and compost. You’ll save time by not having to scoop it out by hand.
Finally, some trolleys come with drinks holders or external storage bags. These are most useful if you’ll be using your trolley on trips and holidays as well as for gardening (although keeping your water bottle nearby whilst gardening is still a great idea!).
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