I have had a Jackson wheelbarrow for over 10 years, a hand me down from a friend who moved away and did not have room to take it with him.

It is this model; https://www.lowes.com/pd/JACKS...ee-Tire-s/1000226573

About 5-6 years ago, I had to replace the wood handles. They had rotted and snapped one day while I was using it.

The handles are to the point of needing to be replaced again and the tire / rim has now rotted to the point that I need to replace it. I could buy new handles for $20 or so, and a new tire for $20 or so. All in for less than $50.

Or I could just buy a new wheelbarrow. As part of my every other day trip to Lowes and home improvement April, I noticed this one; https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobal...ee-Tire-s/1000002434

It has metal handles and a flat free tire.

The wheelbarrow will be stored outside, no room inside or in the shed. I do not think I want a dual wheel model, I have some tight spots and need to maneuver. Also, one side of my house is tight, with just enough room between my A/C and privacy fence to fit a single wheel model.

Any reason not to get the Kobalt one?

I’ve been using that Kobalt model for about 2 years. I’m pretty sure I’ll be passing that on in my Will.

I think it is a good choice. I have one with a poly tray which is totally rustproof. That is a concern with a steel wheelbarrow stored outside.

I'm on year three with the same Kobalt and it's holding up well.

 
We just got a new Jackson (Ace branded). The handles are synthetic. The tire was a run flat, which is useless on uneven ground. You'll end up hitting a small bump or rock and get the wheelbarrow right back in your belly. First thing I did was order a pneumatic tire from Jackson (only $25). Now it's a terrific wheelbarrow.

I'm a Jackson fan. I rebuilt my Jackson last year after having it for 20 years. It sits in my wood shed that has one wall opening. I have replaced the tire several time before that.

Ironically, I just bought the same one 2 days ago and for the same reasons you are talking about. It's sturdy and no wood handles to rot like our last one. I expect it to outlast me by many decades.

Jim

I'm a wimp. Prefer the dual wheel type; don't need to deal with unbalanced loads and fighting to keep the thing from tilting over to one side or the other. Don't remember the name of the one I have, but it's almost totally poly/synthetic and likely will last 250,000 years, plus or minus a millennium or two.

-MG

I have a 'jackson style' contractors steel pan model my Dad "gave me for a birthday present" in 1957. It continues thru the decades intact as a Sherman Tank of wheel barrows, original wheel/tire and handles as a proper Permanent Outdoor Tool Fleet Unit of the Eisenhower era.

I have an older flat pan style with iron rim wheel from the 20s. Useful as a moveable flower bed.

There's the remnants of a poly-somethingorOther model that I rescued from the barrow pit that fell off a contractors truck about 2000. Its deteriorated to the point I'd haul it to the dump but is useful once a year to move the bush bean vines inside while they dry.

And I have the Ace dual wheel kind, which I find most useful for firewood & anything too bulky or heavy otherwise. Actually more nimble than I had expected. Now on its 8th year of regular nearly daily use.

The pneumatic tires need filling several times a season. Old Strain, my original, needs tire pumping almost once a decade.

This wheelbarrow essay brought to you courtesy of the covid time bandit society.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: signewt,

Don’t know the model, but have one similar to the Jackson, have had it forever. Somehow ended up with a second wheelbarrow (don’t remember how, know I didn’t buy it). It is marked Jeep, has a HUGE Poly tub and two wheels. It was great as you could load the crud out of it and get away with it. Sadly, the poly tub didn’t hold up to the CA sun, the metal tubes on the frame are rusting in places, and it is looking like it may not last a lot longer even with paint maintenance on the metal. The old metal / wood one is still cruising. To be fair, I have no idea how old the Jeep was when I was blessed with it, but the old school one is at least twenty years old.

That Kobalt wheelbarrow looks like a really nice product, but I'd have some concerns about its hard rubber front tire. Having a pneumatic tire allows me to run over things that hard tire would likely prevent. Also, a pneumatic tire causes my wheelbarrow to bounce less when moving heavy loads.

I have a 'Truper' from Lowes and it's a real trooper. I've had it about 14 years. Steel handles and a solid tire, nothing to go bad. I keep it outside and stand it on end leaned against a fence so it doesn't hold water.

A Harbor Freight solid rubber tire has worked great on my old wheelbarrow. It's easier to push if you fill it with something heavy like rock. It does bounce around more if there's not much weight in it, but not enough to be an issue.

I've got a couple of different wheelbarrows around but this is the one I've been using at this house/property. We're in Western PA and yes, we have muddy soil underneath grass. Anytime the ground is wet it is slippery and you can bust your butt going down/up hills. The grass will actually pull out of the mud under your boots and down you go.
We have some portions of yard that have 20 degree slopes. Traditional style wheelbarrows don't work well for me here given I'm a geezer and have a bad knee.

I need new tires for my 2-wheeled wheelbarrow.

I bought it new 10 years ago at Atwoods, it's not hand near me right now and I don't recall the brand, but I think Jackson.

The original tires lasted about 5 years. Since then I've had to buy new tires every couple of years. I’ve bought from various places. They are made in china and they look and feel like a really cheap rubber, almost with a sort of plastic feel to them.

They don't last, they leak air, they dry rot out very quickly.

Does anyone have a recommendation for from whom to purchase new ones?

Thanks in advance.

I have the same Jackson that you have. I'm in the process of switching it from a single wheel to a double, I'm tired of fighting it.

If it were me, I'd get the parts needed and keep the Jackson running rather than getting a Kobalt.

quote:

Originally posted by Neel:
I have the same Jackson that you have. I'm in the process of switching it from a single wheel to a double, I'm tired of fighting it.

If it were me, I'd get the parts needed and keep the Jackson running rather than getting a Kobalt.

What he said. Being a brick mason for 30 plus years, a wheelbarrow is a basic need of life. Keep the Jackson running.

quote:

Originally posted by holdem:
I have had a Jackson wheelbarrow for over 10 years, a hand me down from a friend who moved away and did not have room to take it with him.

It is this model; https://www.lowes.com/pd/JACKS...ee-Tire-s/1000226573

About 5-6 years ago, I had to replace the wood handles. They had rotted and snapped one day while I was using it.

The handles are to the point of needing to be replaced again and the tire / rim has now rotted to the point that I need to replace it. I could buy new handles for $20 or so, and a new tire for $20 or so. All in for less than $50.

Or I could just buy a new wheelbarrow. As part of my every other day trip to Lowes and home improvement April, I noticed this one; https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobal...ee-Tire-s/1000002434

It has metal handles and a flat free tire.

The wheelbarrow will be stored outside, no room inside or in the shed. I do not think I want a dual wheel model, I have some tight spots and need to maneuver. Also, one side of my house is tight, with just enough room between my A/C and privacy fence to fit a single wheel model.

Any reason not to get the Kobalt one?

I just bought that exact model this morning!

Great price, for a wheelbarrow that should last decades!! And my old one basically disintegrated while fully loaded.

quote:

Originally posted by JohnV:
I’ve been using that Kobalt model for about 2 years. I’m pretty sure I’ll be passing that on in my Will.

Yeah, nothing to rot, rust, etc. With possible exception of the tire, but it would have to disintegrate.

IMo the most critical feature of a wheelbarrow is the Tire, a nice big fat tire that would leave ruts in a damp yard. The tire on the Kobalt just isn't nearly fat enough.

See this one.

https://www.truevalue.com/heav...-tire-maroon-6-cu-ft

BTW, in my poking around I also found this.

https://www.uumotor.com/ws/p/1...lbarrow-wheel-motor/

Since I pushing towards 70 this sets me to thinking about and replacing my perfectly good current fat tire wheelbarrow. So now need to find who sells lithium ion battery packs in either 36 or 48 volts. Ok, found out that Dewalt has 36 V power tools. It's probably going to end up being a very expensive wheelbarrow.